She heard Waters answer the door, followed by the sound of voices in the foyer. When Grace slipped from Uncle Reginald’s office, she was surprised to see Earnest, Theodore, and Frannie standing awkwardly in the sitting room. Frannie clutched her handbag in her gloved hands, glancing out the window, as though she already couldn’t wait to leave.
“Miss Covington,” Earnest said, greeting her solemnly. He and Theo removed their hats, holding them to their chests. “We heard that Oliver was taken into the police station and we came to offer our assistance.”
“That’s very kind of you,” Grace said. “The Carters will be so grateful.”
But what she thought was:Word travels fast.
“I apologize, but Miss Carter wishes me to convey that she needs to rest and is not feeling up to receiving visitors,” Waters said. He sent an apologetic look to Grace, as if she were to be included in that category.
Of course, Lillie didn’t know that Grace had nowhere else to go.
“Please let her know that we asked for her and we send our condolences,” Earnest said.
“Good heavens, we did what we came for. Now let’s go before we’re seen by anyone,” Frannie said curtly.
Earnest stepped toward Grace. He whispered gently in her ear: “We will find out who did this.”
She nodded, eyelashes fluttering, and smelled a whiff of his cologne. She wanted to close her eyes and fall into his arms and have him assure her that everything would be all right. That this week wouldn’t irrevocably ruin their lives forever. That someone who had more power than her would step in to fix it all and make it right.
“Please let us know if we can be of assistance to you, Miss Covington,” Theo said formally. He gave her a small bow and exited the house, with Frannie hurrying on his heels.
Earnest glanced up the stairs. “Are you doing all right yourself, Miss Covington?” he asked.
She nodded, her throat narrowing at his concern. She didn’t trust herself to speak.
He nodded. “I’ll call again tomorrow,” he said as she walked him to the door.
She fetched her carpetbag from where she had stashed it behind a plant and glanced up the stairs at Lillie’s closed door. Did Lillie partly blame her for what had happened?
Grace chewed on her nail, flooded with guilt.
As Earnest’s carriage drove away, she let herself out onto the Carters’ front stoop.
She barely had the money for one more night at a cheap hotel, and then she wouldn’t have enough for the train fare home.
She clutched her carpetbag, debating.
“Looking for a cab?” Theodore Parker called.
She whirled around, flushing.
She hadn’t realized that he was still there, waiting in his own carriage.
“I can give you a ride,” he offered.
“No, that’s all right,” she said hurriedly.
“I insist,” he said. “No need to pay for a cab when you can suffer through my company for free.”
He climbed out of the carriage and took her bag. “Where to?” he asked with unusual gentleness. “The hotel?”
She hesitated. Her face burned with embarrassment. And then he seemed to put it together, realizing what it meant that she had her bag with her and no clear direction.
He was delicate. And that made her want to die.
“My aunt has an artist’s studio…” he began. “It’s vacant. She didn’t want to rent it out during the fair, but she hates crowds and didn’t want to be here.”
“Mr. Parker, I couldn’t possibly—”
