Page 70 of Only a Mistress Will Do

The family Great Dane was taller than Anna, but as good natured as any animal Violet had ever met. “But Duke wouldn’t hurt you, would he?”

“No, of course not. I love Duke.”

“And he loves you. He wouldn’t try to frighten you, do you think?”

“No, Duke wouldn’t do that.”

“And he wouldn’t let another dog frighten you, would he, my dear?”

“Duke would protect you, poppet, no matter what.” Mr. Harper rounded the doorframe and stood looking as though he’d come from church, not a hair out of place, pious expression on his face. “Just like Papa would.”

“Papa, papa!” Anna jumped out of the bed and ran to her father. She launched herself into his arms.

He caught her to him, hugging her with all his might. Over Anna’s head he caught Violet’s attention and nodded slowly.

She stood and backed toward the servant’s entrance to the nursery behind her. She tried to forget the slimy feeling of his skin on hers, his mouth on her.

He held her gaze and mouthed the word, “Tonight.”

Violet’s knees turned to water. She’d escaped this afternoon by the grace of God. Tonight she could not hope to be so lucky. With a strangled cry she fled the nursery, grateful to have this short respite from this loathsome man’s attentions. Certainly it would not be long enough.

Chapter 27

Violet fled downstairs to the kitchen under the guise of needing assistance with the broken dishes in the nursery. She could think of no better excuse in her shocked and battered state. Her breasts still ached with his abuse and she trembled in fear, which was hard to hide. She kept checking her bodice to assure her appearance didn’t breathe a word of what had transpired upstairs. Each time she did so, however, she could feel Mr. Harper’s hot mouth on her and the trembling increased.

Mrs. Rose eyed her oddly, but nodded to a footman. “James, go fetch the tea service from the nursery.” She bustled about the kitchen, checking a batch of bread in the oven, supervising two young scullery maids who were paring vegetables, and another footman who sat polishing the silver. “Did you need more tea sent up, Miss Carlton?” She dipped a spoon into a bubbling pot on the stove and tasted it.

“Yes, please, Mrs. Rose. I’d best get back to Anna.” Violet wanted to dawdle in the warm kitchen that recalled the comfort and safety of home, but there was Anna to think of. Perhaps if she hurried and got the girl ready for a walk while the footman was there, they could leave with him and avoid being alone with Mr. Harper. That might help with this afternoon, but what about tonight? “Mrs. Rose, I wonder if I might take my dinner in the servant’s hall this evening? I can put Anna to bed and come straight down.”

Again, a piercing look from the cook, though she shrugged and nodded. “Makes no never mind to me, Miss Carlton, if the governess wants to eat here. Less work for us in the long run.” She took her rolling pin and banged it into the lump of dough on her counter. “Suit yourself. Best be on time, though, or you’ll do without dinner.”

Breathing a sigh of relief, Violet crept back upstairs. Outside the nursery door, she listened intently for movement inside. The soft swish of a broom on the hardwood floor told her the footman was still about. She squared her shoulders and marched into the sitting room.

All seemed quiet. James had cleared the broken dishes and discarded food onto a large tray and had swept up the mess on the floor. “There you go, Miss Carlton,” he said, hefting the tray in one hand. He deftly tucked the broom under his arm and grabbed the dustpan.

“Did you see Mr. Harper and Anna?” She kept her voice low in case the man was in Anna’s bedroom.

“Yes, miss. He dressed her and they left only a few minutes ago.” James headed for the door.

“Did Mr. Harper happen to say where they were going?” She prayed it was not to his mother to demand she be dismissed.

“I believe they were going to walk about the garden, miss. Miss Anna seemed excited about the snow, though it’s almost gone. If you’ll pardon me, miss.” The footman left, taking his blanket of security with him.

Violet crept to the sitting room window and peeped out between the dark green-damasked drapes. This window gave onto the larger of the house’s two gardens.

The failing light revealed Anna squealing in delight as her father chased her around the cold, empty fountain. Suddenly he seized the child and lifted her high in the air, twirling her around while she screamed with laughter. He caught sight of Violet and stopped, a grin spreading over his ruddy face.

Her heart surged, as if clutched by a phantom hand. What must she do? She might be able to thwart his advances for a day or two if she was very careful, but eventually he would corner her. Now more than ever she wished for Susan who would shadow her every move and keep the hellhound at bay. The reality of the situation was stark, however. She had two choices: leave or accept Mr. Harper’s advances. If she left, she had nowhere to go. Tris had closed Lammas House and dismissed the servants. While she might apply to Lord Manning for aid, she would hate to involve him further in her wretched affairs. She could not consult Tris without telling him why she wanted to leave, after which he would kill Mr. Harper and be hanged himself. Just like the Earl Ferrers.

Which left her precisely two options: Madame Vestry’s establishment or mistress to Simon Harper. Both odious choices but she’d had no say in creating them. At least if she remained at Harper’s Grange she need only service Mr. Harper rather than a horde of different men each night. Cold comfort perhaps, yet a relevant point. Better the devil she knew.

Violet backed away from the window, her mind whirling with the magnitude of her decision. She’d avoid Mr. Harper as best she could for as long as she could. See how difficult it would be to keep out of his clutches without rousing the suspicions of the household and go on from there.

The unsettled nature of the next few days would grind her nerves to a fine point but it could not be helped. Violet prayed she could find a way to avoid the man although she held out little hope of it. She might as well attempt to escape the notice of the Almighty. With that cheerful thought, she headed into her bedroom to repair her appearance for a dinner she’d likely not touch. Still, her presence in the servant’s hall would keep her safer than dining alone in her room.

After sending a footman to collect Anna when she returned to the house, Violet read to the girl, gave her dinner and put her to bed with remarkably little fuss from the child. She yawned throughout her meal and fell asleep almost instantly, apparently worn out from her playtime with her father. It seemed the man was good for something at least.

Still on edge, Violet jumped at each creak of a floorboard, expecting Mr. Harper to appear and ravish her on the spot. She didn’t really believe he would force himself upon her in front of his daughter. He used that threat as another tactic to buy her compliance with her own debauchery. Still, she would put nothing past the odious man in the end. Best spend most of the evening with the other servants.