Then, the house at Sussex Square with its Georgian façade, or some other thing that Mikaela would know well enough, came into view.
“Is this the place, guv’ner?” the driver called down as he pulled the team to a stop just outside the gates.
Brodie signaled for the man to continue on and he swung the rig through those gates and up the circular drive.
He had heard it before, of course, that slight hesitation because of his manner and clothes, not precisely what the lord of the manor might wear, but more the simple long coat and trousers of someone with business for the family.
He stepped down from the coach, uncertain what he would find inside the manor; there seemed to be some difference of opinion between Mikaela and the girl, Lily, precisely what was intended for her education.
It had been said by Munro after the conclusion of the case at Laughton’s studio, that they were two of a kind.
Of course Mikaela had denied it.
“Ridiculous,” she had announced.
He smiled at that as he pulled the bell cord and heard the sound from inside the entryway. And a great deal more as Lady Montgomery’s butler Mr. Symons answered the door.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Brodie…” he was greeted. “We are most pleased to see you.”
Unless he missed his guess, there was some desperation about the man.
“Miss Mikaela,” Brodie told him.
“Oh, I do hope so, sir.”
“Mr. Brodie!” Lady Montgomery exclaimed. “You are just in time.”
She took his arm. “You are quite well recovered?”
He assured her that he was, even though the ribs still bothered him and would for some time.
“Do come along then. The girl is of an opinion that she doesn’t need further education. Quite adamant about it. It’s most entertaining. And how is Mr. Cavendish?”
“On the way to recovery and with a new accommodation courtesy of Mr. Munro,” he replied.
“I will not!” met their ears in a thick Scot’s accent, as Brodie escorted her into the formal parlor.
“And ye canna make me!”
Lily was squared off with Mikaela and quite flushed as she stomped a foot.
“The man is a pig and smells like one,” she announced. “And he put his hands on me. I donna allow anyone to do that.”
Brodie looked across thebattlefieldin the middle of the room at Mikaela, equally flushed and striking in a dark green gown. He did like the viewverra muchand the argument that much more.
“I am tempted to send you back to Edinburgh!” Mikaela responded.
“I will not go. Lady Antonia has said that I may live here as long as I earn my keep.”
“And just how do you propose to do that without an education?” Mikaela fired back.
Lady Antonia patted his arm. “It is a bit like the pot calling the kettle black, or some such thing like that. You really must do something about them, Mr. Brodie.”
“Ye received my earlier message?” he asked.
“Yes, quite. And I must say about time.” She smiled coyly at him and he could only imagine what she had been like as a younger woman.
“Her sister has taken care of the details,” she continued with a sly look. “You know, I predicted this quite some time ago,” she said then, with a look back at the two embattled in the middle of the parlor.
