Page 30 of Speculations in Sin

Mr. Davis’s voice had me turning back on the threshold of the kitchen.

“Yes, Mr. Davis?” I tried to keep my voice even, but the bite of irritation came through. “I do not have time to listen to your lectures. I have a supper to cook.”

I continued into the kitchen, ready to continue preparations for the meal, though I couldn’t for the life of meremember what I’d planned to make. Tess turned from her sauté pan, questions in her eyes, but I had no answers.

I wanted to throw down my apron, fetch my things, and walk out of this house, never to return. Only my habitual caution, born of fear and self-preservation, did not let me. A cook who quit her post without giving notice would be hard-pressed to find another. I made myself walk to the work table and take up a carrot. What I’d do with it, I had no idea.

“Is your friend truly unwell?” Mr. Davis asked me. His voice was stiff, holding the coldness it had since he’d caught me snooping in his bedchamber.

I turned, carrot in my tight hand. “She is most distraught, yes.”

Tess dropped her fork onto the floor with a clatter. “Oh no. Do you mean—” She cut herself off before she said Grace’s name and amended the question. “Who is unwell, Mrs. H.?”

“Mrs. Millburn,” I said to both Tess and Mr. Davis. “A close friend.”

“Oh, poor lady. Is she very ill?” Tess had met Joanna at Christmas, when Joanna had dared visit the kitchen to bring us gifts she and her children had made. Tess had been quite taken with the motherly Joanna.

“I dislike leaving her alone, but there is nothing for it.” I forced my tone to be brisk. “I will ask someone else to look in on her.”

Mr. Davis came to me, lowering his voice. “Go.”

I started, the carrot’s green top swaying. “I beg your pardon, Mr. Davis? Go where?”

“To your friend. I don’t mean this instant. Wait until after service, then instead of retiring to bed, go to her. I’ll make certain the mistress believes you are in your chamber.”

Tess’s eyes widened, and I stared at Mr. Davis in astonishment.

“Why would you do such a thing?” I asked.

Chill annoyance settled over him again. “I am still unhappy with you, Mrs. Holloway, but I know what it is like to have a friend who needs you. Your Mrs. Millburn should not suffer because of our mistress’s pique.”

“Oh.” I realized I was gaping, and popped my mouth closed. “That is very good of you. Yes, I will stay with her and be home before breakfast.”

“Your comings and goings are your business, not mine.” Mr. Davis emphasized the last words. “I will make certain the mistress does not seek you until you have returned to the house.”

“What if she goes to Mrs. Holloway’s bedchamber?” Tess asked in a dramatic whisper. “And finds her not there?”

“I will prevent that,” Mr. Davis’s voice became strained. “I told you.”

I quickly turned to the table, taking up my knife to whack the top from the carrot. “Thank you kindly, Mr. Davis. We will say no more about it.”

He made a noise of relief, pivoted on his heel, and marched out of the room.

“He’s in a temper,” Tess said.

“Never mind him,” I said. “Put that fork in the scullery and fetch another one before those chops burn to a crisp. We must get on with supper—the hour is late.”

* * *

Cynthia had not yet returned from our outing, I heard from Mrs. Redfern as Tess and I finished up the meal. She had instead sent word she’d visit Miss Townsend and would return late.

I wondered if Cynthia had decided to confide Sam’s difficulties to Miss Townsend, and I hoped so. Judith Townsend came from a powerful family, and perhaps she could put words in the right ears on Sam’s behalf.

After we sent up the meal, we prepared the staff’s supper and consumed ours in the kitchen. I quietly explained to Tess what had happened to Sam, and why I truly wished to visit Joanna. Tess made noises of distress, but I bade her keep the story to herself.

“I’ll never say a word, Mrs. H. But if you’d like Caleb to keep an ear open about it, he will. He’s only a beat constable though. The tecs don’t always talk about their cases where he can hear.”

Caleb had been quite a mine of information in the past, and I could not push aside such an offer.

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