CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

EARLIER THAT DAY 

Granville called on Sophie early in the afternoon and rang the bell.

    The door was opened swiftly as though he had been expected and he took a step back at seeing a very familiar and unwelcome face. He was both surprised and extremely put out.

    ‘Mrs Possimer! What the hell are you doing here?’

    Mrs Possimer’s expression was supercilious.

    ‘I am Mrs Vallentine’s housekeeper,’ she said evenly. ‘Will you step into the hall, please, sir. I will see if Mrs Vallentine is at home.’

    ‘Damn you, woman,’ he blurted out. ‘This is an imposition and I want an explanation of it.’

    He was further annoyed to see that she did not flinch at his sharp tone. Throughout their previous association she had always been subservient, if not obsequious.

    ‘Let us not keep Mrs Vallentine waiting,’ Mrs Possimer answered with calm. ‘We can discuss my position later.’

    Her calmness seemed now almost like rudeness.

    Without another word the woman turned and entering the drawing room, announced him.

    ‘Mr Frederick Grandville to see you, ma’am.’

    Granville gritted his teeth as he strode passed her into the room and she closed the door behind him.

    He had not seen Mrs Possimer since the night he had been attack by Eleanor Wellesley. He had had no doubt it had been she who had spread the rumour of a female attacker.

    The man he had sent to send her packing had reported her tearfulness and pleading to be given a reference so that she might find another position.

    Since that day she had ceased to exist for him and now here she was, as large as life, keeping house for his sister.

    ‘Freddie, I’m so glad you’re here,’ Sophie said eagerly. ‘Is there any word from Lord Langdon?’

    ‘What is that damned woman doing here?’ he demanded to know.

    Sophie wetted her lips. ‘I could not avoid it, Freddie. Mrs Possimer reminded me that she had seen me at that awful lodging house with Sir Edward. She threatened to tell the broadsheets, and with his murder still heralded I felt it wiser to submit.’

    ‘Blackmail!’ he barked. ‘You have submitted to blackmail?’

    ‘It is hardly that,’ Sophie said, defensively. ‘All she asks is employment and a decent wage. She is an excellent cook and a most attentive servant.’

    ‘Sophie, she is not to be trusted,’ he said forcefully. ‘I dismissed her from my employ for gossiping about...’

    Sophie waited but he did not continue.

    ‘It is all very well for you, Freddie,’ she said petulantly. ‘Men can weather scandal, especially if they are as wealthy as you are. A woman in my position must do what she can to protect herself.’

    ‘Sophie I fear you will regret the day you took her in,’ Granville said. ‘Take care with all your letters and documents. She may be looking to find other ways to part you from your funds.’

    ‘Never mind about her, Freddie,’ Sophie said impatiently. ‘What of Lord Langdon? I have been so worried of late that he has discovered my secret.’

    Granville glanced at the closed door. He would not put it past Mrs Possimer to be listening to all they said.

    He walked softly to the door and drew it open with a flourish, but the passage outside was empty. Satisfied, he closed the door.

    ‘I have spoken to Lord Langdon and believe me, Sophie, you have nothing to fear.’

    ‘Are you certain?’

    ‘Langdon has sponsored me for his gentlemen’s club in St James,’ Granville said with some satisfaction. ‘He would hardly do that if he knew anything. I am now a member and he is most affable.’

    ‘But has he made enquiries about our family?’

    ‘Yes,’ Granville said. ‘He told me that he is quite satisfied that you and I are brother and sister, as I asserted.’ Granville laughed. ‘He almost apologised for his earlier threats.’

    Sophie rose from her chair and went to the fireplace; the sunlight streaming in through the window was reflected in the silkiness of her hair.

    ‘Are you sure he does not know about Percival?’ she said fearfully. ‘If my marriage to him should become known there is nothing that could keep me from prison.’

    She whirled to face him, her face pale.

    ‘If it came to that, Freddie, I would die. I could not endure a fate such as that.’

    ‘Langdon does not know about Sanderson, and neither does anyone else,’ Granville said soothingly. ‘Besides, I have made enquiries of the debtors’ prison where he is incarcerated.’

    ‘Freddie, you fool!’

