After a Fashion (A Class of Their Own #1)(67)
Blowing out a breath, Harriet tilted her head and scanned the sky. “You’re obviously a little annoyed with me at the moment, Lord, given the numerous dastardly situations I keep finding myself in. But if I promise to walk the straight and narrow from this point forward, would you consider making Jane go away?”
When her aunt didn’t immediately disappear into thin air, Harriet’s lips twitched just a touch as she realized how absurd her request had been. Lifting her chin, she began stomping forward, praying that her aunt didn’t have something of a diabolical nature on her mind.
15
Harriet, there you are my darling,” Jane purred when Harriet came to a stop beside her. “You look simply delightful today. Is that a new dress?”
Ignoring the question, Harriet narrowed her eyes on her aunt. “What are you doing here, Jane?”
Jane’s green eyes narrowed right back at her. “It’s Aunt Jane, and . . . honestly dear, given the amount of money I spent on deportment lessons for you, surely you’re aware that when someone extends you a compliment, the proper response should be Thank you.” She twirled her parasol around. “And then good manners dictate you respond in kind. What do you think of my dress?”
Taking a moment to consider her aunt, Harriet came to the immediate conclusion that Jane was looking very well indeed as she preened in the middle of the sidewalk. The muted green of Jane’s gown lent itself well to her pale complexion, and the ornate hat on her head was perched exactly right, showcasing Jane’s expertly styled red hair underneath. The perfection of Jane’s hair gave clear proof that she’d somehow secured the means to hire on a lady’s maid. Overall, she presented a most respectable picture, even if Harriet knew there was next to nothing respectable about her aunt. “Your dress is beautiful and certainly proves that thievery is allowing you to live in style.”
The parasol twirling came to an immediate halt. “Don’t be snide, Harriet. And for your information, I’ve put that particular business aside, at least for the most part.” She fingered a diamond brooch pinned to her dress before she tilted her head. “You’re not wearing the necklace I sent you for your birthday.”
Since Harriet had no intention of telling her aunt the necklace was currently residing with the police, she decided her best, and perhaps only option, was distraction. “Surely you, being an expert on deportment, must know that diamonds aren’t to be worn during the day.”
Jane’s hand dropped from the brooch as her expression turned sulky. She turned from Harriet and gave a wave of her hand, that action summoning a well-equipped carriage. The coachman pulled on the reins, the carriage came to a smart stop, and two familiar-looking brutes hopped off the back and immediately took to looking intimidating as they crossed beefy arms over their chests.
Suppressing a shudder, Harriet turned back to her aunt. “Dare I hope you’ve had enough of my delightful company and are now going to get on your way?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I came out specifically to speak with you.”
Dread was immediate. “So this isn’t just an unfortunate happenstance, meeting up with you today?”
“Good heavens, no. This fortunate happenstance is a direct result of me having you watched around the clock ever since you moved into that house on Washington Square.” She smiled. “I’ve been taxing my mind no small amount to come up with an explanation as to how that came about.”
“How long have you been having me followed?”
“Oh, a few years.” Jane turned to Lucetta, who was wobbling a little on her feet, probably because Buford had stuck his nose into the folds of her skirt and was trembling like mad. “I must say, Miss Plum, you certainly gave my handsome Martin over there an unpleasant time of it when you took the reins of that carriage the other day.” She nodded to one of the brutes, who smiled a most gruesome-looking smile back at her, his face anything but handsome. “Your reckless manner of driving caused him quite a bit of aggravation, but because he’s a determined sort, he kept after you and discovered your final destination. Someone could have knocked me over with a feather when I did a bit of snooping and discovered the three of you were living under the roof of one of society’s most respected matrons.”
Harriet’s sense of dread immediately increased. “May I assume there’s a reason behind all of your subterfuge?”
“Would you believe I’ve simply been longing to have a lovely chat with my most cherished of nieces?”
“I’m your only niece, and you’ve never cherished anything except money.”
Jane’s lips thinned. “Very well, since you obviously don’t care to exchange the expected pleasantries, we’ll get right down to business.” She closed the parasol and used it to point at the carriage. “Shall we make ourselves comfortable and take a few turns about the city while we have ourselves a little chat?”
“I think I’d prefer chatting out here on the sidewalk,” Harriet countered. “I find carriages a little . . . secluded.”
“What I have to say is not something I care for anyone to overhear, and besides, I’m beginning to perspire out here in this dreadful heat.” Jane glanced to Lucetta. “Your friends may join us, but you’ll need to leave that beast behind. I’m certainly not going to make myself uncomfortable by having all of us squeeze together so that the dog can ride about the city in style.”