“Only a few minutes.” She shook the moisture off her bonnet.
He glanced at the wall by the door. “There isn’t even a place to hang my coat.”
“There are a few nails in the wall right there.” She pointed. “Shall we see if they are strong enough to hold our coats?”
“We can certainly try it.” He adjusted his coat over the nail until it settled in place. Returning his gaze to her, he noticed her lovely long-sleeve lavender dress with a beige lace over-skirt. Once again, he was reminded what a beautiful woman she was, and her fancier clothes brightened her face more than the servant’s dresses he’d seen her in before.
“Here,” he said, taking her cloak, “let me hang that for you.”
“Thank you.” She handed him her bonnet to place on another nail. Thankfully, it stayed there.
He sighed. “Well, now. I wonder what the kitchen looks like.”
“Just as bare, I’m afraid.”
He headed to the other room with her following. Once he entered the kitchen, he stopped short. Only one chair was left in the room, and it looked almost too rickety to sit upon. He scanned the floor and cringed. Disgusting!
Shaking his head, he groaned. “I must apologize, Tabitha.” He met her gaze as she stood next to him. “A little over a month ago, the place actually had furniture.”
“Indeed?” She arched an eyebrow. “Am I to assume this isn’t your first time meeting a woman here for a little privacy?”
He didn’t enjoy the snicker of her voice or the accusation written on her face. Soon, he’d change her mind about him, he was certain. “If you must know, I was with my cousin, Frederick. We were visiting some people in the parish and he wanted to check this house out because he knew the man who’d lived here had moved out.”
“Oh.” Her cheeks stained with a pink color. “If that is the case, I wonder why the place is stripped bare now.”
“I’m wondering the same.” He glanced toward the stairs. “It makes me wonder if the rooms upstairs are also free of furniture.”
She motioned her arm. “Shall we investigate, then?”
“Yes, we shall.” He pointed ahead of him. “After you, my lovely.”
Her gaze stayed on him long enough for him to see her roll her eyes. He held in the chuckle that wanted to escape his throat. He’d make sure she’d come to like that endearment.
Tabitha lifted her dress to her ankles as she climbed each stair. Behind her, Nic couldn’t keep his focus off the way her dress clung to her calves and the top of her boots. Once again, it struck him odd to see such fancy footwear on her when she’d been a maid not more than six months ago. Perhaps he could convince her into sharing with him what had happened to bring her into some money.
They reached the top floor and he moved to walk beside her. As they passed each room, they peeked inside. Nothing but dirt coated the floors. The last room they stopped at had several footprints in the dust near the corner by the window.
“How very curious,” Tabitha said.
“I agree. I’ll be certain to inform my cousin of our findings. This definitely has me perplexed.”
“Do you think the matter needs further investigation from the magistrate?” She tilted her head as she kept her eyes on him.
“Indeed, I do. If this house had furniture not more than six weeks ago, and the owner is not living here now, where has everything disappeared to?”
“It does look suspicious.” She nodded.
“I agree.”
“Well,” she sighed heavily, “shall we return downstairs to see what we can eat for lunch?”
He gave a light chuckle. “I do have our meal prepared, but now I’m wondering where we can eat it.” He led them back down the hall. “When I was here last, there was a table and chairs.”
“That does present a problem.” She started down the stairs first. “I suppose we could use the chair to be our table, and we’ll have to sit on the floor while we eat.”
Nic groaned under his breath. That option was out of the question. How could she ask a man of his status to sit on a dirty floor? As soon as the thought passed through his mind, he had the answer. Tabitha was a servant. She had sat on dirty floors before, so to her, this was a simple solution. If Nic tried to argue, would she think less of him than she did already? Of course, she would. So, in order to make peace with her, he must act as if the thought didn’t disgust him.
“Or perhaps,” he said, “we could keep the food in the basket and you could sit on the chair. I shall lay my coat on the ground as somewhat of a covering, and sit on it.”
