“Hidden passage?”
“Yes, the castle has several, though most have been blocked.”
“Sounds like Versely Park, my grandmother’s home. I used the hidden passages in Versely Park in my novel.”
She laughed. “Another reason I thought you were here was the hidden passages!”
He cocked his head as he regarded her. “I’m glad to see you can laugh about the similarities.”
“I as well. I wonder why the Gallaghers ran?” she mused as she put the full kettle on the stove. “I suspected they might be reporting more expenses than actually occurred. Well, I am not of a mind to chase after them. I’m glad they are gone.”
“We should be sure to tell Mr. Liddle about them when he appears as he’s a thief taker.”
“Not worth his time to chase after them unless we can uncover proof.”
He nodded.
“At the moment, where they are is unimportant,” Cassie said. “Getting the castle supplied is more important, along with getting it staffed. There is not much left for breaking our fast. I don’t know where the Gallaghers kept their food supplies unless it was in their chambers, and I’m sure they took those with them.”
“Even if they did, and we found them, I wouldn’t trust they wouldn’t have poisoned them first,” Lakehurst said.
Cassie laughed. “Thus says the writer of gothic romances. One of your villains would do that, am I correct?”
He cocked his head to the side as he considered her. “Thank you,” he said.
“Thank me? For what?” Cassie asked as she opened the tea sack to get the rich black tea inside.
“For being accepting of what I do,” he said.
“More of not letting my imagination run away with me and seeing parallels in my life.”
“From what your brother told me, there are a great many parallels.”
“Yes. It is unnerving, but I now know you were not here. It is a strange coincidence, but I can live with that.”
Agnes came into the kitchen. “Oh, my lady, what be ye doing? You shouldn’t be here.”
“Nonsense. As I told the Viscount, I am a clergyman’s daughter and used to being in the kitchen. I checked the basket, and there wasn’t much food left from last night, just a bit of ham and cheese. No bread, though.”
“I heard chickens out behind the stables yesterday. Perhaps there are eggs,” Lakehurst said.
“Yes, we always had chickens there. I never expected there to still be any. That is good news if there are and if they are layers.”
“I’ll go check,” said Agnes.
“If you see an old man out there, that is Carlyle. Don’t bother to call him, he won’t hear you. Stand in front of him to talk to him; no need to shout. He will read your lips. He will help you gather eggs.”
“Do you regret coming here?” Lakehurst asked her after Agnes left.
“To Baydon? No. I think the Duchess had the right of it. Coming here has been cathartic, and more so, I think, because of the castle's condition and how the Gallaghers have acted! It has pulled me out of myself. Having spent so long with everyone doing things for me and not having to think for myself, this has been refreshing! And a reminder that I am not weak.”
“No, you are not. I think we should go to the village together. The villagers need to see you,” Lakehurst said.
She nodded. “I do wish to go; however, I’m not certain the shopkeepers in Baydonton will have all that we need. They will need to place orders.”
“Hopefully, with the supplies the Malmsby staff will bring and what we can get in the village, we can get provisioned before others arrive.”
“Once they know we went ahead, how long before they will be on their way?” she asked.
