Forrest thought about what he consumed nightly as he headed back to the townhouse. There was no shortage of food ever. Should he have a conversation with her about her situation?
“You need to stop thinking about that woman. She is your daughter’s tutor and nothing more.”
Fairfax opened the front door for him before he reached for the handle.
“Do you lurk in the hallway, Fairfax?”
“I was dusting the paintings, Mr. Howarth.”
The Deville butler was a truly wonderful man. Intuitive, intelligent, and funny, all qualities necessary in a butler, Forrest would have thought.
“That painting really should be relegated to a dark cupboard.” He pointed to the ugly ship that had been annoying the Deville brothers—except Gabe—for as long as he’d been living here.
“It is a talking point, Mr. Howarth.”
“It is that. Fairfax, if I may ask a question of you, please?”
The butler lowered his duster and looked at Forrest.
“Miss Knight. Do you know if she lives far from here?”
“I am unsure as to how far exactly, sir.”
“But you have an idea?”
“Well, as to that, Mr. Hogan did see her one day walking by Blossom Street.”
“Which is where, Fairfax?”
“Near Spitalfields and approximately an hour and a quarter from here on foot, according to Hogan, sir.”
The fact that it was possible for Ruby to be walking two and a half hours daily just to teach his daughter did not sit well with Forrest. Just as her eating bread and potatoes didn’t sit well with him.
“What else do you know about her?” He was shamelessly pumping the butler for information because he knew that Ruby would not give him the answers he sought if he asked. Plus, he had no wish to ask, as that would suggest he was interested in her… which he was, but only in a concerned employer way.
And you are lying to yourself if you believe that.
“She is a good person, Mr. Howarth.” The butler looked him in the eye. “Having managed many staff in my years as a butler, I can tell when someone isn’t.”
“I know she’s a good person. I would not have employed her if I didn’t, Fairfax. My daughter has taken to her, and if nothing else that was enough of a reason for me to know Miss Knight is what she appears.”
Fairfax nodded.
“Do you know of her family circumstances?”
“A brother, Adam. From what I can gather, he is bound to a chair or walking sticks, as his legs do not work as they should. It’s my understanding that Miss Knight is the provider of support for her brother.”
Forrest remembered the bread and potatoes. He wasn’t sure how to address the next question.
“Fairfax, if at any time you feel Miss Knight is in need of anything that I can provide for her, would you let me know?”
“I will, Mr. Howarth.” The butler hesitated.
“Speak freely.”
“Mrs. Liall does not like many people, if you’ll excuse me for speaking this way.”
“I am aware of our housekeeper’s temperament.” She, and Mrs. Wood, the cook, could be terrifying.
