Page 47 of Beyond the Grave
"Because…because…" She clicked her tongue. "You're being deliberately provoking. Of course they don't know where he is."
"I didn't imply that they know, just that he may have discovered their secret and disappeared in the course of finding out more."
"What secret?"
"Julia, you know I can't tell you."
"You can, you just won't." After a moment, in which neither spoke, she sighed. "Everyone has secrets, I suppose, but I am surprised that Marguerite and Donald do. They're so…ordinary. Dull. I wonder…"
"Wonder what?"
I leaned closer to the door.
"I wonder if you may be heading in the right direction."
"About Buchanan's interest in their secret?"
"I'm not sure if this is important or not but, in light of what you've just said, perhaps it is. My coachman informed me yesterday that Andrew wanted to be driven to Paddington Station on the morning of his disappearance."
There was a pause then Lincoln said, "The Greater Western Railway trains leave from Paddington and go through Oxfordshire."
"Precisely. There is a station not far from Emberly Park."
I pressed my lips together to suppress my gasp. We were finally getting somewhere.
"Did your coachman not understand the importance of this information earlier?" Lincoln asked.
"No, because he never took Andrew anywhere. He was busy driving me that day, you see, and thought no more about it. He said he forgot the conversation entirely until yesterday."
"It's possible Buchanan took a hackney instead."
"I agree; it's possible, even likely. But he cannot have reached Emberly Park or Donald and Marguerite would have said something."
"Unless they don't want us knowing."
Lady Harcourt's throaty chuckle had me picturing her taking Lincoln's hand and batting her eyelashes. "You're so suspicious of everyone. Oralmosteveryone." The laughter died, and her voice became clipped. "Your own employees seem to escape your suspicions."
"Do they?" he said lazily. "You know my mind?"
His accusation stung her to silence.
"Please convey my apologies to your stepson and his wife," he went on. "But, I can assure you, my questions were necessary."
She sighed. "Why not apologize to them personally? Dine with us tonight at Harcourt House."
"I doubt my presence would be welcomed."
"Nonsense.Iwelcome it. Isn't that what matters?"
Silence.
"Come to dinner, Lincoln. Please. You can ask Donald directly, in the billiard room afterward, if Andrew ever reached Emberly."
"If he has kept silent until now, I doubt more questions will produce results."
"Come to dinner and try anyway. I'm sure you'll know if he's lying or not. You have a knack for that."
What was she up to? A moment ago, she'd been appalled at Lincoln's poor manners during dinner, and now she was encouraging him to question Lord Harcourt further, over yet another dinner. Worse, she was advising him to accuse Lord Harcourt to his face of hiding his brother's visit to Emberly. Why?
