not go with you to the Hervey estate.”
“You must. I’ll find you a room somewhere at an inn. You
can stay there until I speak with my father—”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I have no desire to see Miss Patience again.”
Teach sucked in a quick breath. “So you wish to stay here
with Margery?”
“I prefer to stay here rather than go to a strange inn and sit
in a strange room all day. Or all night. At least here I can go to the city. I can get out.”
“You can do that there. There’s a small village—”
“And I will be more out of place there than I am here. I will
not go with you.”
17 2
Once again Teach was at a loss for words. They stared at each other for several seconds.
“Why are you so stubborn?”
“Why are you so persistent? I will not accompany you. Now
if you’ll excuse me, I wish to change.” Anne turned and headed
up the stairs.
Teach called out after her. “I’ll instruct Margery to leave
you alone. You will no longer perform any chores. Stay in your
room—”
Anne shot him a dark look over her shoulder.
“All right, then simply stay out of Margery’s way. I will tell her who you are and that you are no longer employed as a servant.”
She froze on the top step, one hand clutching the banister.
“Then what am I?” she asked in a voice that was barely audible.
“And where do I belong?” Not waiting for an answer, she picked
up her skirts and fled.
Teach watched her go, tempted to force her to accompany him. But deep down he knew she was right. Knowing his
father’s temperament as he did, Teach understood that it would
be best to confront him alone, and find out how Anne had
come to work in the Drummond household.
Unfortunately for Teach, he wouldn’t reach the Hervey
estate until later that evening. He could not summon any
enthusiasm at the thought of seeing Miss Patience again.
Entering his room, he grabbed a small trunk from his ward—
robe, and then threw several garments inside. Henry Barrett’s
17 3
words raced through his mind. “I could make your life very uncomfortable if you’re not careful.”
By the time Teach left his room, his face had settled into
harsh lines. What kind of power did Barrett still hold over
Anne? Or had that been an empty threat? Why had Barrett
brought her there in the first place? He had to benefit from her position in the Drummond household somehow. Otherwise he would not have bothered taking her from the workhouse. A
caring older brother he was not.
It was obvious that Barrett had lied to Anne, and more than
likely he’d lied to Teach’s father as well. Either way, it didn’t matter. Teach would make Barrett pay. Stealing his purse had been just the beginning.
174
C H A P T E R 1 6
Teach
The crescent moon hanging low in the sky cast just enough
light to illuminate the Hervey estate as the carriage pulled up
the drive. It was an ornate, rectangular building with ivy wind—
ing along the sides like spidery veins, and only a few rooms were lit from within.
Before when he’d come to visit, Teach had always respected
its grandeur and opulence. It had reminded him of an elderly
duchess who refused to age. Looking at it now for the first
time in more than a year, Teach recognized it for what it was.
A grandstanding showpiece with very little substance behind
the facade.
The carriage pulled to a stop, and he jumped out, not
waiting for the footman to perform his duty. The front door
opened, and an elderly butler held a candle aloft, bowing when
he recognized Teach’s face.
17 5
“Good evening, Mr. Edward.”
Teach nodded. “Abraham. How are you?”
Abraham’s expression was unreadable as he answered, “Fine,
sir. Thank you for asking.”
The butler had been a fixture in the Hervey household for
as long as Teach had known them, and Teach marveled that
the old man still retained his dignity in this unconventional
atmosphere.
“Tell me, has my father retired for the evening?” It was half
past nine. Master Drummond was notorious for going to bed
early. Only Teach knew that once he was in the safety of his
room, his father would often read for hours.
“Yes, sir, as well as Lady Hervey. But Miss Patience and the
Earl of Lorimar are still with Lord Hervey in the drawing room.
Would you care to join them? Miss Patience heard you arrive
and is expecting you.”
Teach wanted nothing more than to see his father, but knew
etiquette required that he make an appearance. “Very well,” he
said, unable to hide the resignation in his voice.
Abraham bowed slightly at the waist and turned, leading
Teach down the hall. Opening the door to the drawing room,
he announced Teach’s arrival. William and Patience stood
up from the divan as Teach strode across the carpet toward
them. The baron sat in a large chair near a window, his head
tipped back and his mouth open, a pronounced snore sound—
ing through the room. Patience’s face flushed a deep red, and