Chapter Eleven
There was noise.
Quite a bit of noise, and it was enough to wake Kitty from a sound sleep to find the room still dark, lit only by the glowing embers of the fire.
Someone was knocking on the door of Max’s chamber, and she had no idea if she should go and see who it was, or wake Max, or slip away to her own room. He took the decision out of her hands by waking, sitting up, rubbing his head hard, then getting out of bed to grab his robe.
“Stay there,” he ordered.
Blinking, Kitty said nothing, since he was already half way across the room. But she too left the warmth of their bed, feeling a bit sore and sticky but otherwise none the worse for wear. She wrapped her robe around her bare shoulders and tied it snugly against the chill air.
In the stillness of the early morning, she could hear Deery’s voice. “Asking for Miss Ridlington, sir. Most insistent he was. An Indian gentleman. Says his name is Dal or something…”
Kitty’s ears pricked up immediately and she hurried to Max’s side. “Did you say Dal, Deery? And an Indian gentleman?”
Deery blinked, but ever the good butler, merely nodded. “Yes, Miss. Asking for you, he is.”
She put her hand on Max’s arm. “He’s a good friend of Hecate’s, Max. Almost like a bodyguard, if you will. If he’s here asking for me, something’s wrong.”
Max gave a brief nod then turned back to Deery. “Make him comfortable and tell him we will be with him in a few moments.”
“Of course, sir.” Deery bowed and hurried off.
“I will be no more than five minutes, I promise.” Kitty rushed to her door. “I don’t know…I’m sorry…”
“Stop.” He held up a hand. “Dress. Let’s find out what’s going on before anything else.”
She nodded. He was right. “Five minutes. No more.”
In fact, it took her less than four, but she had to find her shoes and that took a few moments. Fortunately, the gowns the maids had brought last night were mostly simple day dresses, and one woolen one had only a few fastenings in front of the bodice.
She was into her chemise and the gown in no time, her stockings pulled up hastily, and her hair secured with two pins. It wouldn’t do for morning, but for this middle-of-the-night whatever it was…
Hurrying out into the main corridor, she found a woman in a woolen night robe coming toward her.
“Oh Miss Ridlington, I’m the housekeeper. Mr. Deery wakened me. Is there an emergency? Is it Mr. Max?”
“No, not Mr. Max,” answered Kitty, a little stunned at being addressed so politely, given her situation and the fact they’d never met. “I believe it may have something to do with my sister. I am just going downstairs to find out.”
“I’ll dress and join you as soon as possible.”
Leaving her to return to her room, Kitty managed to find the main stairs and made her way down thanks to the few candles still lighting the treads.
Max was just taking the last step.
“Max, wait for me…” She hurried down and followed him across the hall to the library.
Deery stood outside. “The gentleman is in here, sir. I could not offer him tea without rousing the kitchen staff, and although they’ll be up soon…”
“No, Deery, you did the right thing. Let’s see what’s happening first, shall we?”
Unable to restrain herself, Kitty rushed in to the library. “I’m Kitty Ridlington. Are you Mr. Dal, Hecate’s friend?”
The tall man standing by the fire turned and nodded. He wore deep blue, a long tailored garment that fit well and came high up beneath his neatly trimmed black beard. On his head was a turban with a small gold clip.
“Indeed I am, Miss Ridlington.” He bowed. “And I apologise for my intrusion into this house where I am not known. But Miss Hecate is in great need.”
“Where is she? What happened?”
