A distraction, thank God. He turned to face the room again. “Your timing is impeccable, Lady Farnsworth.”
“Hmm, I’ve heard that same expression twice this week. I do love coincidences.” Arabella glided forward. “I have news and I need your help.”
He stared at her. Given that she wasn’t carrying Calista in her pocket, he doubted her news was all that good. However, he’d do her the favor of hearing her out. Maybe her news could provide enough diversion to save his hair. “Anything.”
“My dear brother-in-law has ordered me to London to assist with his daughter’s coming out months before the season starts.” Her nose wrinkled with distaste. “Unfortunately, I am not in a position to take my companion with me. Farnsworth would grumble incessantly about the expense, but I have a feeling the lady might be better suited as a governess if you like her.”
“You’re not going to Mercy’s wedding?”
“No. Farnsworth’s note did not allow for any delay. I am disappointed beyond all reason.”
Since when had Arabella gained a companion? Had he been so wrapped up in his own concerns that he’d failed to remember her telling him when she’d been here yesterday? He must have been. “Surely Farnsworth would not be so cruel as to deprive you of company.”
“As Farnsworth has told me before, he may do as he wishes and I must comply.” Her eyes dimmed. “But enough of me. I’m sure you’ve forgotten the details already, but you might recall I chanced upon a young lady a few days ago in need of honest employment.”
Grayling couldn’t remember her saying a word about it and he wasn’t keen on the idea of letting a stranger near his daughters. To consider it, the woman would have to be extraordinary. “Surely there are other ladies of your acquaintance who might take her in?”
“Not when she was dismissed for failing to perform her duties.”
“That is not altogether comforting.” Constantine raised a hand to his head, but at the last second refrained from tugging his hair out. “I need someone who will not run away when the children are difficult and who will obey my instructions. I’ve the devil’s luck at keeping governesses.”
“If you allow her some independence then you should have no problem. I interviewed the lady at length these past few days while she stayed with me and I understand the difficulties she had when faced with a task that had grown distasteful. I can tell you anything you need to know without adding to her embarrassment. Nothing you ask would be too much, I’m sure, but a little latitude would be advisable. She dislikes being taken for granted or taken advantage of.”
He understood the feeling. No one liked being taken advantage of. Constantine skirted his desk and sat behind it. If Arabella had undertaken the interviewing, then he would trust her knowledge and acquire the information he needed directly from her. When they met, he could decide very quickly if he wanted her or not. He pulled out a notebook and pen, poised to take notes. “Her age?”
He needed someone young enough not to complain about the number of stairs and to play with the children. They were fond of hide-and-seek.
“She didn’t say, but what woman likes to admit to that?” Arabella shrugged. “Her age is a little beneath mine, I imagine. She’s quite small and that does tend to skew one’s estimation of her years.”
Calista had not wanted to reveal her age either. Was that common among all women or just the ones he met with? A woman slightly younger than Arabella would be good. His own wife was of a similar age when she’d passed. The children would benefit from someone with more energy than the frail nurse currently supervising their care. “Who has she worked for in the past? Anyone I know?”
Arabella made an odd sound and he looked up. Her face had twisted in distaste. “That question does pose a problem unfortunately. You, see she was dismissed without a reference after a year of exemplary service. She’s guided many a young lady to come out, as it were. There is really no one to speak up for her experience, but she has all the poise and grace of a lady. She has impressed me beyond measure these past days. The girls would thrive under her influence.”
Constantine carefully placed his pen on the table and then closed the book. “How can you expect me to go along with this? You don’t know the first thing about her, do you? She could be anyone, masquerading under a false name, for all you know.” Calista had opened his eyes to that. A lesson he’d not soon forget. “You trust far too easily.”
Arabella drew in a deep breath. “I am an excellent judge of character. I took one look at her defiant eyes and knew that here was a woman with fortitude. She’s more than a match for the rigors of any position in this house.”
“I’ll be the judge of that.”
“Oh, good. That was
remarkably easy to convince you to see her. I’ll just pop out and fetch her from the carriage. Miss Clark seemed rather reluctant to step inside before I spoke to you first. I find it hard to believe she was shy of meeting you.”
Before he could stop her, Arabella swept from the room, only to return a short time later with a darkly clad figure at her back. “Lord Grayling, may I present Miss Meredith Clark.”
Gray’s eyes narrowed on the tiny woman at Arabella’s side and then his pulse leapt. He fell into the familiar world-weary gaze, now hidden behind wire-rimmed spectacles, and he stiffened. Everywhere. Calista. But looking nothing like he’d ever encountered before. Her beautiful hair was cropped short and sleeked against her skull. Her drab clothes covered so much of her that she appeared perfectly spinsterish. She did not look anything like the ravenous creature who had crawled all over his senses for hours on end. But he could not dismiss the resemblance.
She’d come to him.
And yet again, she was pretending to be someone else.
Calista dipped a curtsy, eyes downcast and demure. When she rose, she did not meet his gaze.
Then he remembered what Arabella said about distasteful requests. He met his friend’s gaze and saw her happy smile dim and fade away into seriousness. She must know where Calista had been formerly employed. But how could the two of them be together? He thought back over all that Arabella had said. Had Calista been thrown out of the House when he’d not returned, even if he’d paid to keep her nights free? He swallowed past the lump forming in his throat as he imagined the worst. Anything could have happened to Calista. Arabella had rescued his lover from the worst straits a woman could be in.
He rocked on his heels, trying to find the right words to convey his gratitude, his panic, his hope. He’d been worried. He should have gone back of his own accord, if only to ensure her nights were free from others. He should never have let her dismiss him so easily.
Arabella smiled again, nodding as if approving of his line of thought.