‘He didn’t say anything about eyeballs?’
George ran a disdainful eye over her and regarded her seriously. ‘I am getting a little worried about you, Your Grace. With this and the outburst at dinner.’
‘Never mind,’ she said, sighing internally.
‘But I do mind,’ he said, sitting forwards. ‘You know what happens to ladies who are deemed too hysterical, do you not?’
She stared at him, not certain if he was actually threatening to have her holed up on one of the London madhouses. But then he threw back his head and laughed, delighted to find himself so funny.
‘You wouldn't last two minutes in there,’ he said. ‘You should be grateful I provide you with such a comfortable life.’
She knew it would be unwise to voice any of the thoughts she held inside, and so they stayed there, while he settled down and went to sleep.
There seemed to be nothing for it, but to confront Fletcher directly. On their return Thea and Mrs Phibbs had been to speak to Frankie, who was very clear. She had informed each person who could possibly be a suspect of one potential off-the-wall method of seed treatment. Mrs Phibbs had been tasked with finding out which one, or which ones Neville had tried. It could only be Fletcher who had mentioned the eyeballs – or, as she hoped – he had accidentally let it slip to one of the other staff who had passed on the information.
She headed down the stairs to the kitchens, trailed by Martha. While the nerves at what she might find churned inside, she was intent on the truth. Fletcher had been such a stalwart of the Foxmore and Hartford houses for so many years and there had been nothing in his manner for the two days since they returned that led her to believe anything was different to usual.
The door to the butler’s pantry was slightly ajar, so she knocked. ‘Mr Fletcher?’ she asked, not wishing to barge in. He appeared at the door, swinging it open.
‘Your Grace, my lady,’ he said, looking confused to see them downstairs. ‘Is anything the matter?’
‘I hope not, Fletcher,’ said Thea, ‘but there is something that Lady Foxmore and I were hoping you could help us clear up, if you would be so kind?’
‘Of course,’ he said, stepping back and gesturing for them to enter. ‘I am afraid I do not have enough seats for us all, but you may take my chair?’
Thea waved him away. ‘We will stand, thank you.’ He was always so thoughtful, she considered. Surely there must have been a mistake. ‘As you know, we recently returned from Mr and Mrs Knatchbull’s shooting party.’ Fletcher nodded, while Thea considered how to word the question. ‘While we were there,’ she went on, ‘Mr Knatchbull informed us that he had enjoyed success at germinating the king protea.’ She watched for hisreaction – but he only nodded once in recognition. ‘You know that the germination of that particular plant has been a goal of this household for some months now.’
‘A goal of yours, Your Grace,’ said Fletcher, nodding again.
‘Indeed,’ she said. ‘And I am sure you are aware, as you have occasion to visit the glasshouses, that Frankie has been employing a number of – shall we say – unconventional methods to bring this to bear.’
‘I believe that you and I both witnessed the rabbit droppings, Your Grace,’ said Fletcher with a smile.
‘Exactly,’ said Thea, and then cleared her throat. ‘My concern is that Mr Knatchbull had employed a technique which Frankie had reported as successful. In short, Mr Fletcher, I am concerned that somebody is leaking secrets from this house, to Upper Plumbthorne.’
She watched him carefully. He swallowed but did not betray any further disquiet. ‘Perhaps Mr Knatchbull had been reading the same book?’ he suggested, hands clasped behind his back as always when he addressed the family. ‘He may have found out about the eyeballs from there?’
Out of the corner of her eye Thea saw Martha glance at her. ‘So, you did know about the eyeballs?’
Fletcher nodded. ‘I believe Frankie may have mentioned it.’
‘And you didn’t tell anyone who could have passed the information to Mr Knatchbull?’
‘I am sure it could have been anyone – if you like I can enquire of the staff and–’
Thea cut him off. ‘Only, nobody else knew about the eyeballs, Mr Fletcher. Frankie made up all of the unconventional treatments to track down the source of the leak. There is no information in any book. You were the only person through whom the information about eyeballs could have made its way toKnatchbull. So, I must ask you if you remember mentioning it to anyone?’
There was a hint of disquiet about him now, Thea thought. His eyes flicked to her and then to various spots around the room. She had expected him to come up with a name – someone he had accidentally told of the treatment – but he didn’t.
‘Mr Fletcher?’ asked Martha, a hint of firmness in her voice. ‘I would suggest that you think very carefully before answering Her Grace. Only the truth will do.’
Mr Fletcher’s eyes now landed on Martha’s, and there was something in them that made Thea wary. ‘Then I will speak plainly, as I feel I must.’
‘Go on, Fletcher,’ said Thea, when he paused.
‘I did write to Knatchbull,’ he said. ‘And I told him about the eyeballs.’
‘Why would you do that?’ asked Thea.
