“I’ve often wondered about that. He’s never spoken of her.”
Lucien’s gaze snapped to hers. “Never?”
She shook her head, and he sat back, extending his legs out while he adopted a pensive expression, his cheeks elongating as he tightened his jaw.
“Perhaps jealousy would unseat the giant stick up Con’s ass,” Lucien mused.
“I beg your pardon?”
Lucien sat straight and waved his hand. “We need to provoke a reaction from your husband, and your transformation will do just that. I’ll do everything in my power to ensure you’re admitted to the Phoenix Club with due haste. That way you can attend the assembly next Friday. That will drive him mad, I’m sure. Especially when you are the toast of the ball.” His mouth spread into a wide, cat-like grin. “Come, let us go see Mrs. Renshaw.” He jumped to his feet and offered her his hand.
Sabrina took it, rising slowly to her feet as a mixture of excitement and trepidation washed over her. “Now?”
“There is no time to lose. The new enigmatic and devastatingly charming Lady Aldington awaits.” He waggled his brows at her, and Sabrina’s insides turned over. She hadn’t imagined such enthusiastic support.
Gratitude, along with a myriad of other emotions, welled within her. “Thank you.” She only hoped she could become the things he said. She’d give anything to be that woman.
Chapter 4
As Sabrina and Lucien stepped outside, she looked askance at him. “My maid is in the coach. I should bring her to Mrs. Renshaw’s.” He’d already explained that Mrs. Renshaw lived just a short walk away on the other side of St. James Square.
Lucien inclined his head. “I’ll direct the coach to meet you there.”
While he went to converse with the driver, Sabrina reached for the door to the coach, but the groom beat her to it. Smiling, she thanked him, then explained to Charity that they would be walking to their next destination.
“We’re just going to the other side of the square,” Sabrina explained as Charity joined her on the pavement. As Charity glanced toward where Lucien was speaking with the driver, Sabrina added, “That is his lordship’s brother, Lord Lucien. He’s helping me with, er, a surprise.” That wasn’t exactly a lie. “Remember, Charity, no gossip.”
“Not a word, my lady.” The maid shook her head solemnly even as her tawny eyes glimmered with excitement, as if she were thrilled to be included in something.
Lucien joined them and offered his arm to Sabrina who introduced him to Charity.
“My sister works in a house on Charles Street,” she said.
He glanced toward Charity. “That is where we are going, actually.”
Sabrina suddenly recalled that Charity had said her sister worked for Mrs. Renshaw. “My goodness, Charity, we are going to your sister’s employer’s house.” She glanced toward Lucien. “I’d forgotten that. Her sister is Mrs. Renshaw’s lady’s maid.”
Lucien’s brows climbed as he looked to Charity. “You must be the other Miss Taylor. I arranged for your position in my brother’s home. He was in need of an upstairs maid, and you were in need of employment—and now look at you, promoted to lady’s maid.” He winked at her, and Charity’s round cheeks turned bright pink.
“I can’t thank you enough, my lord.” She dipped a curtsey, her bonneted head bobbing as she looked toward the ground.
“It is my pleasure to help whomever I can,” Lucien said smoothly. “Now, let us be on our way.” He led Sabrina toward the square, and Charity followed behind them.
“Does Aldington know you did that?” Sabrina asked. “I can’t imagine he has anything to do with the hiring of servants or that he’s even aware when his household needs a new upstairs maid.”
“He does not. As with most men of his station, he leaves that sort of thing to their butlers. I have a network of people who contribute to my cause.”
“Haddock is part of that network?” she asked in surprise.
Lucien winked at her. “Don’t tell anyone.”
She tipped her head to the side and peered up at him. “What is your cause?”
“Helping people with whatever they require. Everyone deserves to have comfort and security and even to have their dreams come true.”
“Is that what you do?” Sabrina found herself smiling. She couldn’t imagine two brothers who were more different. “Fulfill people’s dreams?”
“I don’t know that I achieve that, but I do help where I can. Just as I’m going to help you.” They reached the other side of the square and started along Charles Street. At the second house, he stopped and pivoted. “Here we are.”
They continued up to the door where a rather young, and frankly attractive, man opened the door. Was he the butler?
“Good morning, Foster,” Lucien said cheerily. “We’re here to speak with Mrs. Renshaw.”
Foster opened the door wide. “Come in, my lord. I’ll take you up to the drawing room and fetch Mrs. Renshaw.”
The house was similar to Lucien’s in that it was a small terrace, but it had a distinctly feminine air with the paintings of flowers adorning the walls. They followed the butler into the stair hall and up to the first floor. Situated at the front of the house, the drawing room was most definitely decorated by a woman, with peach and ivory floral wallpaper and an array of furnishings in those colors in addition to russet and a pretty blue that was just a shade darker than Wedgwood. Sabrina had never been in a more stunningly appointed drawing room, and she knew immediately that she would wear whatever Mrs. Renshaw recommended.
A few moments later, their hostess swept into the drawing room. “What a lovely surprise!” Her gaze immediately landed on Charity, who smiled broadly at Mrs. Renshaw’s warm welcome. “Charity, your sister would love to see you. If you go back downstairs, Foster will direct you to the kitchen. That is where you’ll find Delilah presently.”
“Thank you, ma’am.” Charity curtsied, then looked to Sabrina who nodded.
She’d no sooner left the room than Mrs. Renshaw approached Sabrina. “You must be Lady Aldington.”
Sabrina clasped her hands, nervous as usual when meeting someone. “I am.”
Lucien stepped closer as if he sensed her discomfort. “She’s here to make your acquaintance and obtain some assistance that you are perfectly suited to provide.” He gave Sabrina an encouraging smile which helped ease her trepidation.
Mrs. Renshaw possessed the most intriguing eyes Sabrina had ever seen. The color of lapis lazuli, they were rounded but turned up on the outside corner, almost like a cat. With her sculpted cheekbones and plump lips, she was a model of beauty Sabrina could never achieve with her too-pale skin and too-sharp chin. Her mother had always said her coppery blonde hair was her best feature, but Sabrina found herself envying the rich russet hues of Mrs. Renshaw’s. Perhaps because there seemed to be some gold and red intertwined with the dark locks, as if she’d been kissed by the sun—which carried over to her skin, for it held far more color and vibrancy than Sabrina’s.
One of Mrs. Renshaw’s dark brows arched as she glanced toward Lucien, making her eyes look even more captivating. “Indeed? I am eager to help however I may. Shall we sit?” She flashed a smile at Sabrina as she indicated a seating area with a settee and two chairs near the windows that overlooked Charles Street below.