Her words were soft, her eyes holding pain, but also hope. This was a lady who’d been through much. Her life, which was the envy of many, had been hard enough to toughen her into steel.
“I do not wish to go either,” I answered.
Donata rested her hands on my shoulders. Her answer, without words, eased my heart. It was a long time before we adjourned to find supper.
BARNSTABLE SERVEDus an appetizing meal several hours later. Donata, Grenville, Peter, and I relaxed in the dining room, discussing all that had happened.
A smaller mystery had been solved when I received an answer from Sir Montague about the Kingstons. He’d sent his best Runner, Mr. Quimby, to Lambeth to chat with Mr. Kingston, Mr. Quimby quite good at extracting information.
It turned out that Kingston did have an alibi for the time of both Warrilow’s and Laybourne’s murders. When I’d spoken to him, he’d claimed to have been helping the vicar, and Mrs. Kingston had said with some suspicion she’d seen him nowhere near the church.
In truth, he’d been not far away from home, at a local pub, indulging in a pint of ale and friendly conversation. Mrs. Kingston highly disapproved of public houses and taverns, but her husband apparently found them a peaceful retreat from her zealous and never-ending chatter.
I read the missive out, a lighthearted note after so much direness.
After we’d laughed and continued our meal, Grenville laid down his fork and cleared his throat.
“My proposal, that I mentioned to you, Lacey, is this,” he said. “I have a villa not far from Rome. Perhaps not a villa, but a large house with a pleasant view. I have thought about withdrawing there with Marianne for some time, until others grow used to our new arrangement.”
“Sensible,” Donata said. “Bask in private enjoyment to fortify yourself for coming battle.”
“Yes.” Grenville took a long sip of wine. “I am afraid this Season will be one continuous battle. Our current house party is going well, but that is because I handpicked the guests. When thetonbears down on us come spring, it will be a different situation. But if I invite the correct people to visit us in the beautiful Italian countryside, and they report in London what bliss we live in, so much the better.”
I lifted my glass. “Sound thinking. I wish you well.”
“The villa is not far from the excavations in Pompeii and Herculaneum. I will assume you’d like to come and view them, Lacey? As well as the splendid ruins in Rome?”
“Ah.” My breath quickened. Peter, who had been good about letting the adults converse uninterrupted, bounced in his seat.
“Would I come too?” he asked.
“I extend the invitation to the entire family,” Grenville said. “The ladies may sun themselves and shop to their heart’s content while we gentlemen prowl the buried cities.”
“It sounds an excellent sojourn,” Donata said with a decided nod. “Provided we spend the Christmas season in Oxfordshire, with Gabriella. My mother is rather insistent.”
“Of course,” Grenville said. “We’d go in early spring. It is much warmer there than in beastly England, and we’ll return at the height of the London Season. Gabriella should come, along with all your children. It will be a family outing.”
“Excellent,” Donata said. “Then I will begin plans to remove there.”
That was settled. I raised my glass. “To a Roman spring.”
Donata and Grenville followed suit. “A Roman spring.”
“Will there be room for me, guv?” Brewster stood in the doorway, Barnstable quivering near him in disapproval.
“Undoubtedly,” Grenville said. “I will rely on you to keep Lacey from trouble, as usual. Your lady wife should come as well.”
“I’ll ask her.” Brewster wrinkled his forehead doubtfully. “Though Em’s not much for foreign parts.” He turned to me, his expression troubled. “His Nibs was grateful for the return of his trinkets.”
I regarded him in surprise. “Is that a cause for glumness?”
“He offered me my old place back. Said I’d redeemed meself, like, for finding his treasures.”
“Ah.” My heart sank. I’d miss Brewster if he went, and surely he’d want to. Denis paid his men very well. There was nothing to say Denis would assign Brewster again to watch me, and in that case, I’d see little of him. I tried to sound encouraging. “Well, I suppose I wish you the best.”
“Fing is.” Brewster hesitated, moving uneasily.
“Do say what you mean, Mr. Brewster,” Donata said. “Do not leave us dangling.”
