Tell that imbecile to get my daughter out of here. That was our agreement.
“Actually,” I began. “Father said something the other day that was quite odd. He wasn’t in his right mind, I know, but he seemed very agitated to see me here and specifically said it wasn’t safe.”
Delia furrowed her brow. “He doesn’t always have a very good sense of time. It’s as if his mind is shuffling through the years.”
“Do you think it’s possible he worked for the government? Perhaps … in secret?”
“You mean as a spy?” She snorted. “He would have been terrible at that.”
“But he specifically mentioned someone named Mitchem. And Mr. Dorian said he was once the head of the Foreign Office.”
“Well, I can poke around his study, if you like,” Delia offered. “Though if he really was up to something clandestine, I highly doubt he would have kept a record of it.”
“That’s true. But something may turn up. Where is Mother?”
Delia waved a hand. “Out making her usual calls. Honestly, that woman will let nothing keep her from her social schedule. London could crumble all around us, and she would still see Lady Montgomery on Mondays, Mrs. Gilbert on Tuesdays, and Lady Asquith on Wednesdays.”
“Oh God,” I said with a start. “I completely forgot that I promised to call on Lady Asquith’s niece today. She is an oldfriend from Girton.” Then I glanced at the clock on the mantel. “Just about now, in fact.”
Delia tilted her head. “Well, go ahead. I can keep an eye on Tommy.”
“Are you sure you don’t mind?”
“It isn’t as though I have anywhere else to be,” she said. “And I could use the distraction. Perhaps he can tell me about dinosaurs.”
“Do not get him started, or you will never hear the end of it,” I warned.
But Delia just flashed me a grin. “I can think of far worse ways to spend a morning. Now shoo. I know you hate being late even by one minute.”
It was true. I was already mapping out the route to Cecelia’s house in my head. I could take the carriage, but decided it would be faster if I walked and cut through the park.
“Thank you, Delia,” I said as I stood. “I won’t be gone more than an hour.”
She waved me towards the door. “Expect me to be an expert on paleontology when you return.”
Chapter 22
Mrs. Cecelia Wentworth lived in a white stucco terrace house on Bayswater Road, which I reached in record time thanks to my very unladylike stride. I barely had time to catch my breath before I was ushered inside to a light-filled entryway tastefully painted in shades of cream, with framed botanical prints artfully displayed on the walls. I faintly recalled that Cecelia had had a particular interest in biology at school.
I handed my card to the butler, who immediately escorted me to the drawing room, where Cecelia was waiting.
“Minnie!” she said with a genuine smile as she hurried over and pulled me into a tight hug. “I’m so glad you came.”
I was surprised by this show of affection, as we had last had contact long ago, but it was welcome. “Thank you for inviting me.”
She then pulled back and gestured to the sofa. “Please, sit.”
Like the entryway, this room was also decorated in calming shades of cream and gold.
“What a beautiful room,” I said as I took in the space. The botanical theme continued in here, with drapes in a leaf-printedpattern of green and white, along with furniture in a pale pink floral brocade.
Cecelia beamed. “I decorated it myself.”
“You are very talented.”
She ducked her head in acknowledgment. “Thank you. I needed something to occupy my time after my marriage. I started drawing botanical prints, and things slowly came together from there.”
“Those are yours framed in the entryway? They’re marvelous.”
