Lady Penelope stormed into her sister’s sitting room with a fury. Lecia rolled her eyes and set aside her letters.
“What the devil is wrong with you?”
“That girl…”
Lecia capped her fountain pen. “What girl?” She inquired in all innocence. Penelope pointed at her sister, face twisted in a glare.
“Don’t start, Lecy. You know exactly who I mean.”
Lecia pressed a hand to her heart. “Has your bosom buddy not turned out how you expected?”
“You knew? About what she did to me?”
“I had an inkling, my dear Penny, but I am never certain and Lucas’ investigations have not been too fruitful.”
“Then what does he know?”
“Why would I tell you that? You have easily fallen under her influence with a bat of her pretty eyes.”
“We’re family!”
“Blood only runs so thick, Penny,” replied Lecia. She rose from her chair. “You look better than usual. What happened?”
Penelope threw herself into an armchair. “I don’t really know. We were talking about Lady Giuliana and her plans for her...and there was a gust of wind and my mind cleared.”
Lecia trusted her sister as far as she could throw her, so she took her words with a grain of salt. Yes, Lucas uncovered tidbits of interest, which meant Lecia trusted Penelope’s words even less than before.
“A gust of wind?”
“And then I left as quickly as I could. Why did you let me befriend her?”
“I did not let you do anything and you never listen to me when I warn you about your odious friends. You’re safe and have hopefully not committed any crimes in her name...have you?”
“Not any that will get me imprisoned.”
“And the incident of Giuliana’s abduction last night. What do you know of it?”
“Little.”
“Then she was responsible.”
Penelope lifted her shoulders. “I cannot be certain.” She massaged her temples, emitting a winsome sigh. “My head…”
“Your antics don’t work on me. It’s a simply yes or no answer.” Lecia rested her elbows on her desk. “It’s not as if we have any evidence to tie her to the crime.” She turned her head towards the wall. “It’s a shame really.”
The silence between them grew long and Lecia merely waited for Penelope’s response. Quiet never set well with her vivacious younger sister. She craved action and drama, always ready to prattle on about this and that.
She opened her mouth to respond to Lecia, but the words strangled in her throat. She clutched her neck, blue eyes bugging out of her head. Spit gurgled in her mouth as she struggled to speak. Lecia leapt to her feet and rushed to Penelope’s side.
“That horrid child, she put a hex on you,” she said through gritted teeth. “Stop trying to talk , you blighted fool!”
Penelope shook her head, somehow maintaining her usual haughtiness. The child managed to be stubborn even at such a time.
“Fine! Then just die!” Lecia shouted, stalking toward the door of her office. She paused with her trembling fingers on the doorknob, listening keenly to her sister. Without Lecia’s attention on her, the choking subsided. She began to gasp for breath, gulping at the sweet air.
“So,” decided Lecia in a quiet voice, “She plays dirty.” But how does a country bumpkin learn the forbidden arts? Lecia pulled on the rope to summon the maids. They arrived in quick order, eyes filling with worry at the sight of Lady Penelope bent over in her chair.
“She needs to be taken to her room and summon a doctor.” Lecia exited the room then, still shaken from what she witnessed. Adella Dunstan went so far to hex Penelope to hide her dealings. That would not go unpunished. For a young woman to go to that end meant that she had much to hide.
“Fetch my parasol and reticule,” she ordered, stopping a new maid on her tracks. Lecia glanced over the younger woman who dropped into a thoroughly inelegant curtsy. “I do not know you,” she stated. “And I hire all the maids.”
“L-Lady Penelope hired me, my lady. My name is Marian.”
“For what?”
“As a personal maid...t-to assist her with getting ready for the day and accompanying her on social calls.”
“I was unaware dear Penny was in such demand,” Lecia declared, more to herself than the maid.
“She has become quite popular after becoming friends with Ms. Dunstan.”
“Ah, yes, the estimable Ms. Dunstan. You know of her?”
“I have met her on multiple occasions. She is all that a lady should be.”
Lecia held back an eye roll and gritted her teeth. “Then you were present this afternoon at the Dunstan residence?”
Marian jutted her chin out. “I was there to witness Lady Giuliana’s tantrum.”
“You speak ill of those above you.”
After the maid’s retort, Lecia was certain she hallucinated Marian’s vehemence. She licked her lips and arched a brow. “What did you say?”
“I do not have a speech impediment, my lady. You heard me.”
“How fitting that Lady Penelope hires such ill-mannered servants.” She sighed. “Whatever your personal feelings toward Lady Giuliana may be, you will not speak ill of her.”
“You family may pay my wages, my lady, but you cannot control my mind.”
Lecia only chuckled and waved the maid away. “Go fetch my things as instructed.”
“As you wish, my lady.”
Her influence reached farther than she anticipated. Lecia folded her arms across her chest and waited for Marian’s return. She was, at the very least, efficient and returned with her arms laden with Lecia’s items.
“You will accompany me while Penny recovers. Do you understand?”
“I want to stay at her side.”
“I am the lady of the house, Marian. Do well to remember that.” Lecia turned on her heel. “I simply must call on my fiance. He sent me a note earlier today that the Duke is moping at his house.”
“The Duke?” Marian squeaked out his exalted name. Not for the first time, Lecia turned her head away to hide her annoyance. This maid vexed her as much as Ms. Dunstan did. It was an admirable feat.
In all honesty, Adella continued to impress Lecia. Especially with this little spy she introduced into Penelope’s ranks.
“Yes, Marian. The Duke is a good friend of mine.” Lecia offered her a sickly sweet smile. “I hope you report goods things back to Ms. Dunstan.”
“W-What?”
“Let’s not play dumb.”
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