Chapter Ten
“My goodness. You’ve shadows under your eyes,” her mother said at breakfast. I thought the country air would be invigorating.”
“So much has happened, Mama, I’m not sleeping well.”
“Yes I agree. It does disturb one, being here under these circumstances, although the constable is here every day, and the house locked up tight at night. He assures us we are in no danger. Perhaps I should get a draught made up for you when we return to London.”
“No. Please don’t, Mama. I only need a good night’s sleep.”
Her mother placed her hand on Harriett’s forehead. “No fever. Put out your tongue.” As Harriett obliged, Gerard walked into the room. He paused on the threshold with a wicked grin that sent her emotions tumbling out of control. Her mother felt her cheek. “You do look flushed.”
“I’m fine, Mama. Please don’t fuss. Good morning Gerard.”
Her mother turned. “Oh. Good morning, Gerard. Have you eaten?”
“I’d be grateful for a cup of tea; I’ve been up since dawn.”
Harriett doubted he’d ever got to bed.
Her mother removed the warmer and poured him a cup. “What have you planned for today?”
“Just to make sure life at Pendleton goes on as normally as possible. I’ll question the staff. Some may want to find another position. Then I must return to my own work.”
“You could employ someone to do the work for you at Foxworth, surely?” Mama said, pouring him a cup of tea.
He took the cup and saucer with a nod of thanks, and popped in a lump of sugar. “I could,” he said, stirring it. “But I enjoy physical labor.”
“Most gentlemen of our acquaintance ride and box and those other manly pursuits, but few appear quite as fit as you.”
When Gerard put down his teacup, her mother rose from the table. She bent and gathered up her cashmere shawl and lorgnette, failing to catch Gerard’s wink at Harriett and Harriett’s grin in response.
“We shall leave you to your inquiries. Come Harriett. I want to visit the kitchens.”
An hour later, Harriett saw Gerard leave for Foxworth. He’d been very firm about them not meeting at night again, but she wasn’t going back to London without carrying out her plan. She’d have to be more resourceful.
Harriett had no idea how he planned to catch the murderer, he’d flatly refused to tell her. Called into service by her mother, they performed an inventory of the house from the linen cupboards to the pantry, and directed the staff to clean and air rooms that had been shut up for years. In a house of Pendleton’s size, this proved an enormous task.
A letter from Leonora set their mother into whoops of delight. She was enjoying her stay in London immensely. She’d hastily scrawled details of her new fringed, hand-painted silk parasol, and the stylish jockey cap she’d bought while shopping in New Bond Street. She’d danced with a viscount, the eldest son of a duke, twice, at Almack’s, and set all the mamas talking. He had driven her and Aunt Georgina down the South Carriage Drive at Hyde Park in his barouche, where thehaute toncame to be seen. He knew positively everyone. He was quite old though, and not terribly handsome.
“How old, I wonder?” Mama asked rhetorically.
It seemed unlikely to Harriett that Leonora would choose him rather than Gerard, duke’s heir or no.
At luncheon, her father announced that the constable had finished interviewing the staff. Now that Mama had the house running smoothly, he saw no reason for them to remain here longer than the end of the week. They need not return for the inquest.
She chewed her lip at the renewed sense of urgency. “Oh, but Father, surely we should attend?”
“There’s no need. The magistrate will send me the findings.” He smiled. “Although I must say I’ve enjoyed country life again.”
Her father now had a ruddy complexion, he’d spent most of each day out of doors, riding around the estate. Although the inheritance of two thousand pounds hardly brought long term relief to the family, it paid some urgent bills, and banished the anxiety from his eyes.
He put down his coffee cup and rose from the table, smiling at her mother. “I believe I’ll take an afternoon nap. Will you join me, Rebecca?”
Mama flushed. “Yes, I have been working hard all morning.” She glanced at Harriett. “I’m sure you’ll find something useful to do, dear.”
“I might take a walk,” Harriett said.
Swamped with a sense of yearning, she watched her parents mount the stairs, her father’s arm around her mother’s waist. She wanted a marriage like theirs, but it seemed unlikely. She wasn’t prepared to settle for second best. Harriett grew even more determined to have her one moment of passion with the man of her dreams, to warm her through the long years ahead. She must act quickly, for time was now of the essence, with their departure only days away.
