Yes, she could, and would savour it at a more convenient time, when her heart didn’t feel as if it was splitting in two.
The silence was too painful to tolerate. Apple made a valiant effort to overcome the atmosphere she had herself evoked. “Can you imagine poor Mr Vergette’s face when the lot of them descend upon him?”
To her relief, Alex burst into laughter. “Oh, Apple, you’re incorrigible!”
“So you’ve said before.”
“Should think I must have said it a dozen times. You’re right, though. I’d give a monkey to be in the fellow’s office at this moment.”
The hackney was slowing as they turned into Cork Street. The imminent parting hung heavy on Apple’s breast. She’d agreed with Alex that she should remain hidden in the hotel with Mrs Tinkler until her birthday. At her insistence, he’d consented to stay away, providing less chance of anyone finding them out. A precaution which was much more pertinent now the Greenaways were so much in evidence.
The coach stopped and Alex jumped out and let down the steps, giving her his hand. She took it and climbed down, reaching terra firma just as Alex was accosted by a fellow heavily coated against the cold.
“Your pardon, my lord!”
Alex turned. “Carver? What the devil are you doing here?”
Only then did Apple recognise Alex’s groom. The slouch hat he wore had half hidden his face, but she now saw an expression of anxiety there.
“I didn’t think you’d wish me to look for you at Bow Street, my lord, so I came here instead.” He touched his forelock towards Apple. “Morning, miss.”
Alex was frowning. “But why should you look for me at all? Told you I’d not need you today.”
The groom’s look of anxiety increased. “Thing is, my lord, as I thought you’d wish to know straight.”
“Lord, what now?”
Foreboding was in his voice and the rhythm of Apple’s pulse increased.
“It’s her ladyship, my lord. In fact, it’s all of ’em, sir. His lordship, her ladyship and Lady Georgiana and all.”
Alex was looking thunderstruck. “What, here? They’ve come down?”
“That’s right, my lord. Her ladyship sent Matthew and John ahead to open up the house, and the whole party arrived not an hour since. Spent a night on the road, according to his lordship’s coachman. Seems as her ladyship were in a mighty hurry to get here.”
On tenterhooks, Apple paced the private parlour Alex had bespoken, unable to sit quietly as Mrs Tinkler urged her to do.
“You’ll not bring him back any the quicker, Miss Greenaway, for wearing a hole in the carpet.”
Irritation got the better of Apple. “I wish you will not call me that!”
The elder lady tutted. “What am I to call you, my dear, if not by your name?”
“It isn’t my name! Lord knows what my name may be, and this descent upon the capital of the Luthries makes it almost certain there is no bearing it, whatever it is.”
Mrs Tinkler’s bewilderment was plain. “My dear Appoline — if you insist upon it — I cannot make head nor tail of what you say. Can you not be a trifle more specific?”
“No!”
Apple paced back to the window that looked out into the busy yard, peering down in the vain hope of seeing Alex jump out of one of the coaches. Ridiculous. He would come by a hack again. She’d be better listening at the door for a knock. She felt a gentle touch on her arm and found Mrs Tinkler beside her.
“My dear child, you do yourself no good by all this agitation. I gather there is some unfortunate mystery afoot, but recollect that you succeeded very well at Bow Street.”
“Yes, and that’s another thing. Alex was confident Marjorie and Walter could not again accost his parents, but if they’ve come to town…”
Mrs Tinkler was drawing her towards a chair by the fire. She was pushed into it willy-nilly. “I am going to ring for some refreshment. Would you prefer coffee or wine? I dare say the latter might revive you.”
“I don’t care,” Apple said, suddenly listless. “Either will do. Oh, make it tea, Mrs Tinkler, if you please.”
