Page 69 of Grave Expectations
"You told me."
Oh. Of course. She meant Andrew Buchanan, not Lincoln. After all my questions about Lord Harcourt's family last time, she'd assumed Buchanan and I were engaged. I'd not corrected her. "Seth is actually a friend of Andrew's," I said, hoping Seth would play along. "Andrew couldn't escort me here today, so Seth offered."
"You didn't require an escort last time."
"Andrew has become more and more jealous of late. Silly fellow."
"Then it's surprising that he wantedthisfellow to escort you."
Seth shot me a grin from behind her back, but quickly schooled it when she turned to him. "Andrew trusts me implicitly," he said.
"He does," I agreed, "because of your…affliction." I glanced pointedly at his groin.
Miss Redding flushed scarlet and toyed with her curls again. Seth looked like he wanted to strangle me.
"Actually, Seth is the reason we came. He's a friend to Reginald Drinkwater. Or should I say, he was. That's why we're here, because you know the Drinkwaters too."
"Yes, I do," Miss Redding said. "Poor Merry. She misses him terribly."
She spoke about her as if she'd seen her recently. Good. We were on the right path.
"How do you know Mr. Drinkwater?" Miss Redding asked.
Seth told her the same story he'd told Mrs. Southey.
"You don't look like a scientist," she said when he finished.
Seth opened his mouth to speak, but I got in first. "Don't let his pretty appearance fool you. He's actually quite intelligent."
"You're too kind, Charlotte," he said through a hard smile.
"So you see, we're worried about Mrs. Drinkwater," I said. "After Seth told me all about Mr. Drinkwater's tragic death, I promised to look in on his widow. Later, after Seth's rooms were ransacked, he insisted we warn her and so we went to visit again, but she wasn't at home or at her sister's. She's particularly vulnerable right now, and I don't think she's aware that she may be targeted next. I hopedyouknew where to find her so we could inform her."
"How did you know we were friends?"
"She told me she danced here with you in her youth. You and Miss D.D."
Her mouth twisted to the side as she studied me. Miss Redding was an astute woman, and not as trusting as Mrs. Southey. Convincing her would be a real test of our acting skills. "It's very unlikely she would have told anyone about her past."
She did not deny that Mrs. Drinkwater and Lady Harcourt had danced together. That was something.
I took both her hands in mine and squeezed. "You're right to be skeptical at a time like this. Mrs. Drinkwater must be protected. But I assure you, she did tell me herself. How else would I know about your friendship if she hadn't?"
Her mouth twitched right then left as she thought. "I suppose so. Thank you for stopping by to warn me. I'll pass the message on to her."
"We'd rather do it ourselves," Seth said. "To check on her wellbeing, you see."
"I'm not sure she wishes to see anybody right now."
"She'll see us," I assured her. I squeezed her hands again. "I also want to pass on the regards of Andrew's stepmother."
"Julia Templeton?"
"Lady Harcourt," Seth corrected.
"Why would she send her regards?"
"She's concerned for her friend too, and wishes to offer shelter, if necessary," I said. "We're to pass the message on to Mrs. Drinkwater in person."
