Page 40 of Falling for a Footman

Twenty-two

James’s heart was racingas he pressed further into the darkness between Charlotte’s dresses, making them release the flowery scent that he had come to associate with her. Her dressing room was dark and narrow, and it was unlikely that someone entering her room would see him, unless they walked into the dressing room itself, yet he could not help but burry deeper into the darkness. His success at catching Miss Walker all depended on catching her in the act.

The thought made excitement bubble under his skin. He would finally be able to end this assignment, finally be able to show Harrowby that he could work undercover – even as a footman – and he could finally have that conversation with Charlotte.

He should probably have told her who he was when she had discovered that he was the investigator, but their conversation had steered away from his identity to that of the thief and well, he had sort of forgotten. Not that it would change anything. He could never claim her for himself. She still deserved someone better than him, but... she also deserved to know the truth.

He focused on evening his breath as he waited and making it as soundless as possible and calming himself. He knew Charlotte was with her parents in the drawing room after dinner. He had eaten quickly when the servant’s dinner was served then pretended to retire for the night for the precious little free time that was allotted to a footman.

A noise at the door to Charlotte’s room snapped his attention back to the present. He held his breath and felt his muscles tighten. At any moment now Miss Walker would enter the dressing room. He saw the flicker of light underneath through the half-open door.

“In the top drawer in her dressing table she said,” the person mumbled.

James had to catch his breath as it was a male and not the female voice he had expected.

The man had brought a candlestick and was rummaging around a drawer in Charlotte’s dressing table. As soon as James saw him taking Charlotte’s sapphire earrings, that she had made sure Miss Walker knew where there, James stepped forward and seized the man by the arm.

“Caught in the act, William,” he exclaimed in a deep, authoritative voice meant to scare the other man.

William turned. His eyes were wide with fear and for a moment he simply stared at James. Then almost catching James off guard, he took a swing at him. Luckily, James had just enough time to avoid William’s clenched fist. He took a swing at William himself but only grazed the other man’s jaw without hitting him that hard.

They fought until James stood with William’s coat but nothing more in his grasp and William was running for the door, the earrings still in his hand as far as James knew. James chased after him, having only just started running as William tripped over his own legs as he was leaving the room. James landed hard on top of him, completely disoriented for a moment when the world turned upside down.

When he managed to stand up, he saw Charlotte standing next to the door.

“I thought you might need a hand – or a foot,” she said with a shy grin as she lifted and wriggled a slipper covered foot.

James could not help but grin with both astonishment and relief. He helped William to his feet, holding tightly on to his arm. Charlotte bent and picked up the earrings that had landed on the carpeted floor.

“We better tie you up so that you don’t attempt anything again,” he stated. He tried to keep his voice brusque, but it was difficult with the other man sagging in his grasps. He liked William, he had trusted him, and because of that he had discarded the idea of him being the thief without much thought. There was a though lesson to be learned there, and he would have to analyze his actions more fervently later.

“Please, James, please, I don’t want to be deported,” William pleaded as he willingly followed James into Charlotte’s bedroom. Charlotte trailed behind them. “She’s pregnant, you know. We only did it because we needed money to start a life together as well as helping out her grandfather.”

James exchanged a look with Charlotte and saw a confusion, but also curiosity that mirrored his own. The case was clearly not as straight forward as they had thought.

“Could you find something to tie him up with?” he asked Charlotte, who nodded and disappeared into her dressing room.

“I suppose you’re talking about Miss Walker,” James queried as he had William sit down on Charlotte’s bed. It was clear that William had landed hard on the ground. A large bump was forming on his forehead and one of his eyes had already started to blacken.

“No,” William looked horrified now. “That’s not her at all... I’m... it’s... Judith, I’m talking about. Yes, Judith, I’m in love with her. Madly.”

Charlotte’s sigh made James want to turn and look at her, but he restrained himself, keeping his focus on William. The man might be compliant at the moment, but the past had taught him, that it could easily change. If William knocked him out now, he might very well make it away. He hoped Charlotte would be sensible enough not to try to stop him. The much heavier William could easily cause her bodily harm if he was determined to get away.

Besides James had an inkling as to why Charlotte was sighing: Judith was a shy and very young scullery maid. Hardly more than a child. Unless William had forced himself on her, it seemed unlikely that she would have welcomed his attention.

“Judith is only fourteen, William. And isn’t she your cousin?” Charlotte inquired as she started tying his hands to the bedpost without having been asked to do it. James noted pleased that she was rather skilled in tying a knot. If she had not been a woman, she would have been perfect material as a Bow Street Runner.

“Yes, well, since she is so young, you won’t do anything to her, right? I will take all the blame. In fact, it was just me. I was acting alone,” William had a very decisive look on his round face now.

“Maybe you should simply be quiet until we have a chance to speak to the duke?” James suggested before the man incriminated anyone else.