    ‘Calm yourself, Sophie,’ he said. ‘I was most discreet. Percival Sanderson suffers greatly from the lung pestilence. He has not long to live. Soon you will be free, a true widow at last.’

    Sophie sighed. ‘Poor Percival,’ she said. ‘He was such a handsome gallant once.’

    ‘Think no more of him,’ Granville advised. ‘Think instead of Ambrose Warburton.’ He paused and looked at her. ‘Lord Langdon is satisfied that I am no threat but I believe he may be planning something against Major Warburton.’

    ‘Huh!’ Sophie scoffed. ‘Ambrose can look after himself, I think. Although it still worries me that he had not announced our betrothal.’

    ‘He may think it advisable to wait until the Season is coming to an end.’

    ‘Perhaps,’ Sophie nodded. ‘But I also wonder if he has thoughts towards Eleanor Wellesley?’

    ‘What?’

    At the mention of that name his body tensed. That possibility had not occurred to him, in view of the powerful allure of his sister on Warburton.

    Eleanor Wellesley shall not know any happiness, he vowed in his thoughts. He must act soon to capture her, and destroy her pureness for ever.

    He became aware that Sophie was staring at him with a puzzled frown.

    ‘Your thoughts are very dark, Freddie, by your expression,’ she said. ‘Perhaps you have yearnings towards Eleanor Wellesley?’

    ‘Not in the least,’ he replied striving for airiness. ‘I hardly know her.’

    He picked up his hat and stick.

    ‘I must now leave,’ he said. ‘I must tell you, though, that I intend to have a word with Mrs Possimer.’

    ‘Freddie! Do not make trouble for me,’ Sophie said sharply. ‘I am well satisfied with the arrangement.’

In the room next door Mrs Possimer removed her ear from the hole which she had previously made in the partition wall between the two rooms, and replaced a painting over it. She quickly left the room and went out into the hall where Mr Granville was loitering.

Granville looked keenly at the housekeeper as she appeared. Despite what Sophie had said, she would be better off without this untrustworthy woman around.

    ‘I think it better that you quit your position as housekeeper to my...to Mrs Valentine,’ he said belligerently. ‘You do not suit.’

    Mrs Possimer gave a quiet smile. ‘I suit very well, sir,’ she said. ‘I am very snug here, and I intend to stay.’

    ‘I could make things very unpleasant,’ he said in a surly tone. ‘You had better heed my warning before it is too late.’

    ‘Dear me!’ Mrs Possimer said. ‘That sounds like an ugly threat, sir. Threats do not sit well with me or my friend, Mr Quipp.’

    Granville was startled. ‘Mr Quipp?’

    ‘You must remember Mr Quipp,’ Mrs Possimer said evenly. ‘I believe he did some work for you last winter. He speaks highly of you, Mr Granville, sir. He takes great care of his friends, does Mr Quipp.’

    She was smiling at him in a way that made the hair on the back of his neck prickle.

    ‘We shall see!’ he blurted for want of something better to say and turning let himself out.

Outside the house he paused and considered what had passed. Why did she mention Quipp? How did she know the enquiry agent or whatever the fellow was? Quipp knew about his interest in Eleanor Wellesley. Was that something to worry about?

    He glanced back at the house and for a moment thought that the drapes of an upstairs window moved. He shrugged then.

    Mrs Possimer was Sophie’s problem. He would concern himself only with the destruction of Eleanor Wellesley. Her fate was sealed. He would see to it that she was degraded and that she would die from a shameful disease.   

    He lifted his head and threw back his shoulders. That was to be soon in the future, he could feel it in his bones.

    He began to walk towards the corner to find a hansom, when one came past him at a sharp clip. He turned to stare after it.

    It stopped outside the house where Sophie had rooms. The occupant got out and paid the cabbie and then walked confidently into the house.

    Sir Hugo Warburton!

    Well, well! Granville was surprised and could not keep a smile from his lips. So Sophie had the two Warburton brothers dangling after her. Well, may the best man win!

In an upstairs room in the house where Mrs Vallentine had rooms, Mrs Possimer sat down at a bureau, drawing a piece of writing paper towards her. She dipped a quill in the inkstand and began to write.

    Dear Mr Quipp, I have so much to tell you...