Free Lady Penelope's Christmas Charade, a Regency Romance by Lilia Birney

clarify the situation. We've paid for your time, but we don't want…anything of that nature. This is Lady Annand , and I am Pierce Howe. We are trying to find her maid, who's gone missing. We thought we could ask you a few questions."
    The young woman's eyes reflected her relief. "Can we take off these bloomin' masks?"
    "Of course." Penelope walked over and untied the masks from both young women. "What are your names?"
    "We'd rather not say." The young woman darted her glance around the room. "You can call me Miss A, and you can call her Miss K."
    "Very well." None of the women looked familiar. They both had the same coloring as Cicely, but the resemblance ended there. Whereas Cicely always seemed fragile and innocent, these women seemed worldly-wise. Of course, their near nudity—and the strangeness of the situation—probably added to that illusion. "Cicely disappeared a few days ago, and someone told us that we should check for her with the Barclay Agency. Have you seen her?"
    Miss A shook her head. "No, that name doesn't sound familiar. Have you ever heard that name, K?"
    "Yes. I did hear of a Cicely." The other young woman crossed her arms over her chest. "She came in with another girl. But I haven't seen or heard of her since."
    "Came in where?" Penelope grabbed the coverlet off the bed and passed it to Miss K, who accepted it with an uncertain smile. Then Penelope knelt on the rug near the fire. She was still chilled to the bone.
    "Well, to the Barclay Agency. It's in a townhome in Mayfair. The girl your maid was with was looking for a position. I don't know why your maid was there, she kept mum and didn't give me much of an impression, to be honest." She paused and wrapped the coverlet more tightly around her. "The girl she was with had blonde hair and blue eyes—she was snapped up for a position right away."
    "I'm not sure we should say much more than that. The people at the Barclay are very nice, but very discreet," interrupted Miss A. "We have many toffy clients that must be protected."
    They were so close to finding out what they needed to know. She could feel it. At least one of the young women had seen Cicely. That was more information than they had found in several days of work. To give up now—what an anticlimax. She tried again, giving both women her most ingratiating smile. "I understand," she replied. "But I am very concerned about Cicely. Can't you tell me anything else about her visit to the Barclay?"
    Miss K nodded toward Miss A. "She's right. I've probably said too much already."
    Tears stung the backs of Penelope's eyes. To come so far—really, further than she ever imagined, to be honest—and have them give so little was beyond frustrating. She cast a pleading glance in Pierce's direction. Surely he could step in and assist her.
    ***
    Her eyes did it. Even in that ridiculous maid's costume, even in a situation that most women would find daunting—to say the very least—Penelope held herself erect and graceful, a lady to the core. But when she turned towards him with her large emerald eyes glittering with unshed tears, he was undone. His heart surged with an emotion he dared not name. At that moment he would have moved heaven and earth to help her. At the very least, he could step in and take over the questioning.
    "Of course, ladies. We understand," he replied smoothly. "We have no wish to put you in an uncomfortable position."
    "Too bad. " Miss A giggled.
    He gave a perfunctory bow at her jest and allowed a smile to twitch at his lips. Better not let the flirting get too outrageous. "What was the name of the girl she was with? The blonde with blue eyes?"
    "It was something that started with E. Was it Emma or Emily?" She pursed her lips and cocked her head to one side.
    "It was Emma. I remember because I knew a girl once named Emma and I despised her," Miss K replied with a smirk.
    Pierce spotted a small stand with a decanter across the room. Several reasonably clean glasses rested on it. He