Victorian Vigilantes 01 - Saving Grace by Wendy Soliman Page A

modern bathroom attached to the bedroom and a steaming bath awaited her. Eva shed her nightgown and shift and stepped into the water with keen anticipation. Betsy sponged her back but Eva insisted upon washing the rest of her body for herself, taking her time, feeling the lifeblood slowly flowing back into her veins.
    “Shall I wash your hair for you, ma’am?”
    “Is there time to dry it before dinner?”
    “Yes, plenty.”
    “Then please do.”
    Surviving Whitechapel and washing all traces of it from her body would give her spirits a small boost. Eva’s desire to look her best had absolutely nothing to do with impressing her hosts.
    Dry from the bath, Eva became suspicious when Betsy produced delicate silk undergarments that she definitely did not own.
    “I believe his lordship sent out for a few things he thought you might need,” Betsy replied in response to Eva’s raised eyebrows.
    “Did he indeed?”
    Eva wasn’t sure what to make of that, nor did she refer to the matter again in Betsy’s hearing. Instead she sat beside the roaring fire in her new drawers, shift and stays while Betsy worked her magic with the hairbrush once again, chattering away about anything and nothing.
    “How long have you worked here?” Eva asked when Betsy temporarily ran out of things to say.
    “Five year, my lady.”
    “Do you enjoy your work?”
    “Oh yes. His lordship is a firm but fair master and he treats us all well. We’re lucky to have our positions here. No one ever leaves him.”
    Such unmitigated praise from a servant was unusual. Eva had grown up being waited on hand and foot and knew servants spoke as they found—at least when confronted with outsiders such as Eva. That Lord Torbay could inspire such loyalty in his staff told her a lot about his character.
    Her hair was now dry and Betsy set about dressing it, humming to herself as she worked. Instead of opting for the usual fashionable braided crown, she arranged it in a slightly puffed style, leaving curls playing around her face.
    “What are you doing?” Lost in thought, Eva glanced at her reflection and noticed Betsy had entwined the bulk of her hair with lappets of blue and gold ribbon. “It looks lovely but will hardly go with my gown.”
    Betsy grinned, turned to the closet and produced a gown that made Eva gasp.
    “Where did that come from? It is very lovely but hardly qualifies as sending out for a few things.”
    “You’ll have to ask his lordship, ma’am. It’s not my place to say.”
    Betsy held out the petticoats. She most certainly would ask him, Eva thought as she stepped into them. She couldn’t accept such a gift, but nor could she resist wearing it, just this once. With a heavy sigh that didn’t entirely disguise the pleasure she took from beautiful clothes, she slipped into the gown and breathed in as Betsy tightened the laces.
    “Aw, ma’am, you look a picture and that’s a fact.”
    Eva looked in the mirror and had to agree the gown was a sensation. In white grounded silk, the skirt was elegantly woven with a pattern of full-blown roses and foliage in blue to match the ribbons in her hair. The plain white body and sleeves were relieved with broad bands of blue embossed velvet and pearl ornaments. Her waist appeared tiny and her breasts spilled from the bodice in a manner that would have given William palpitations if he had known she was wearing it while dining with other men. That thought quelled any doubts she might otherwise have entertained and she slipped her feet defiantly into the blue slippers that went with the gown, unsurprised to discover they were a perfect fit.
    “Thank you, Betsy, you have worked miracles.”
    “It was a pleasure to be of service, my lady.”
    “Now, perhaps you’d better escort me to the dining room or I shall be late. This house is so large that I’ll never find my way unaccompanied.”

Chapter Seven
    Jake and Isaac, in formal evening dress, stood in the drawing room savouring their whisky as