They had a visitor. Gerard strode in with her father, just as the butler announced luncheon was served.
Harriett pulled at her skirt, but it did little good. She caught the long look and quick grin from Gerard as they walked into the dining room.
At the dining table, her father shook out his napkin. “The constable has completed his interrogation of the staff.”
“Did you learn anything, Father?” Harriett asked, relieved that she could wear a potato sack and her father wouldn’t notice.
“No. It only confirms my opinion that the murder was random. There are several new members of the staff here, but what would their motive be?” Father drank from his wine glass. “O’Hara, of course, and the overseer, Joseph Kyle. A lad in the kitchens, what’s his name again, Gerard?”
“Young Barker. Then there’s Madoc, the under gardener. He has only been here for a few months.”
“Any one of them could be a possible suspect,” Father said. “But I haven’t detected any motive. They bore no obvious antagonism toward their employer. All of them have been well treated by all accounts.”
Harriett caught Gerard’s warning glance and bit her lip. The dining room door opened and the butler entered with another carafe of wine, followed by the servants carrying the first course, steaming bowls of onion soup.
“I am most grateful to you for remaining to help me put Pendleton in order,” Gerard said, “but really, if you feel you should be in London….”
“Nonsense, my boy,” Father said with a smile. “What do you plan to do with the place? Will you live here?”
“I prefer my home, but it will depend on my bride.”
“Your bride?” Mama exclaimed. “Are we to congratulate you, Gerard?”
“I haven’t yet asked her. She may refuse me. Not every lady wishes to spend most of the year in the depths of the country.”
“What nonsense.” Mama smiled. “You are extremely eligible.”
“No right-minded young woman would decline an offer from you,” her father agreed, seizing his spoon.
Gerard was worried Leonora wouldn’t want to live in the country, Harriett thought. It appeared she was his choice. Harriett’s stomach lurched with distress and she pushed her plate away.
“You should eat, Harriett,” her mother said. “You won’t look your best if you get too thin.”
Harriett stared down at the tablecloth, her cheeks burning. In contrast, her ankles felt bare and chilly. She wanted to run up to her room and not come out again until they left for London.
They discussed matters pertaining to the estate at length over the halibut in parsley sauce, followed by an apricot fool, sweetmeats and a dish of fruit.
“You have an excellent cook here,” Mama said, stirring her coffee. “I must say I’m surprised.”
“Harrison enjoyed his food,” Gerard said, his blue eyes sad.
“I am surprised to hear it.” Her mother’s eyebrows rose. “I thought him too ill.”
After the meal, they retired to the morning room they’d adopted, the coziest and most comfortably furnished room in the big house. While her mother conversed with her father in chairs by the fireplace, Harriett drew Gerard out of earshot to the sofa at the far end of the room. She lowered her voice. “You can’t continue to keep important information from the constable or from my father. It isn’t right.”
Gerard’s eyes narrowed. “It’s imperative, Harry.”
“You’ve put me in a very awkward position. I don’t like keeping secrets from my family. You force me to choose between you.”
Her parents paused in their conversation to glance at them.
Gerard waited until their talk resumed. “We can’t discuss it here, meet me in an hour.”
“I can’t. I have to sew a flounce on this cursed skirt, it’s Leonora’s.” Harriett frowned. “You ruined mine as you know.” She tried uselessly to tuck her legs beneath her gown.
“I did? You pulled away from me,” Gerard whispered, his gaze drifting down to her legs. “I approve of the style. Perhaps you will set a new fashion.”
“You’re teasing.” Harriett smoothed the gown over her knees, annoyed and embarrassed. “You are a most disgraceful flirt.”
