Page 40 of Mistress of Sins

“I must wash and change before she returns with Mr. Branwen,” she said as she took off Greystone’s cloak, revealing the bedraggled, wine-soaked shirt. “Can I impose on you to keep watch for them?”

Mrs. Holloway nodded. “I’ll warm some water for you and send it up with Debny.”

Upstairs Jennet gratefully stripped out of Greystone’s wine-stained shirt and her undergarments, and donned her dressing gown. When her mother’s maid arrived with the steaming jug, she also offered a bottle of rose water.

“For your hair, Miss.” Debny grimaced at the snarled mess hanging around Jennet’s face. “I’ll brush it out for you once you’re dressed.”

“Thank you, but since I am responsible for this disaster, I will see to it.” She hesitated before she asked, “I need to speak with Mama when she arrives, and what I have to say will be distressing to her. You may want to prepare for one of her episodes.”

The maid frowned. “Mrs. Reed saddled a horse to go after you tonight, Miss, and I’ve never seen her stronger or more determined. She panics only when she feels helpless and can do nothing. That’s when her fears prey on her thinking.”

Jennet felt astonished. “I have never seen that about Mama.”

Debny nodded. “You always want to calm her, Miss, as you should. But the real remedy is to give her something to do about her worries. Then she is like the tiger.”

Once the maid left, Jennet attended to washing and dressing herself, and brushed out her hair, braiding it as she did every night. As she did she thought of everything she had meant to conceal from Margaret, and silently debated the wisdom of doing so. If she was with child, she would need her mother’s help and support. She would also have to contact William’s mother, and inform her she was to become a grandmother.

Even if there was no child, Jennet still needed to explain what had happened at Dredthorne Hall. Margaret had been right about the old house, and it would gratify her to know that for once her fears had been justified.

The vicar arrived a short time later with Jennet’s mother, who looked pale and exhausted. The moment Margaret saw her she opened her arms, and caught her in a tight embrace.

“Go home, dear Mr. Branwen, and bless you for delivering my girl back to me,” Margaret said. “We will forever be in your debt.”

Jeffrey caught Jennet’s eye, and she nodded to him. “Think nothing of it, Mrs. Reed. Miss Reed.” He bowed and departed.

Mrs. Holloway took Margaret’s coat, and smiled as her mistress thanked her for her efforts. Jennet thought her mother might wish to retire, and suggested the same, a notion that the older woman promptly squashed.

“You will explain to me why you remained behind at Dredthorne Hall,” Margaret said, and marched her into the sitting room.

After Jennet lit the lamps, she sat down with her by the banked fire, and tried to think of how to begin.

“It was William, was it not?” her mother prompted. At her incredulous look, she added, “Debny told me last week that he had come to stay at Gerard Lodge.”

“Yes, he was there.” Jennet took hold of her hand. “Mama, I still love him. I wish you to know that before I tell you the rest—and after tonight, I will need you.”

Margaret put her arm around her, and offered Jennet her handkerchief. Only then did she feel the tears slipping down her own cheeks.

“Take your time, my dear,” her mother said gently.

It did take a great deal of time to relate all of the shocking turns the masquerade ball had taken. Jennet did not go into great detail about her intimacy with Greystone, but she did not baulk at confessing she had made love with him twice. Her voice wavered as she spoke of finding Arthur Pickering murdered, and learning that the man she loved had spent the last seven years working for the crown as a spy and an assassin. But her tone hardened as she told her mother that Catherine Tindall had been doing the same for the enemy.

Jennet did not make light of seeing Greystone being tortured, or what she had done to her former friend in order to save him from that. At last she came to the moment before she had bid him farewell, and what they had said to each other.

During that time Mrs. Holloway came in quietly with two cups of chamomile tea and some toast on a tray, and left it on the table between them. By the time Jennet finished, the first rays of dawn began to lighten the room.

“That is everything, Mama.” She was almost afraid to look at Margaret. “William has gone to London with Catherine and the cipher. I expect once he has turned them over to his superiors that he will return to his duties. I am sure that I will never see him again.” She met her mother’s gaze. “I am sorry for many things, but not for becoming his lover. Even if there is a child, I will never regret that.”

The older woman handed her the now-lukewarm tisane. “I will not condemn you for loving him, my darling. Now drink, and have some toast. It will settle your nerves.”

Despite her dismal mood Jennet chuckled. “I am usually the one to say that to you.”

“Mrs. Branwen did the honors tonight after I arrived all hysterics at the parsonage.” Margaret sighed. “She is so kind. She made tea for me, and added a jot of brandy to it. We had ginger nuts and talked of her plans for Christmas. I will have to send a note to her after I write to Lady Greystone.”

“I do not think you can tell the baroness about William’s work,” Jennet said. “His identity must remain secret.”

“I have absolutely nothing to say to Amelia about her son,” her mother assured her. “But if she is to be a grandmother, then I must renew our acquaintance. Perhaps I will invite her to spend Christmas with us. She will be lonely now that her husband is gone, and we will enjoy the company.”

“By then we should know, too.” Jennet put down her tea cup. “What will we do if I am increasing, Mama?”