“Mina?” Henry got down on the carpet next to the cabinet.
Nothing was said in reply, but Susannah heard a rustle and a creak coming from the cabinet.
Henry said, “I’m here with Miss Beasley. Have you disappeared?
A muffledyes.
“But we need you back here, Mina. Your uncle is here. We’ve been talking in the drawing room.”
“Don’t want to see him.”
“But he’s your father’s brother. And your father loved him very much, just as he loved you and your mother. And I—” Henry choked. “I love him very much, too. And everyone in this house only wants the best for you. Please come out, Mina.”
“Please,” Susannah said.
Mina opened the cabinet door and crawled directly into Henry’s lap and Henry’s arms.
Susannah heard a sound and looked up. Charles was standing in the doorway, his face stricken with horror. He gulped and disappeared.
When they reconvened in the brown drawing room minutes later, Charles was there, pale but stoic. He had not run away, either. He was determined, and Susannah knew enough to respect the determination of a Delamere.
She did not know what had upset him so greatly about what he had seen in the little library. Maybe because Mina looked like his brother? Or had he heard Henry say how he loved Charles?
Mina refused to be separated from Henry now, and Henry shared her feeling, so he held her. Charles kept his eyes averted from Henry and Mina as they came into the drawing room. But Mina was looking at Charles.
“Papa,” she whispered and put her thumb in her mouth.
Susannah heard what she said.
“He’s very like, isn’t he? And like your grandfather,” Susannah said. “And like you.”
Henry stepped up to Charles. “Charles, this is Mina. Mina, this is your uncle.”
Mina took her thumb out of her mouth. “Did I ever meet you before?”
Charles finally looked at her. “You were a baby.”
“Why didn’t you come until now?”
“I had no right—” He started again. “It was very foolish of me.”
“You’re not to take me away.”
“I have rented rooms in London. And I plan to fill them with toys. Wouldn’t you like to live in London?”
“No, but I will visit you there. With Grandfather.” Mina put her thumb back in her mouth.
The marchioness said loudly, “I grow hungry, and there is much to discuss.”
“Yes,” Henry said. “Including the fact that little pitchers have big ears.”
“I will watch my tongue, nephew. But first.” She thumped her stick. “We have a spy in our midst.”
The marchioness’ walking stick lifted into the air. It wavered for a moment, as if undecided. Susannah couldn’t breathe. Would it point at the solicitor? Or the comely secretary? Or Susannah?
The end of the stick bobbed and glided and landed on the young nursemaid Swift. Susannah had not even noticed she was in the room, standing in the corner.
“You, girl,” the marchioness said. “I made you stay. Can you guess why?”
