Thus, naturally, he was the very first thing she saw when she came in through the door.
“What are you doing down here?” she asked, forgetting all her good intentions to be polite and distant and respectable when she came face-to-face with him just inside the servants’ entrance. “You will put your poor staff in a tizzy. Quality is supposed to remain above stairs, you know. It’s the natural separation of things.”
He beamed at her. This entrance was below ground, but that smile made it bright as spring sunshine in the corridor.
“Good to see you too, Letty,” he said.
She smiled back—and then,verybelatedly, remembered that she was going to be good, damn it all.
“Your Grace,” she said, curtsying.
“If youmust,” Ezra said, sounding disgusted.
Letitia ducked her head to hide her smile as she fell into step beside him.
“Have you found a new position yet?” he asked, letting her go ahead of him as they climbed the narrow staircase back to the main floor.
“No, not yet,” she admitted. “Most families who come down for the Season have their children’s care already accounted for, and those who live in London year-round don’t seek new hires all that regularly. I have seen some postings for tutors forthe daughters of this solicitor or that well-to-do merchant, but none are live-in positions, which I do prefer. Although…” She shrugged off her spencer and handed it to Mary, one of the maids, who welcomed her back with a smile and nod. “My rooms now are quite nice. I suppose it wouldn’t be bad if I stayed there for longer and worked in a few households.”
“No,” Ezra said at once. “That would have you traipsing about the city at all hours. It isn’t safe.”
He looked concerned enough that she decided against reminding him that it was not his decision, actually, and instead gave him a patient look.
“Lots and lots of women do it,” she reminded him. “Just not ladies. And I am not a lady.”
Ezra looked unmoved by this logic.
“No,” he said again. “Honestly, Letty—Miss Knightley,” he amended at her stern look, though he did roll his eyes as he said it. “I think you’d be better off staying here, in one of the guest rooms, until you find a permanent place. It’s safer than living on your own.”
That was sweet. Misguided, definitely. Almost certainly a terrible idea. But itwassweet.
“The first time I lived on my own in rented rooms was when I was fourteen and went off to school,” she said. “I daresay that I shall manage it now that I am a full thirty years of age.”
This reminder that she was far, far away from her girlhoodalsofailed to sway Ezra.
“It isn’tyouthat I am worried about,” he said. “You are eminently capable. It’s Dugley.”
She could not help it; she flinched at the sound of his name. Though Ezra looked like he regretted causing her distress, he pressed on.
“See?” he asked. “You’re worried, too. I don’t like that he knows you’re in London. I don’t like that he sent you a letter. I just… I have a bad feeling about it.”
Letty knew that feeling. It had been hovering at her back for nigh on two years now.
“He’s in Belgium,” she soothed. “As long as I am in England, I am safe. It will be just fine.”
Ezra opened his mouth, apparently ready to argue more—and wasn’tthatvery in character for him—but he was interrupted by a child’s cry of delight.
“Miss Knightley!” Iris cried from the upper landing. “You’re here!”
When Letitia looked up, she saw Sarah standing behind Iris. Sarah waved with her good hand, and Letitia waved back, pleased to see her friend despite how short their time apart was. She had to be quick, though, because Iris had come running down the stairs at a pretty frightening speed, Hermes right behind her, yipping with excitement as she fed off her mistress’s merriment.
“Good afternoon, dearest,” Letitia said with a laugh, catching Iris neatly when the child flung herself into Letty’s arms. Letty hugged the girl tight, noting just how wonderful it felt to have Iris within reach again.
She had missed her. She loved her. She wished there were a way for her to stay.
Ezra was watching them fondly, but it seemed he was trying to hide it. Letitia looked away. There were ideas in that look—ideas she could not think about without her heart breaking even more.
She dragged her attention back to Iris.
