Agent kingdom of maidenh.., p.12
Agent: Kingdom of Maidenhead Book Two, page 12
Despite being all but completely forgettable in appearance, this girl is somewhat fascinating. Our dance ends, and I take her back over to near the baroness. Janice looks at me with approval and says yes when I ask her to dance. When I get an opportunity, I ask Betsy to dance again.
“What neighborhood is your first apartment building in?” I ask.
“It’s in Kings Rest, near the market,” she answers. “It’s directly on a trolley line.
“I wouldn’t think you would make that much in that area.”
“I’m able to charge an average of almost five silvers per month, and my building stays near capacity. That’s a little above average rent for the street my building is on. I have ninety-eight apartments for rent. After taxes and insurance, I pay the couple who maintain and clean the building a percentage of the rent on top of their salary, along with providing them free rent on their apartment.
“I put a quarter of the rest into a building account to cover major repairs. The smaller repairs come out of my monthly income. That ends up leaving me, on average, nearly three golds per month. Once I started buying the flats in the building I live in, I started netting almost that much from each renter. Enough that I started buying the flats quicker and quicker. Now I’m making more per month on that building than I do in over a year from the first one.”
“So, the two buildings won’t keep you too busy to work?” I ask.
“Oh, no. I just need to check in with my building superintendents a couple of times per month and make sure the bills and taxes are all paid. The only time issue I have now is that I recently came into possession of several buildings scattered around the city. They are currently derelict, and I’m trying to figure out how to repurpose them in ways that are profitable.”
“Do you have any ideas about what to do with them?” I ask.
“A friend of mine complained about the uncertainty of finding trustworthy delivery kids when she needs them. Maybe I’ll figure out how to turn them into delivery and messenger depots. If the kids pay a penny or two per month, they’ll get a pin to show that they are from one of the depots.
“The people who need deliveries made pay two or three pennies per week. More if they are a volume business. Then I just need to put out some boxes or something where delivery requests can be made or even scheduled. The kids would still be able to earn their normal fees per delivery, and the folks needing deliveries made could be assured of having someone there when they needed them.
“I could even set up some small rooms for the orphans to live in for a small rent payment. If the building has a little cafeteria, it could serve lunch for everyone, as well as breakfast and dinner for those who live there. I think everyone wins except for the cheapskates and the dishonest kids.”
As the dance goes on, I get more interested in this girl’s brain. She may chatter, but there is a shrewd mind behind it. I really hope she will come to work for me. At least then, I’ll have someone who can go toe-to-toe with the scamp in the brains area. She might even be able to out talk him. I regret it when the dance ends.
As attractive as she is, she’s likely less than half my age. So, I need to work on the woman I might, with a lot of luck, crawl into bed with tonight. I do end up spinning Betsy around the dance floor a third time. To make up for it, I dance with the baroness no less than five times. That way, she knows where my interest truly lays.
It isn’t until our last dance that I notice that Janice’s broach is missing. The little snot did it, and I still haven’t even seen him. About fifteen minutes after I notice her broach is gone, a page hands me a sealed envelope with my name on it.
I open it, and all it says is, “Check your coat pocket,”
There is a perfect representation of the Queen’s side of a silver bit coin drawn below the words. I’d question the page about where he got to the message from, but I know Bit would have made that a dead end. I make for the cloakroom and find her broach in one of my coat’s inside chest pockets.
Now I get to play the hero. The only problem is that I didn’t count on her two daughters. Still, she’s a bright woman and seems interested. Maybe she has a trick up her sleeve of her own. As I approach her, Betsy is there with her two friends.
“Milady, we found your broach,” I say as I present it to her.
“Oh my!” she exclaims, as her hand flies to her chest.
“I didn’t even know it was missing. Thank you so much, Arem,” the baroness says with a smile.
“It is my pleasure, milady,” I reply.
“Janice, please, Arem,” she says as she presents her chest to me in an obvious invitation. “I’d feel much better if you would pin it on me.”
“It’s my honor, Janice,” I reply with a smile of my own.
As I pin her jewelry back onto her chest, she twists just right to rub the tip of her breast against the inside of my wrist. I give her another smile in acknowledgment.
“I suddenly find myself tired. Perhaps you would escort me home, Arem,” Janice says. “Knowing there are thieves around makes me nervous.”
“It would be my honor.”
She turns toward her daughters and says, “I’m sorry to cut your fun short, girls, but I feel the need to make our way home now.”
“If I may suggest, milady,” Betsy interjects. “My penthouse is only a few blocks from here. Perhaps Kristi and Alice can spend the night in my guest bedrooms. We are close enough in size that I’m sure I have some proper day clothing in my closet they can borrow in the morning.
“I can bring them home, with my bodyguard and lady’s maid present, using my building’s carriage. It might be fun to go on a shopping trip, including lunch. I do live near Prince Street, after all. We could arrive at your estate a little before dinnertime.”
“Oh, bless you, Betsy, for looking after my daughters’ enjoyment. Girls, do you want to do as Betsy suggests?”
