Artemis watched her, a searching expression on her face. Far too little time passed for sorting out the secret Gillian hadbeen keeping, and Artemis spoke far too quietly for anyone to overhear her when she asked, “Is his name actually Phelps, or is your name actually Walker?”
Gillian could do nothing but blink through her surprise.
“Do not look so shocked,” Artemis said with a smile. “The Royal Society has declared my husband a genius, andhehas declared me amongst the most intelligent people he knows. I’ve quickly sorted out any number of puzzles, though this one took me years.”
“His name is Phelps.” This was proving both easier and more uncomfortable than she would have expected it to be.
“And has he always been a servant, or is this a relatively new development?” Artemis continued speaking in a quiet voice. Charlie and Mrs. Brownlow were engrossed enough in their own conversation to keep this one private.
“My parents belonged to the gentry, as did their parents and grandparents and . . .” Gillian made a series of circles with her hand, indicating the pattern continued. “After we lost our home and Mrs. Brownlow agreed to take me in, my father, feeling a little too much like we were receiving charity, proposed this arrangement as his way of addressing what he saw as his indebtedness to her.”
Artemis listened and watched. Clearly, she intended for Gillian to spill the entire history.
“He has insisted all these years that I think of him only as the butler. The staff doesn’t know our connection. Society certainly doesn’t.”
“Thank the heavens for that,” Artemis said.
Gillian had often done precisely that. Society would be brutal in their rejection of her if this were known.
“He lost himself entirely in the role of butler,” Gillian said.
“Andyoulost your father,” Artemis finished for her.
Their circuit brought them to the doorway, where a footman was stationed in the corridor. They passed by in silence.
Gillian did not speak again until they were out of earshot. “I told Scott all of this before we parted. He insisted it doesn’t change his feelings for me.”
“Of course not,” Artemis said. “Anyone watching him watch you knows how deep his feelings run.”
“He is rather wonderful, isn’t he?”
Artemis eyed her dryly. “You very recently mocked me for saying precisely that about Charlie.”
Pretending to pity Artemis’s lack of insight, Gillian said, “Yes, butyouwere speaking ofCharlie.”
Her friend laughed. “I will allow that bit of ridiculousness to go unanswered because I have weightier things to address. What is it about telling Scott of your father’s situation that is causing you such grief?”
“Scott is working so hard to save his inheritance and put his estates to right and avoid debtors’ prison,” Gillian said. “In addition to all of that, he has something of an uphill battle to establish himself in Society, to find a foothold there. And should we be able to claim the future we want, I would be heartbroken not to have my father at my wedding and as a part of my life and a grandfather to any children I might have.”
“Oh heavens.” Artemis’s expression pulled long and worried. “And then everyone would know.”
Gillian nodded. “There is no place in Society for the daughter of a butler.”
Artemis grew utterly silent even as they continued their slow circuit of the room.
“Scott doesn’t have the cachet in thetonto overcome that connection,” Gillian said. “I’m not certain anyone does.”
“Even the infamous Duke of Kielder would struggle with that.” The duke being Artemis’s own brother-in-law.
“Certainly none of the Huntresses,” Gillian added on a whisper.
Sudden realization filled Artemis’s face. “Oh.”
“I’ve had to keep it a secret so this wouldn’t ruin all of youandyour families and possiblytheirfamilies. I’ve lost my father. I may very well lose my friends. And I’m terrified I will lose Scott as well.” Gillian shook her head. “I don’t know what to do.”
“What did Scott have to say about all of this?” Artemis asked.
“That he doesn’t know how this can be overcome.” She took a deep breath. “But also that few things are as hopeless as we fear they are.”