Blackhearts (Blackhearts, #1)(55)

Master Drummond studied her. “Hmm . . . I shall have

to give your suggestion some consideration. In the meantime,

I would like you to go and gather your belongings. Wait, no,

better yet, I will have Margery bring your belongings. I intend to have a word with her. It appears some things have been happening in this house of which I was unaware, and for that I

apologize. I would dismiss her, except she has been quite loyal.

If I threw her out, I’m not sure she would find employment

elsewhere. I hope you understand.”

Anne stood, sliding her watch into her pocket beneath the

apron. A part of her wished he would sack Margery, but clearly

Master Drummond had undergone some kind of change. And

Anne knew only too well how hard it was to find employment.

Where could the housekeeper go at her age? “Yes, of course, and thank you, sir. I don’t quite know what to say. This is all so . . .

unexpected. And very generous of you.”

Master Drummond shook his head as he too came to his





19 4


feet. “I have been far too remiss in my duties as master of this house. My wife would be appalled to see how things have changed since her death.” With a bow, he turned and walked

away, leaving Anne to stare after him, amazed at the turn of

events.

Master Drummond made good on his word and moved Anne

into one of the spacious guest bedchambers on the second

floor. Once she was left alone, she ran her hand over the soft

comforter and sheets on the large four-poster bed, comparing

them to the scratchy wool blanket she’d left behind.

The blue curtains hanging at the windows were as beautiful

as the clear sky beyond and reminded her somewhat of her room

back home. Her father, although affluent, had never amassed as

much wealth as Master Drummond. It would be impossible not

to be impressed by the luxurious surroundings.

Clutching a pillow to her chest, Anne remembered with

glee the shocked look on Margery’s face when she’d discovered

Anne would no longer be her inferior.

And it was a good thing Anne wasn’t made of straw, because

the look Mary had given her would have torched her right there

on the spot. Every time Mary passed Anne, a wave of resentment rolled off her. Anne determined to be extra diligent where Mary was concerned. She wouldn’t be surprised if the girl ended up stealing from her.

Sara had been the most pleasant, and Anne decided she





19 5


would make Sara her lady’s maid. It had been Master Drummond’s suggestion. Anne’s status in the house was second only to Drummond’s, or so he claimed. He recognized Anne’s need

for a female companion after they attempted to visit one of

the dressmakers in the city, for it did not go as well as he had planned. The dressmaker had insulted him by assuming that Anne was his mistress.

Master Drummond decided then that he would bring the

dressmakers to the house.

They came with bolts and bolts of fabric, from the smooth—

est silks to the richest velvets. Yards and yards of cloth in ivory, sand, light blue, and pink. Anne was overwhelmed with the variety and, at one point, tried to tell him that it wasn’t necessary to have a gown in every shade.

“On the contrary,” he replied. “I can’t have you wearing the

same dress every time you leave this house. What would people

think? I’m your guardian, after all. And you may call me Mr.

Drummond.”

Since her father had never openly claimed her, Anne was

reluctant to attach herself to the Barrett name. However, as an islander, Anne’s mother had had no legal surname, and it had

been Anne’s father who had given her the Christian name of

Jacqueline.

As much as Anne enjoyed her new position and all of the

finery that came with it, she also knew that even if you washed a pigeon with soap, it remained gray. She was still the illegitimate 19 6

offspring of a merchant and a slave. And beneath Drummond’s kindness, she felt an undercurrent of disapproval. Whether it was directed at her or himself, she was not sure.

Perhaps it was her own guilty conscience. Her thoughts

turned to her secret stash of coins and household silver, including the valuable spyglass. She resolved to go to the city and try to recover the pieces she’d already sold, and hoped they would still be at the small shop. She had not yet returned the stolen objects to the household, hesitant to return all of them at once, for fear of discovery.

Despite Drummond’s assurances, Anne wanted to make

sure she was never left destitute again. She could still remember the fear in her mother’s eyes when Henry had kicked them out.

In order to survive, both she and her mother had been forced to work until their bodies hurt.

Life had been hard, but quitting had meant death.

Anne was not about to quit now. If she needed to, for whatever reason, she could still escape on the Deliverance when it set sail, and start a new life elsewhere.





19 7


C H A P T E R 1 8

Anne

In a pale pink dress and looking as regal as a queen, Anne