“Oh yes, mother,” Kristi exclaims, as Alice nods. “I’d even be pleased if we could invite ourselves over for a second night. If Betsy can put up with us.”
“It would be fine with me,” Betsy says. “Except for my lady’s maid, I rarely get to spend time with girls near my own age.”
“If you are sure it is no imposition, Betsy,” Janice says. “You are welcome to entertain my miscreants for two nights. No later than dinner the day after tomorrow, girls. If there is an issue with that, just send a messenger.”
“Thank you, Mother!” Alice exclaims as she throws her arms around Janice in a hug.
Kristi gives her mom a kiss on the cheek. Janice and I escape before Betsy comes to her senses. Bless the girl. I expect she invites the girls to stay with her on purpose, knowing what their mother wants with me. Kristi probably asked for the second night for the same reason.
The messenger who came before lunch on the second day with a pleading request to stay another night was sent back with permission for two nights. There is another ball on the second night. Janice proves to have an extremely comfortable bed. I just wish she would let me get at least a nap in it from time to time.
I glare at Bit when he next shows his face in the office. He just sends back that now infuriating smirk. The one that challenges me. I’ll not fail to rise to the challenge.
“There is another ball in ten days,” I start, then give him the particulars.
“Already lost the baroness?” he asks.
“No, she said the ball in four days is the last we can be seen in public together without an excessive tongue-wagging response. Since we can’t be seen in public, it’s best I don’t be seen visiting her.”
I get the sneaky suspicion that Bit already knows this. He’s just giving me a chance to show off to the rest of the team.
We are in full ball season, so there are rarely more than five or six days between balls. I attended the second ball with Janice two nights ago, but that girl was still entertaining her daughters in her home, so I didn’t get to dance with her. That ball was mostly for us old fogeys anyway, so the youngsters tend to stay well away.
I do get to dance with Betsy some during the next ball, even though I had to wrack my brain to remember her name when she gets here. She is still a joy to talk to. It’s nice to ask someone a question and to get an enjoyable answer, even if she uses eleven words when one will do. She also seems to be gathering some other girls beyond the sisters.
I notice that Kristi and Alice are dressed and groomed differently. They seem much more attractive than before. They aren’t beautiful, but any man worth a damn would be pleased to have either one on his arm. I wonder how much of that is Betsy’s influence.
It is unfortunate that this is the last night that Janice and I will be together. Alice and Kristi have different plans about that though, as they ask if they can stay with Betsy again. This time it can only be for three nights, as everyone has to get ready for the next ball after this one.
The next targeted ball ends up being very similar to the first targeted ball. Another very nice countess is my prey this time. She is just as appreciative as Janice was. Her daughter is already part of Betsy’s growing coterie, so there isn’t an issue there. Jenny’s son asks if he can take some friends to their family hunting lodge for a week. He does this after he sees the way the wind is blowing when I pin his mother’s broach back onto her chest. He says he plans to leave directly from the ball.
She dumped me after the next ball. By the fifth ball, Betsy’s flock is up to eight girls. Kristi and Alice continue to improve in the looks department as do the other girls that stay with her. They seem to be attracting boys on their own now.
Every time Betsy sees a boy come up to ask one of them to dance, without Betsy having to redirect them, she gets a self-satisfied smile on her face. I’m not even sure if any of the girls changed anything physical during the last two balls. They just seem more confident in themselves.
Dancing with Betsy is still a joy. Her constant nattering is soothing instead of annoying. I wonder if Betsy’s talking would ever become annoying to a man living with her. For now, it is very charming. This ball is a disappointment in that I go home alone. I’ve become really fond of waking up next to someone. I should have made an arrangement with Bit. Maybe we can start going after bigger prey.
I’m also disappointed that Betsy hasn’t contacted me about a job. I only mention it twice. The second time, she says she is too busy with the delivery depots to fully consider my offer for the time being. With all of the connections she is making with the noble daughters of the realm, she could become invaluable.
Maybe I can offer her fifteen golds per month. I’m sure the Queen will approve the extra expense. I admit to being mildly surprised that the Queen hasn’t brought her in for an audience yet. I’ve no doubt that Anne has heard about her already.
Once Duchess Grand Hill has used me up, I expect I should go looking for a Betsy my own age. The duchess is our target for tonight. This is the last straw for me to try and figure out how Bit is getting in and out without me seeing him.
I know he must have some sort of trick, but I can’t for the life of me, figure out what it is. Besides the duchess is the last of the noble widows that is near my age that I can dally with. I won’t need Bit for my romantic endeavors after this, but I still have a burning need to know how he does it.
This ball goes almost the same as our last target balls. One main difference is that the duchess insists that I call her Therese as soon as our dancing conversation starts.
Betsy’s coterie seems to have grown into a full-blown court, with our young heroine as its monarch. Just going into that clutch to ask her to dance seems almost intimidating. The second time I invade the group and rescue her highness from the clutches of their nattering, Betsy asks me if I would like to go to the buffet.
