Alaric was already running from the room, calling for his valet.
I am coming, Catherine.
He only hoped he was not too late.
CHAPTER 27
“B-b-b-b…” Oliver’s face was contorted and purple as he tried to get out the word, his finger tracing it on the page.
Across from him, Catherine sat with Daisy, nodding encouragingly. They were sitting in the library, and Oliver was attempting to read a passage from a book.
It had been his suggestion, communicated to Catherine through a mix of words and pictures on his slate. Over the past few days, he had become more confident, but still did not quite speak in full sentences.
Catherine peered at the word Oliver was trying to read and canted her head. “Do you want me to read it for you?”
Oliver shook his head. “B-b-b-ishop. The Bishop.”
“Well done!” Catherine beamed at him, feeling pride wash over her. “That was perfect.”
Oliver grinned at her and puffed out his chest. Then he pointed to the nearby chess set and tilted his head to one side. “Play?”
Catherine was about to say yes when she heard footsteps approaching the door. She looked up and saw one of the maids walk in through the doorway and drop into a curtsy.
“Your Grace.”
Catherine stood and smoothed out the creases of her dress. She noticed the way the woman shifted from foot to foot, and the way she glanced over her shoulder. A prickle of unease made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.
“What is it?” Catherine moved toward the woman and kept her voice low. “What is wrong?”
The maid swallowed and leaned forward. “I saw a woman in the back of the servants’ quarters. She was wearing a maid’s cloak, but I did not recognize her.”
“What did she look like?” Catherine’s heart sped up. “What color was her hair?”
“I did not get a good look at her, Your Grace. She was older, though not elderly, if you take my meaning. She disappeared into the servant’s passage before I could look at her, but I do notthink she saw me. I came to find you as quickly as I could.” The maid wrung her hands.
“Which passage did she go into?” Catherine’s mind sprang into action, mapping out the house as she listened for the maid’s answer.
“The one that leads to the w est wing, Your Grace.”
Good.That would mean she had enough time, that Marina was as far away from her and Oliver as she could be. “She would be able to reach my study or one of the drawing rooms from there.”
“What should we do?” the maid asked.
“I do not want to tip our hand. Find the butler; we need a magistrate and perhaps some constables.” Catherine flexed and unflexed her fingers. “Do not alert the guards, not yet, at least. Have them wait before they intervene. I do not want her to run off before we can apprehend her.”
She placed a hand on the maid’s shoulder. “I will lure her into the drawing room. That will give me the most space, and will be the easiest for anyone to get to, in case things go wrong.”
“Begging your pardon, but do you think it wise to take such a risk? She might be dangerous.” The maid’s eyes were wide.
Catherine shook her head, trying to sound braver than she felt. “I am tired of looking over my shoulder. This ends today. Nowgo and tell the butler what I have told you, and have the guards ready to act.”
“Of course, Your Grace.” The maid swept into a curtsy and left the room.
“Oliver, you need to hide.” Catherine glanced over her shoulder to make sure that the maid was out of earshot, and then carefully pulled one of the books from the bookshelf.
The entire thing swung forward, revealing a secret room. It contained several candles, and Catherine lit one. “Do you remember what I told you? How you must be careful around these?”
Oliver nodded, his face pale.
