Audrey sighed. “Well, it was secure until Edwin caught me.”
“Edwin? Who’s that?”
“The son of my employer. He’s a spoiled man who’s vicious when he doesn’t get what he wants. Last night, I was careless and paid the price.”
Mia gasped. “Did he hurt you?”
“No. I managed to get away thanks to the training Beckwith gave me, but there’s no going back there now. I’m sure Edwin is plotting his revenge as we speak and would most likely have me arrested and charged as a thief if I were ever to step foot back in that townhouse. He’s a vindictive and cruel man. That position is no longer an option.”
“I’m glad you’re not going back there,” Mia said. “I miss having you at home.”
Audrey patted her youngest sister’s shoulder. “I know, Mia, but if we are to eat, I must work. I’ll start looking for something else tomorrow. Right now, let’s make ourselves presentable, and then we can scour the house for any other valuables we don’t want Papa to sell.”
“We might be too late on that account,” Grace said. “I saw Papa leaving the house with a burlap sack last week. It might have contained the last of the silver.”
“Mama’s candlesticks?” Audrey asked.
Grace nodded. “I believe so, seeing as I can’t find them anywhere.”
“Oh no, things are worse than I thought. How could everything get so bad when I’ve barely been gone fora month?” Audrey didn’t expect her sisters to answer. Looking at their stricken faces, her heart ached for them. “Well, it’s no matter now. Come on, let’s get dressed, and then after breakfast, we can go through the house to see what’s left of the valuables.”
By the time the sisters went downstairs, Mrs. Culbert had arrived and was starting breakfast.
“Good morning, Mrs. Culbert,” Audrey said, walking into the kitchen with her sisters trailing behind her.
“Morning to you all,” the plump older woman said. “Breakfast will be ready soon.”
Audrey turned to her sisters. “Please go set the table. I need to talk to Mrs. Culbert.”
Grace and Mia nodded and scurried off to do as they were told.
Mrs. Culbert stared at Audrey. “My dear sweet girl, what happened?”
“What?”
“Your cheek.”
Audrey rubbed her cheek, where she could feel the tenderness of a bruise forming. “I’m afraid I said the wrong thing to Papa.”
Mrs. Culbert tsked. “Odious man. If it weren’t for you girls, I’d never step foot in this house again.”
“I know, and we’re forever grateful for all you do for us,” Audrey said, reaching into her pocket and pulling out some coins she’d secreted there when she dressed. “Here. This should be enough to pay your wages and buy enough food for the next fortnight.”
Mrs. Culbert reluctantly took the money. “If it weren’t for Mr. Culbert’s poor health, I wouldn’t take the money, but his medication is quite expensive, you see.”
Audrey nodded. “I understand, and I know how hard you work for us. Has Mr. Culbert shown any improvement?”
The cook shook her head. “No. I’m afraid he might not. Seems to be getting weaker every day. The cough racks his body, and only the laudanum helps him rest.”
Audrey hugged her. “Oh, I’m so sorry.”
“I am, too. You go sit down now, and I’ll bring the tea around. Breakfast will be ready soon.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Culbert. A nice cup of tea will do me wonders.”
Audrey felt bad for the cook. From what little she knew of Mr. Culbert, he didn’t seem like a very nice man, and he didn’t seem to appreciate his wife, not that Mrs. Culbert complained much. A few comments here and there had told her all she needed to know. If the worst should happen and he succumbed to his illness, she’d invite Mrs. Culbert to come live with them. Her father would never notice that the cook was there full-time. All he cared about was whether there was food on the table when he decided to grace them with his presence.
She left the kitchen in search of the butler and found him in the foyer. “Beckwith, a word, please?”
