His Lady Mistress

44 His Lady MistressA moment later she had her answer. The door opened andLady Moncrieff looked in.‘Is his lordship about, wench?’Verity couldn’t help her eyes narrowing slightly. From herposition she could see the lordship in question. And the veryfaint shake of his head.Blandly she answered in her best servant’s voice. ‘Oh, no,mum. The master went boatin’ wiv all the other quality. Doyou need summat mending?’‘Lord Blakehurst, girl!’Verity gritted her teeth. ‘Lord Blakehurst? Up here, mum?What would his lordship want wiv the likes of me?’The delicately curved lips curled. ‘Nothing, I dare say.You’ve little enough to recommend you!’The door shut with a snap and Verity muttered one pungentand graphic word more usually associated with the kennels.‘Yes. Quite.’She spun around and met her unwanted companion’s smileas he emerged from behind the door. Heat surged across hercheeks. In her anger she’d forgotten his presence.‘She was wrong, you know,’ he added conversationally.‘Wrong?’‘Wrong,’ he affirmed. ‘You have plenty to recommendyou,’ he went on. ‘Brains for one thing. Your accent wasinspired.’ The smile in his eyes deepened. ‘Thank you,’ headded.She resisted the urge to smile back and said shortly, ‘Ithink you’d better go.’ Before her lungs forgot how to function.His brows rose. ‘So soon? But I haven’t paid my debt toyou.’Her breath seized. If he stayed...if anyone came in...‘There is no debt. You helped me. Please—you must go! Ifanyone finds you here...’ Her voice dried up at his smile.‘They’ve all gone boating.’‘And the servants—the other servants?’ she amended, re­