“Mrs Smithers?”
“What the…” Harry choked.
“But…but…” Willow stuttered in shock.
Sir Sydney rose, a surprisingly large grin on his face. “How opportune.” He held out his hand to the woman. “Darling, do come in and let me introduce you to two very helpful and adventurous friends.” He turned to Harry and Willow. “You must allow me to present my wife, Lady Amelia Sydney.”
*~~*~~*
Laughter rang out in the elegant parlour as three people sat around a small tea table and helped themselves to food.
“So, I persuaded my husband to let me go down to the coast,” said the woman they’d known as Mrs Smithers. “With the way things are, the more eyes down there, the better. And truthfully, I wanted a little time away from London. Just some peace and quiet.”
“But all by yourself?” Willow’s eyes were wide with curiosity.
“It would not have helped my image as a poor widow had I brought servants with me,” she answered. “Besides, I must confess I rather enjoyed my tenure on Sea Lane. My neighbours were fascinating.” She chuckled.
“You knew Madame Lépine then,” ventured Harry, as he reached for another tart.
“I did. And she knew me.” Lady Amelia sighed. “We had many lively conversations, since we could share our secrets with each other. It was a sad day when we lost her.” She put her hand over Willow’s. “But you made her last days much happier, my dear. Fortune could not have brought her a better companion.”
“I hope so.”
“So, if I may ask, what happens now? To Sea Lane?” Harry touched a napkin to his lips and brushed a crumb or two from his jacket.
“I believe my husband may already have new tenants in mind,” she answered. “You may not realise it, but a great deal of helpful information is brought across the channel to small villages on the coast, to wend its way to where it will help most.”
“And Harry’s piece of paper helped too?” Willow glanced at Harry, her eyebrows raised.
“Oh yes, my dear. If I understand matters fully, that little scrap helped my husband finish breaking a set of cyphers.” She leaned toward Willow. “He’s awfully good at that sort of thing, you know.”
“I see,” nodded Willow. A thought crossed her mind. “Cyphers. Of course…that’s why Madame had some strange ones amongst her papers.”
“She was very good at them,” answered Lady Amelia. “More than a few of her suggestions made their way here, and thus to where they were needed most.” She nodded as if to a thought she’d rather not share. “Anyway, I believe there will be some activity soon that will please all of us. And much of it will be due to the two of you.”
Harry sighed. “That is very good news indeed, Ma’am. And well worth all the trouble we went through to get it here.”
“You weren’t supposed to get yourself into trouble in France, you know, young man.” Lady Amelia fixed him with a stern gaze. “Quiet and unobtrusive. Those were your orders, were they not?”
“Yes, Ma’am.” Harry looked shamefaced. “But I really had no idea I had caught a fever until I stumbled on the docks and damn near broke my ankle. For a few moments, I couldn’t move, and when I did? I knew something was wrong.”
“Well, you made it in one piece, and I couldn’t be happier that Willow was there to look after you.”
“You know, it’s only now I find myself understanding why you weren’t surprised or stunned when Harry was dropped onto my doorstep.” Tilting her head to one side, Willow smiled at Lady Amelia. “You should have been horrified, or at least shocked, but you came right in and helped me deal with him, and I never questioned it.”
“Someone had to. I wasn’t sure at first if it was the courier we were expecting, but it didn’t take long to work out that he was indeed the right man, and he needed some help. Luckily, you were there, my dear. Such a sensitive matter would have been very difficult to handle otherwise.” She patted Willow’s hand. “And you are an excellent nurse.”
“I agree,” Harry smiled at the woman next to him. “I cannot thank her enough.”
“One last thing if I may, my Lady…Harry and I have been trying to think of anyone who knew of our trip to London and who might have stolen the coach… Have you any idea? It has to be someone from Little Witham, doesn’t it?”
Lady Amelia leaned back in her chair and pushed her plate aside with a sigh. “I’m afraid you’re right, dear girl. My husband has sent a couple of his men down there to investigate further, but I would wager that they will find young Samuel to be the culprit.”
“The lad who brought you your herbs?”
“Indeed, yes. Such a pleasant young fellow, too. I was quite pleased with him until I noticed he tended to lurk around the docks much too often for a boy who was supposed to live in the forest. I kept an eye on him, of course, but until your departure, I had nothing to verify my suspicions. He was indeed the only one who knew of your trip. Besides myself.” She chuckled. “I’ll wager you thought it was me, didn’t you?”
Harry felt his cheeks warming under that stern gaze. “Of course not, Ma’am. How could we ever come to that conclusion?”