I relent, and we follow the crowd in that direction. There is a sudden press of bodies, and I lose her in the scrum. I look back and there are at least five people between us. I grab two plates and lift them high, and Betsy gives me a half wave when she sees that. I make up plates for us both, then I find her, and we share a quiet snack together.
“At least I don’t have to find an excuse to distract the duchess’ non-existent children for you this time,” Betsy says with a teasing smile between bites.
“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean, young lady,” I say with a little more firmness than intended. Her smile only gets a little bigger.
“Aren’t you afraid that one of your playmates will decide to keep you?”
“I’m not of high enough station for any of them, so we are both safe from entangling each other.”
“As I understand it, the duchess has the Queen’s ear. Her Majesty could overcome your lack of station with the stroke of a pen.”
“She wouldn’t do that to me,” I say, admittedly with some amount of uncertainty.
“Maybe Her Majesty cares more about your happiness and wellbeing than you know. Her grace seems quite the catch. She seems to be very interested in you as well. I expect you won’t need to use whatever scheme it is that you used on the baroness and the countess. It’s possible that she sees the hope of happiness in your person.”
That thought stills me and makes me wonder if it is possible. When I look over at Therese, she smiles at me. I can’t help but to smile back.
“Don’t be a dolt and go dance with her,” Betsy orders me.
I can’t see any reason not to, so I get up and walk toward her. I feel something in my jacket pocket. When I feel it with my hand, I can tell it is Therese’s bracelet. I pause and turn to look back at Betsy. She is once again reigning over her court of eligible noble daughters, with a group of young noblemen in orbit around them. I realize that all of them seem more attractive than they have in the past. I wonder just how much of that is Betsy’s influence.
I turn and continue toward Therese. She is sitting and talking with some of the mothers of the girls in Betsy’s coterie. She has a hard time keeping her eyes off of me. Even when she is speaking, her eyes constantly drift to me, then snap back to whomever she is speaking to. As I approach, she stands expectantly. In for a copper, in for a gold, I think to myself.
“Therese, someone slipped this into my pocket a short while ago,” I say.
Honesty, even if it isn’t the whole truth.
“Oh!” she gasps in surprise as she looks to her wrist.
The wide diamond-encrusted platinum jewelry had been strapped over the brocade wrist cuff of her gown. I fasten her bracelet back around her wrist. I don’t release her hand for a long moment, and she clasps her fingers around my hand. She looks up at me through eyes of hope and longing. The same emotions I was feeling not long ago.
“Please dance with me,” I plead.
“It will be my pleasure.”
I lead her out onto the dance floor, both of us holding the other’s hand as if it is as precious as breath. We dance while staring into each other’s eyes until near the end of the dance when we simultaneously stop. I bend down to her and kiss her. I completely forget about where we are at. I slowly become aware of a growing roar of sound building. It isn’t until our lips part that I realize the sound is the applause of the other attendees. Even some of my former lovers.
“Take me home,” Therese whispers directly into my ear.
As I escort her off of the floor, I see Betsy’s brilliant smile. I wave my hand at her as if to say go away, and her smile only gets brighter. We obtain and don our outerwear from the cloakroom attendant. Once we’re outside, the entry steward sends for Therese’s carriage. I hand her up into it and follow myself. It’s only a short drive to her mansion. As we step out of the carriage and approach her front door, I stop. She spins to look at me, concern all over her face.
“Earlier, I didn’t tell you the whole truth,” I admit. “I commissioned a young thief I’m evaluating to steal your bracelet just so I could give it back to you, with the hope that you would take me home and reward me exactly like this.”
“I know,” she responds. “Bit slipped into my carriage as I left my mansion this morning when I was going to get prepped for the ball. He said that he was going to steal something of mine and that you would give it back. He also told me why.”
“The little scamp. What else did he tell you?”
“That will remain a woman’s secret,” she says with a smile. “Now, are you going to take me inside and bed me? Or are you going to let your sense of honor screw up the rest of both of our lives?”
Needless to say, I couldn’t resist her invitation, not that I would ever want to.
The next morning, I’m lying on my back. Therese’s naked body is draped partway across mine. Her head is using the front of my shoulder as her pillow. Interesting point, duchesses drool, or at least this one does. I gently bury my nose in her golden curls and take in the lovely scent of her hair. Then, I lay back and stare at the canopy over the top of her massive bed. I’m so lost in thought that I don’t even feel her head move.
Chapter twelve
Evidence
“Good morning,” Therese says.
“Mmm, good morning,” I reply with a kiss.
“What are you thinking about?”
“A number of things, mostly about how incredibly lucky I am to be right here with you.”
“After your performance last night, luck has nothing to do with it.”
That earns her even more kisses.
“So, what else were you thinking of?” she asks.
“Bit,” I admit. “I’m supposed to be a trained observer and intelligence agent. I haven’t even seen him at the balls, let alone how he carried off the thefts.”
“How many times have you tried this ploy?”
“You are the third. You are the only one I’ve been honest with.”
That earns me a searing kiss.
“Is there anything for you to worry about with the others?” Therese asks.
