Page 65 of Beyond the Grave
Millard, the butler, opened the door to us and almost stumbled backward in aghast at seeing me alongside Lincoln. The last time I'd called at Harcourt House, he had pointed out that maids should enter through the service entrance.
He recovered enough to bow and step aside. "Mr. Fitzroy, sir. How good to see you again."
"And you." Lincoln presented me as if I were a debutante and Millard the queen. "You remember Miss Holloway."
"Of course." The bow he gave me was considerably shallower than the one he gave Lincoln.
"Is his lordship at home for callers?"
"Not at present. Lady Harcourt and the dowager Lady Harcourt are both here, however."
"Please inform them I'd like to speak with them both."
"Of course, sir. If you will wait in the drawing room."
Despite being smaller, the drawing room was even more spectacular than the one at Emberly House with its soft green velvet curtains, and crimson and gold carpet. Where Emberly's walls were covered with paintings of cows and countryside, this drawing room was more elegantly decorated with pictures of women and children. I assumed they were family members, but it was odd that there wasn't a single man in any of the paintings. Each one was framed in heavy gold, as were the three mirrors, and gold leaf decorated the mantelpiece, ceiling and much of the furniture. The dowager's tastes ran to less clutter than her daughter-in-law's, making the room appear large and airy. I liked the room considerably more for it.
Lady Harcourt—Julia—sailed in, a surprised smile on her face. It turned hard when she spotted me. It would seem Millard hadn't thought me important enough to announce. "Lincoln, Charlie, how lovely to see you." She greeted Lincoln with a kiss on his cheek. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"We need to speak with Lord and Lady Harcourt," he said.
Her gaze shifted to me then back again. "What about?"
"We learned some things at Emberly Park that need clarification."
"We?" she echoed, once more eyeing me. "Lincoln, what is going on? Why is Charlie here?"
Marguerite took that moment to enter. Unlike her mother-in-law, she didn't so much glide into the room, but rather she padded with heavy feet and swaying hips. She greeted Lincoln cordially but frowned through his introduction of me as if she couldn't quite place me.
"Tea, m'lady?" Millard asked.
Julia lifted her brow at Lincoln, but he shook his head. "No, thank you, Millard," she said. "You may go. Please close the door."
He bowed himself out and shut the double doors.
"Madam," Lincoln began, but stopped when Marguerite lifted her hand.
She hadn't taken her eyes off me since sitting down. Now she sat forward and pointed at me. "That's your housemaid."
"Miss Holloway is my assistant."
"She looks very much like your maid."
Julia arched her brow at him, but he paid her no mind. I suddenly wished the sofa would swallow me up. I didn't know why I had thought this would be a good idea. Of course both ladies would find it abhorrent that I sat in their drawing room, let alone pried into their private matters. Lincoln should never have included me on this excursion.
Then again, it was precisely what I'd wanted him to do. I'd wanted to be his partner in investigations, to be more than a maid within the ministry. It wasn't fair that I thought him wrong now for doing exactly as I requested. Nor should I feel awkward in the presence of these ladies. I might be beneath them in situation, but I was Julia's equal in birth and at least Marguerite's equal in intelligence. I wouldn't want to be in either woman's position now.
"Miss Holloway and I returned from Emberly Park this morning."
Lincoln's declaration was met with a gasp from Marguerite. Her hand fluttered to her chest and she looked to the closed doors. Wishing her husband was present, perhaps? "Why did you go there when you knew we were here?"
"To find out if your brother-in-law visited the house or not."
"My husband told you he did not. Was his word not good enough?"
"No."
Marguerite's lips pinched. "This is outrageous!"
