Page 51 of Grave Expectations
"She seems to consider him highly competent. More so than me, I'm sure. Do you know if she has spoken to him about this letter?"
"He's been somewhat busy lately."
"Rescuing you from kidnappers?"
I squared my shoulders. "I rescued myself, thank you." In a way.
"She did," Gus chimed in. "And me too."
Buchanan ignored him. "I'm glad I was able to discuss this with you, Miss Holloway. While I adore my stepmother, and would do anything for her, I am aware that she has her faults, and one of those is the enjoyment she gets out of manipulating things to her benefit. I would hate for you to be unaware of Julia's machinations until too late."
I couldn't decide if he was jealous of Lincoln and worried about the two of them because he was in love with her, or if he despised her and wanted to ruin her machinations, as he called it. Perhaps both. Love and hate were two sides of the one coin, so my adopted mother used to tell me.
"Thank you," I said. "There's no need to concern yourself on that score. If Lincoln wishes to help Lady Harcourt, he will, but that is all. Just help." What else could I say? It seemed absurd to be having such a discussion with him. If Lincoln were here, he would have thrown Buchanan out.
"I'm glad I was able speak with you, Miss Holloway." He stood and assured me he had to leave when I politely protested the briefness of his stay. "Things to do and all that."
I saw him out just as Doyle arrived in the entrance hall carrying a tray laden with tea things. He sighed, turned, and left again.
Seth, Gus and I followed him to the kitchen and enjoyed tea and cake with Cook. Doyle ate too, although he refused to sit in my presence and remained standing.
"What do you think that was all about?" Seth asked.
"Don't ask me." Gus didn't bother to finish his mouthful of cake before speaking, earning him an eye-roll from Seth. "Toffs are a strange lot. I don't understand 'em."
"Amen," I muttered into my cup.
Doyle finished his tea and went in search of some silver to polish. I signaled for Seth to follow me into the scullery.
"Want me to fetch water?" he asked, picking up the pail.
"In a moment." I kept my voice low and my gaze on the door to the kitchen. "I hate to ask this, but are you sure Doyle wouldn't betray us to Mrs. Drinkwater?"
"Quite sure. Why would he?"
"Money."
"The man is exceedingly grateful for his position here. He's very proud and wants to work. He wouldn't jeopardize this opportunity for a little extra ready."
"Oh. Poor man. You're right, but I needed to ask. He knew we were looking for a housekeeper, for one thing."
"It was hardly a secret. You placed an ad inThe Times."
"Yes, but Mrs. Drinkwater didn't know to look there until someone informed her."
"True. But Mrs. Drinkwater knew about your necromancy, and Doyle doesn't."
"You haven't told him?" At his head shake, I sighed. "Then it couldn't have been him. I'm very relieved, because he's awfully efficient. Although I don't like the way he looks at me when I want to sit in the kitchen."
"He'll get used to the way things are done at Lichfield soon enough."
"Do you think he'll get used to the strange goings on?"
"You mean the odd kidnapping here and there?" He grinned. "We'll have to tell him about the ministry eventually."
He carried the pail outside, and I assembled the dirty dishes. By the time he'd returned with the water, my thoughts had steered toward Lincoln. He mustn't have found Mrs. Drinkwater yet or he'd be back. I didn't feel as relieved about that as I thought I would. Despite my earlier misgivings, IknewLincoln wouldn't harm her. He might scare her or threaten her to get answers, but that was all.
But he had to find her first.
