“Very good,” the man replied, with another nod. “Will you require assistance readying the house for leasing, Miss Fairfax? I assume it will be leased furnished, but the personal effects belonging to you and your father will need to be packed away.”
Annie, who had been gaping speechlessly at Hattie, blinked and shifted her attention back to Archibald Mason. “Yes. Yes, of course,” she replied, a sense of dread seizing her at the thought of sorting through her father’s effects. “What isn’t to be donated can be packed away in the attic, I suppose. Will that be acceptable?”
The man nodded. “Certainly. And if you need someone to help with that, let me know. I have people I can recommend. If there isn’tone already, you’ll also need to put a lock on the attic door. With your approval, I’ll take care of the arrangements regarding the lease, including the interviewing of potential tenants,etcetera. I doubt you’ll have any trouble leasing the place. I shall keep you fully advised, of course. We can keep the leases short term if you wish, so you can return when you deem it safe to do so without too much of a delay. With that in mind, I should also like to make a report to the police regarding Mr. De Witte. Specifically, to my brother-in-law, who is an inspector with Scotland Yard.”
Annie’s eyes widened. “Scotland Yard? Is that really necessary, sir?”
“As a precautionary measure, yes, I believe it is,” he replied. “You’ve been threatened, after all. Do I have your permission?”
“I suppose… I mean, yes, of course, if you think it best.” Annie drew in a breath and endeavored to sort through the chaos in her weary mind. Despite everything, she was still not convinced all these proceedings were necessary. Beneath the weight of doubt and grief, however, flickered a guilty little spark of excitement. Annie had been raised quietly. Sheltered, even, some might say. Other than a mostly forgotten visit to somewhere to the rural north, and summer trips to Eastbourne, she’d seen little of the world outside of London. The idea of traveling beyond her familiar boundaries was not, therefore, entirely unattractive. The guilt came from acknowledging these proceedings were due entirely to her father’s sad demise and Leo’s questionable behavior.
“Do you have any questions for me, Miss Fairfax?” Archibald Mason’s voice roused Annie from her thoughts. “Is there anything needing further clarification, perhaps?”
Perhaps there was, but Annie was beyond thinking straight and responded accordingly. “Nothing I can think of, sir.”
His expression softened. “I’m sure you have more than enough to consider at the moment, my dear. For the time being, I shall draw up a summary of today’s discussion and send a copy to you. Go over itcarefully, and if there is anything further you wish to discuss, or if you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to contact me.”
Annie smiled. “Thank you, Mr. Mason. I appreciate your help.”
He returned the smile. “Your father was a good man, Miss Fairfax, a man to be admired and respected. I considered him to be more than a client. Indeed, he was a friend and colleague. If there is anything else I can do for you, please do not hesitate to ask.”
Minutes later, after brief goodbyes and a promise to check in with her prior to their departure, they made their way out of the solicitor’s office. Hattie closed the front door behind them. “Well, it all seems fairly straightforward,” she said. “Very reassuring, don’t you think? I certainly feel less worried than I did an hour ago.”
“Derbyshire.” Annie paused on the doorstep, squinted up at the rainy skies, and snapped her umbrella open. “I know that’s where you grew up, Hattie, but I didn’t know you had a relative there. How come you’ve never mentioned her? Or is it a him?”
“Like I said, she’s a distant cousin. Her name is Janet, and I’m sure I must have mentioned her at some point. We’ve kept in contact over the years. You know, an occasional letter here and there.” Hattie moved to Annie’s side and also regarded the sky. “Oops, I left my umbrella behind. I swear I’d forget my head if it were loose. Wait here, pet. I’ll be back in a minute.”
Annie threw her a sideways glance. “You’re actually going to leave me out here all alone? Aren’t you afraid I’ll be snatched away by the wicked Leopold and held to ransom?”
“It’s nothing to joke about, Annie.” Frowning, Hattie glanced up and down the street as if to reassure herself no such danger existed. “Just wait here, please. I’ll only be a minute.”
As soon as Hattie went back into Archibald Mason’s office, Annie lost the sardonic smile she’d been wearing. No, none of this ugly business was anything to joke about. Since her father’s death, her days had been cloaked in shadow, her spirit burdened with grief anduncertainty. Of the two, uncertainty was the most difficult to manage. Grief was a vicious entity, one that would accompany her for a long time to come. She knew to expect it, knew she had no choice but to live with it. Uncertainty, meanwhile, was devious and erratic, akin to a persistent fog that obscured her way ahead, leaving her feeling lost and afraid.
Today, however, the fog seemed to have lifted somewhat.Janet. Derbyshire.Annie pondered, shaking her head. She couldn’t recall Hattie ever mentioning either one. Then again, maybe she had, the words falling on the deaf ears of a girl whose mind was frequently occupied with daydreams.
Even now, the world around her faded away as thoughts danced in her head. Derbyshire. What did she know of it?The home of Chatsworth House, seat of the Duke of Devonshire. And… pottery?She frowned. Nothing else came to mind, though she envisaged a rural landscape.Does Janet live in a town or in the country? In a house? A country cottage, perhaps?Annie supposed it didn’t really matter as long as the place was clean, though she doubted Hattie would have suggested it otherwise. She resolved to open her father’s atlas that evening and study the county’s location. Deep inside, a little spark of excitement flared anew, followed by the familiar twinge of guilt.
The whinny of a horse roused Annie from her musing, and she turned to look at the door, wondering what was taking Hattie so long. Even as the thought crossed her mind, the door opened and the woman exited, umbrella in hand.
“I was about to come looking for you,” Annie said, eyeing her red-faced maid with a frown. “Goodness. Is everything all right? You look a little flustered.”
Hattie appeared to assert herself and conjured up a smile. “Everything is fine,” she replied. “I suppose I’ll not be settled till we’re on our way out of the city, and we have much to do before then.”
“I think we’ll manage,” Annie said, stepping onto the pavement. “Imust say, I feel better after speaking with Mr. Mason. He’ll steer us through it all.”
“Yes, I’m sure he will.” Hattie opened her umbrella. “Looks like this weather has set in for the day.”
“What is her last name?” Annie asked.
“Who?”
“Your distant cousin.”
There followed a moment of hesitation, then, “Caldridge.”
“Is she married?”
Hattie shook her head. “A spinster.”
