She felt Martha’s hand on her arm. ‘You know, I am aware that your marriage might not be as harmonious as you make it seem on the outside,’ said Martha, running a thumb across the skin of Thea’s arm. Thea felt herself tense despite herself. ‘You don’t have to share,’ said Martha kindly, ‘but at least tell me if he is kind to you?’
Thea gave a wry smile; she was so used to giving bland statements about their marriage that it came too naturally. ‘He is, as a rule,’ she sighed. ‘Of course, I don’t have as much independence as I might like and he has no respect for any of my endeavours, but I do run the house and the garden well which he would struggle without. I am free to spend my time as I like to a certain extent, as long as I attend the events to which he wishes I should accompany him. Mostly we keep out of one another’s business. He has his power, our home life is functional, the garden looks impressive if not…’ she paused, she wasn’t sure if she wanted to admit her lack of success in cultivation just yet. ‘…Well, it looks impressive for his friends. In public, of course, we present a united face.’
‘Of course,’ said Martha, understanding. ‘You really think he would agree to me visiting Hawkdean? I would be delighted to join you, if it wouldn’t cause trouble.’
Thea shrugged. ‘It really depends on his mood when I ask,’ she said. ‘But usually he has few opinions so long as I don’t object to his mistresses and support his ambitions. But we do have business at Whitehall before we can go.’
‘We do?’ asked Martha?
‘I want to know why you were sent away,’ said Thea. ‘James was one of the best footmen I ever had and showed so much promising artistic ability I was teaching him to record the collections on paper. I can’t think that he would deliberately deceive me. We have had a few staff changes since then, but somebody must know something. We will start with Fletcher as he sees all comings and goings.’
Martha’s face brightened. ‘Oh,’ she said. ‘Fletcher. I’m delighted he’s still with you. How is the old curmudgeon?’
‘Well,’ said Thea, thinking with fondness of how gruff Fletcher used to be with her, and how he had softened into an indispensable member of the family. ‘He will be delighted to see you, I am sure.’
As they stepped out of Martha’s carriage on the street at Whitehall, the front door opened before Thea had her foot on the plate.
‘That isn’t...?’ asked Fletcher, stepping out of the door.
Thea beamed. ‘It is, Fletcher.’ She turned and helped Martha down the steps while Fletcher rushed out to greet them.
‘Lady Foxmore, what an honour,’ he said, bowing deeply and clearly delighted to see his old employer. ‘I had no idea you were back.’
‘Not long back,’ said Martha, glancing sideways at Thea. ‘This time, anyway, and that is something we wish to chat to you about, if we may?’
‘Of course, My Lady,’ said Fletcher, bowing once more as he held the door.
Thea had thought it best that they chat in the privacy of the butler’s pantry, although Fletcher was clearly uncomfortable having them in the servants’ quarters.
‘We require your assistance on a matter,’ said Thea, clearing her throat. It was imperative that this conversation was navigated carefully. Whilst she was in no doubt that Fletcher understood – to some extent – the nature of her relationship with Martha, she could hardly say it out loud or accuse the staff under his direction of deceit. ‘Lady Foxmore is, as she intimated, not long back from her latest voyage. However, she has returned to the country before now.’ Thea became aware that she did not know when that had been. ‘Would you be so kind as to recall when, exactly, that you visited, Lady Foxmore?’ she asked, only allowing her glance to flick to Martha for a second.
‘December 1762, said Martha without hesitation.’
‘Just over two years ago,’ said Thea, a pang of disappointment at what could have been needling her once more. ‘During her… how long was it that you were here?’ she asked Martha, wishing she’d asked these questions before they arrived.
‘Two months,’ said Martha.
Thea sighed. ‘During her two month stay, she called on me at this house. Were you aware of that, Fletcher?’
The look of surprise suggested that he was not. ‘I had no knowledge of Lady Foxmore’s attendance, and I do not recall you mentioning it, Your Grace?’
‘That is because I was not aware of it, Fletcher.’
His eyes widened. ‘The card did not reach you, Your Grace?’ He referred to the practice of leaving visiting cards, if the object of a visit was not at home.
‘It did not,’ said Thea, ‘as there was not a card. Lady Foxmore was informed that I was at home and had sent instruction that I did not wish to see her. At that point or, indeed, at any point in the future.’ She made a concerted effort not to shuffle her feetin embarrassment. Duchesses did not get embarrassed. ‘She was sent away without my knowledge – whether or not I was at home at the time. We have no way of knowing.’
Fletcher’s eyes widened as Thea spoke. ‘Who sent you away?’ he asked his former employer, darkly.
‘A footman,’ replied Martha. ‘The duchess informs me that he was called James.’
Fletcher’s lips pressed into a thin line. ‘I see,’ he said. ‘What reasoning did he give?’
Martha went through the details of the visit – the time she had arrived, how she was received, James’s absence while he apparently enquired with Thea and the apparent response that she felt their reunion would be inappropriate.
‘Inappropriate?’ asked Fletcher, looking between them. ‘Forgive my impertinence in asking, Your Grace, my lady, but James is, of course, not here to ask. What might have been felt inappropriate at your meeting?’
Thea brushed away the apology. ‘You may ask, Fletcher, you are…’ she hesitated, ‘…one of the only people we can trust. I am sure you remember the piece inTown and Countrythe day before Lady Foxmore set sail?’
