“Am I that bad?” Gwinnie said, pouting playfully.
“No, you are that good, and I love you for it. You have done wonders for me, you know. Your wealth of confidence has spilled over to me.”
“Glad it can be of use to someone,” Gwinnie said, getting up and walking around the couch. “Most of the time it just gets me in trouble,” she admitted.
“I haven’t seen that,” Cassie said. “But you are right about the Gallaghers. My conversation started in the hall with me asking if Mr. Browning remains as the estate agent. His response was‘yes and no’but he evaded further discussion. He seemed quite rattled, however, with the idea of a house party.”
“He did at that. I could clearly hear that in his voice.”
“I have never liked them, nor they me, so I hope the thoughts scurrying about in my head are not my bias.”
“You think they have been tampering with the estate invoices and receipts to better line their own pockets?”
“Yes, I do.”
“So do I. That dress Mrs. Gallagher wore was silk, and housekeepers I know don’t have that amount of lace trimming on their everyday gowns,” Gwinnie said.
“I am tempted to ask for her chatelaine.”
Gwinnie’s lips quirked up to the side as she nodded. “If you do, I’d ask for his keys as well.”
Cassie looked at her. “And lock them out of the library and the study, as those are the rooms he steered me away from, claiming there are too cold and uncomfortable.”
Gwinnie grinned. “I was ghastly tired when I laid down on the couch for a few moments; however, now I feel startlingly refreshed.”
The parlor door opened. It was Lakehurst. He jiggled Mr. Gallagher’s keys in his hand.
“Do you know where Mr. Gallagher is? I need to return his keys to him.”
“No, you don’t,” Cassie contradicted. “Gwinnie and I were just talking about how I should take charge of all the keys. There is something odd about how they ran—or didn’t run—the castle property.”
“I would agree on not running the castle right. They never paid that man Carlyle, nor gave him coal. From something Mr. Carlyle said as I helped get the coal, the will said Mr. Carlyle would have room and board for life, but there was nothing about being paid, so they didn’t. They gave him nothing but food, as they were obligated for that.”
“Unfortunately, I don’t believe I can turn them off without Edmund agreeing,” Cassie said.
“I don’t think you will have trouble getting Mr. Tidemark to agree,” he said drily.
“I’d best find Mrs. Gallagher and see if I can wrest her chatelaine.”
“I’ll go with you and help wrest it from her if she doesn’t give it up willingly,” Gwinnie said with gleeful anticipation.
Cassie laughed. “I don’t think any physical wrestling will be necessary; however, I would appreciate the opportunity to continue to soak in any of your confidence that continues to slop over your filled cup.”
Gwinnie laughed.
“If you don’t mind, Cassie, I will see if I can find paper and pencil in the study. I’d like to start a list of what I think we must purchase in the village tomorrow,” Lakehurst said.
“That would be most welcome. And be sure to lock that room and the library behind you, as those two rooms were the ones Mr. Gallagher specifically steered me away from.”
Lakehurst’s brows rose. “I will do so,” he promised.
* * *
Cassie and Gwinniefound Mrs. Gallagher facing off against Rose in the blue room. To Cassie, it seemed Mrs. Gallagher was attempting to tell Rose she could not use the linens she had discovered in the linen press on Lady Guinevere’s bed. Agnes stood to the side, her eyes wide as she stared from one combatant to the other.
“What is your issue with Rose using these linens on Lady Guinevere’s bed?” Cassie asked, waving at the folded linens Rose held.
“Them’s meant for another room,” she said.
