CHAPTER TEN
“Breakfast and recreation should be one hour.”
Private Education: A Practical Plan for the Studies of Young Ladies.
Elizabeth Appleton. 1815.
Hugh squinted at the cup of… “Is this my breakfast tea, Cruikshank? It’s…yellow.”
“Mrs Dawkins heard that your head was paining you, Sir.”
Hell.
“Any idea what’s in it, then?”
“Feverfew, ginger, lavender, peppermint…” Could be worse and Hugh raised it to his lips. “Valerian and millipedes.”
“Millipedes?” He leaned back in the chair. “The many-toed variety?”
“Indeed, Sir.”
“A miraculous concoction, I have to say, as my devil of a head pain has lifted without imbibing a drop. However, my guts are crying cupboard, so I require…toast, sausages, bacon, eggs and a pot of…” He stared at the yellow concoction. “Coffee?”
“Very well, Sir.”
“And where the deuce is everybody? The house is silent as a catacomb.”
For himself, he’d not arrived home till three of the morn. Thurwood’s literary salon had rambled on for hours, but her recitation ofQueen Mabhad given him time to search her house. She was cousin to that clerk Thomas within the Home Office, which gave cause for concern, but he’d found nothing untoward so would commence with the next lady on Ross’ list.
A Lady Tremlach…
“The hour is past eleven, Sir. Miss Thornton has left for her dance lesson at Lady Kemble’s.”
“Of course. And Miss Jones?”
The butler’s nostrils quivered. “Miss…Jones has exited the house.”
“Exited?” Hugh’s noggin whirred. “Exited to where?”
“She alluded to certain…paper purchases.”
Paper?
Ludicrous. He’d asked Cruik to order more only yestermorn.
What was she up to?
“And when did she leave? Where was she headed?”
“Not a moment before you descended, Sir. And I happened to notice her on foot to the south-west corner of the square.”
“On second thoughts, no breakfast, Cruik. I shall also exit the house.”
The butler’s eyes gleamed before he nodded. “Of course, Sir. Might I recommend the grey greatcoat? Less…conspicuous.”
Hugh waggled his brows and stirred his rump. “You’re a marvel, Cruik.”
“Naturally, Sir.”
