Three Nights of Sin Read Online Free PDF Page A

into her room.
    “Who is he, miss?”
    Marietta frowned. “Just a man.” She took the case from Jeanie, who was holding it. Stunned and dreamy, she didn’t look capable of relinquishing it on her own.
    Carla, always the more brash of the two, elbowed her way past her stunned compatriot. She was eyeing Marietta with the smug disdain she had taken to displaying after the invitations had dried up and the neighbors had turned their backs. And now Carla—all of the servants—were in a plum spot. Serving out gossip to anyone with a pence.
    One part of her could understand it—the servants hadn’t been paid in months. Bitter and hungry, they were getting revenge and putting food on the table. The other part of her was angry beyond anything that they were contributing to the fiasco.
    “What are you doing with that man?” Carla asked.
    “Packing. Are you going to help?” She took an armful of clothing and dropped it in her case. She didn’t have much, but without the painstaking carepacking required, the dresses took a lot of space.
    Carla ran a finger along the edge of the case. “What’s his name?”
    “His name is mind your manners.” Marietta grabbed another handful of undergarments from the linen press—an extra chemise and shift, two pairs of stockings. Jeanie wandered over, still looking dazed, but began helping her fold and place. Carla continued to watch her. Marietta was getting tired of people watching her.
    “If you aren’t going to help, get out.”
    Carla smirked and sashayed from the room.
    “Sorry, miss, don’t know what’s been wrong with her,” Jeanie said after Carla’s skirt disappeared around the door frame.
    “Thank you, Jeanie.” Marietta looked at the other maid, who had always been sweet. Daft, but sweet. “I appreciate the help.”
    “Of course, miss. I can pack your essentials, if you’d like.”
    “Yes, that would be wonderful.”
    Jeanie went into the connected room where Marietta kept her perfume and pins, her toilette and jewelry.
    A sibilant sound from the hallway made her head turn. She walked forward and peeked around the frame. The two male servants were loitering in the hall, trying to look busy.
    “Isn’t there something you should be doing?”
    They gave her varying stares. One smirking, one haughty. Gone was any authority she might have had. The Winters family was in deep trouble in all areas.
    She drew herself up. “Go fetch an extra lamp and my parasol.”
    They both stared at her for a moment and the moment stretched. Finally, they turned and walked down the steps, their eyes promising they would return. Marietta inhaled a shaky breath. Her old life was over. It had been over since her parents died, but now the door was completely shut. She was on par with one of the— all of the servants. Or she would be very, very soon.
    She placed a hand over her heart, beating as if it would never slow again.
    The sibilant sound issued once more. She crept down the hall until she stood just outside Kenny’s room.
    “It’s as I said, sir, I’m here to serve you. I can help with anything you need.” The emphasis was hard to ignore. Carla lowered her voice, but Marietta could still hear her, as close as she was. “I know where all the treasures be. People paying prime money for the good items. I won’t charge you a penny.”
    The implication of what the maid would give for free wasn’t lost on Marietta, nor was the fact that the servants had been searching through and selling Kenny’s belongings, as if he was a sideshow. The itch brimming under her skin, a slow anger and irritation, turned into a fire. She knew, knew, they were profiting from the scandal, but she had thought it only through gossip, not through thievery. She couldn’t pull a thought together out of the flames.
    “How many things have you sold? And what were they?” Noble asked, his voice entrancing, coaxing for more.
    “Small things, nothing as good as I could give you. A watch, a handkerchief,