Her father stepped further into the room. “We will be attending Lord Pendley’s ball in two days’ time and Juliette will be accompanying us.”
Simone’s mouth dropped. “You are bringing your mistress to Lord Pendley’s ball?”
Rather than looking ashamed, he buckled down. “I am, and I expect you to be cordial with her,” he said. “Do not think I haven’t noticed that you go out of your way to avoid Juliette.”
“She should not be residing with us, Father.”
With a swipe of his hand, her father responded, “It won’t matter soon enough. Once you are wed, it will no longer be a concern.”
Feeling hurt well up inside of her, she asked, “Are you so quick to get rid of me?” She held her breath, fearful of his response. It was not the first time she had asked the question, but her father always seemed to skirt around the answer. Why wouldn’t he just tell her the truth?
His eyes softened, but his body remained rigid, almost as if he were fighting a battle within himself. “That has nothing to do with this. You should have been married years ago.”
“I am only in my third Season,” she argued.
“Regardless, I need to speak to Caleb about your dowry,” he said. “Will you inform him of this when he calls upon you?”
“I will.”
Her father took a step back. “You should give Juliette a chance. You may discover that she has more in common with your mother than you realize.”
Simone didn’t say anything in response. What could she say? Her mother was good and kind, and Juliette was conniving. No. There was no comparing them, and she refused to even think on it.
Finding herself curious, Simone asked, “How long have you known Juliette?”
Her father’s face blanched. “Why does that matter?”
The way he spoke his words made Simone think Juliette had been around longer than she had realized. “Did Mother know about her?”
In a hard voice, her father replied, “It is none of your business.”
Placing her needlework down on the settee, Simone rose. “I thought you loved Mother,” she said. “How could you have kept a mistress on the side?”
Her father’s eyes narrowed. “You know not what you speak of.”
“Then enlighten me.”
“No,” he replied flatly. “You have no right to be asking me such questions.”
Rather than back down, she stood her ground, knowing she was going to stoke her father’s ire even more. But she didn’t care. “Do you even miss Mother?”
Her father took a commanding step towards her. “I demand that you stop speaking.”
“I am not a servant you can order about,” Simone said. “I am your daughter, and I deserve to know the truth.”
“The truth?” her father huffed. “You deserve nothing. It isonly because of my generosity that you are allowed to live here. You would be wise to remember that.”
Simone pressed her lips together as she stopped herself from confronting her father about her inheritance. As much as she wanted to reveal his deceit, she knew there was a time and a place for such things. She would bide her time, but she knew he would have his comeuppance, one way or another.
Her father took her silence as acceptance. “Good,” he muttered. “I do not want to hear you speak of this nonsense again. Do I make myself clear?”
He didn’t bother to wait for her response before he departed from the drawing room.
Simone let out a deep breath as she returned to her seat. Her father was impossible. She already knew he was a liar, but she didn’t know how far his treachery went. Was he a traitor to the Crown or was he being forced to aid Juliette? As much as she wanted to believe there was some good in her father, she had to admit that the odds were not in his favor.
Caleb’s coach came to a stop outside of his agency’s headquarters and he opened the door, not bothering to wait for the footman to come around. He looked up at the dilapidated building and realized that he missed when their headquarters were situated below a bakery. The smell of freshly baked bread was much more welcoming than the pungent odor that hung in the air in this part of Town.
He headed into the building and tipped his head at the agent who was stationed along the back wall. “Good morning,” he greeted.
