Walker barked out a laugh, nearly spilling his wine, and got a harsh look from the dreaded Aunt Eleanor.
***
After dinner, the party adjourned to theparlor for further discussion and cards. The married couples, Aunt Eleanor, and Georges sat near the hearth, discussing the best way to go about setting up Spenston Park, how long it would take, and other particulars. That left the courting couples to play whist in the corner of the room and allowed them to finally speak freely amongst themselves.
“Good show on remembering Spenston,” Walker said, turning over a card to determine the next trump suit. Spades. “If you hadn’t said anything, we’d be looking at a good few months rammed to the rafters at Swan Walk. At least, until Uncle stumbled across the deed again when reorganizing his papers.”
“It’s a new experience for me,” Byron said. “Remembering.”
Mira smiled, shaking her head at her detective and he caught her gaze, expression softening.
“How does someone forget that they have an estate anyway? If I had inherited something like that, I feel I wouldn’t forget it so easily,” Liza said.
“He didn’t have enough time to get used to the idea of having an estate. And there have been more pressing things,” Walker said, glancing at Mira. “Then he was in Paris for almost three months.”
Liza tipped her head, playing her turn. “I do hate to think that you’ll have to leave London. Especially as you’ve just returned.”
“Well, there’s no reason that I couldn’t stay at Swan Walk once the family has moved down,” Walker said. “I’ll still be helping Uncle with the business. It would be good to have someone here in London to keep an eye on things.”
Mira splayed the cards out in her hand. Diamonds and clubs, none of them higher than a nine. “I’d rather stay in London as well. Although, just imagining the arguments to be had with Uncle makes my head hurt.”
“I’m sure we could come to some arrangement,” Walker said.
“Well, I’ll have at least a month to persuade him, until the household is fully established at Spenston.”
Walker groaned. “A month of overcrowding. Do you think we can bear it?”
Mira rolled her eyes. “A month is not that long.”
Liza dropped the king of spades, taking the trick and turning over the three of hearts. “How many rounds left, do you think?” she said, surveying the deck, then placing a nine of spades to start the round.
“Two, I’d say. And I must apologize,” Walker said, placing the jack of spades over Liza’s nine. “But I believe I’ve taken this trick already.”
Mira sighed, setting the two of diamonds on the pile. She had the most rotten luck. No hearts or spades.
Byron drummed his fingers on his leg and Mira wondered if he was determining his next move or his next sentence.
Walker filled the pause. “Speaking of forgetting, I meant to ask why you ran out so mysteriously earlier today, Mira.”
Her stomach dropped. “Yes. Well. I had a letter that... well, I wasn’t thinking.” She turned to Byron. “If I had known that your family was visiting I never—”
Walker’s mouth dropped. “Your family was there?”
“Unfortunately. And I believe you spoke too soon.” With a flick of his fingers, Byron showed the ace of hearts and took the trick, turning to Mira. “There was no way you could have known. Their arrival was unexpected for me too.”
“Do they visit often?” Liza asked, considering her cards.
“Not as a rule. Not since my memory has improved, at any rate. In this instance, they came round because they have a case for me.”
“They do?” Mira’s curiosity overtook her unease. “It’s not for Her Majesty again, is it?”
“Heavens, no. Otherwise, Castel would have come alone. No, my mother and sister have been staying in Bath since Christmas. There have been a series of thefts in the area, and they became the latest victims last week. Several pieces of the family inheritance taken.”
“Such as?” Walker asked, placing the six of clubs.
“My great aunt’s bracelet, my grandmother’s ring, and a necklace that’s been handed down since the reign of Charles the II.”
“Is that all?” Liza said with an incredulous laugh.
