Barbara Metzger by Lord Heartless Read Free Book Online Page B

added, looking at Hartleigh now. “He refused to take responsibility, which I am happy to see is not the case here. Maisie had to come to us, and heaven alone knows what was to happen to her or the child after, for no one hires servants with besmirched reputations or babes. As I said, the infant died. I believe the poor girl was forced to return to Lord Cosgrove's house to seek her position back. She had no references, you see, and no family to take her in."
    Carissa could well understand the girl's plight. Encumbered by an infant, she herself had had enough trouble finding a position, even in her widow's weeds. And her father had refused to lend assistance, since she'd wed against his wishes. If it weren't for a friend of her great-aunt's, who knew one of Sir Gilliam's partners, Carissa might have been forced to accept such a situation. If not for Sir Gilliam, she and Pippa might have found themselves on the street.
    Mr. Garapie was shaking his head. “I am sorely afraid the poor child will be back here in a few months."
    Not if Carissa Kane had anything to say about it. Lord Hartleigh was all for rescuing the chit too, if it meant his daughter would be well cared for. Besides, Lord Cosgrove was a sore loser. The dirty dish was also a frequent loser, Lesley told Carissa and Byrd as they made their plans before re-entering the carriage, with a wife he kept in the country while he spent her money as fast as he could here in Town. “I knew he was a nasty piece of goods from the start, when he wasn't paying his gambling debts on time, but to rape one of his own servants..."
    Carissa was pleased to see that his lordship had some antipathy toward Lord Cosgrove's dastardy, right after his poor sportsmanship. “Do you know his direction?"
    "Aye, but I will take you and the children home first. No need for you to speak to such a blackguard."
    "I'll go, Cap'n,” Byrd offered, pulling a pistol out of his coat pocket, to Carissa's horror. “I'll have the mort back in Kensington afore the cat can scratch its ear."
    "Stubble it, Byrdie. We cannot kidnap the girl. He might be a rum go, but I'll convince Cosgrove to part with the maid, one way or the other."
    "You are both being precipitous,” Carissa put in, “besides itching for trouble. We don't know if this Maisie Banks can feed Sue, or if she wishes to, with her own infant dead. I'll go talk to her myself."
    In the end, Lord Hartleigh entered Cosgrove's front door, Mrs. Kane and the two children entered the rear, and Byrd entered the nearest pub.
    Since it was still before noon, Lord Cosgrove was still abed. He was not pleased when his valet announced an insistent caller, one who was known to be handy with his fives. Lord Hartleigh was not pleased to be kept waiting for half an hour. He was pacing around the shabby parlor, kicking at the unlighted logs in the fireplace. Cosgrove was practicing economies, it seemed. He ought to be happy to be relieved of paying one maidservant's salary.
    Cosgrove had a drunkard's nose, all red-veined and swollen. He had pouches under his eyes big enough to store a palmed ace. He had shaking hands, bad breath, and a stomach that sagged over his waistband. Lud, the viscount wondered, could he look this bad in the mornings? The thought was enough to keep him from accepting a glass of the port Cosgrove was pouring for breakfast.
    Cosgrove slammed the decanter down. “So how much do I owe you, Hartleigh? I tell you right off I'll need time to recoup my losses, so you've wasted the call. Don't know why you're in such a rush, dash it. Ain't like you're sailing close to the wind, blast you."
    "You do not owe me anything, Cosgrove, for I won't play with your ilk."
    "What's that supposed to mean, ‘my ilk'?"
    "I mean belligerent, bacon-brained gamblers who can't afford to pay their debts."
    "What, did you come here to insult a man in his own house?” Hell, if Cosgrove didn't owe the Corinthian anything, he didn't have to take his arrogance.
    "I came to