Page 12 of Kiss Me Lady One More Time
“Oh, dear,” Mrs. Williams said knowingly.
“Indeed. You can imagine her reaction. She thought him a great nuisance and was glad enough to see his visit come to an end.”
“Well, the word is your mother would rival Mr. Stillwater on her rating of company.”
“True enough, you know she does not like anything or anyone who might distract her from her work. But other ladies seem to enjoy Mr. Lycett’s company. Was this particular lady also a guest at the house party?”
“I believe so. A widow, with a title. Lady Threshold or Threshing, or—”
“Lady Tresham,” she said.
“Yes, that sounds right.”
It sounded right to Penelope too, especially as she’d already decided the same lady was one of her main suspects—and the letter she’d sent off this morning contained a discreet inquiry about her. Her heart was pounding at this verification of her reasoning, but she could not show it.
“Well, my mother will stand alone in her aversions, now that it seems as if Mr. Stillwater is changing his stripes. People in the house, and a trip to London! Who would have predicted it?”
“No one. Nor will it last, for the new pelt has already been thrown over for the old stripes. It was bound to happen, once the fossil went missing.”
“He was so distraught at Lord Tensford’s loss?” Now she was truly surprised.
“Not the earl’s loss. His own.”
Her cup stalled on the way to her mouth. “Mrs. Williams, are you saying that Mr. Stillwater also had a fossil stolen?”
“Indeed, he did. Several, in fact.”
“From his collection, here?”
“Yes,” she said, with all the satisfaction of having delivered a juicy bit of gossip. “And didn’t he rage up one end of the house and down another? It had to have been one of the visitors. And we are nowforbiddento let another creature through the front door.”
“Well, I’m glad I had the thought to come to the back,” she said, blinking and trying to absorb this new nugget of information.
“If ye were to ask me, that’s why he’s gone to London. He wrote a flurry of letters and got a flood back, too. But one had him throwing clothes in a bag and heading right out. I say he’s likely gone to get his nasty old fossils back.”
“What makes you think so? Or was it just his urgency?”
The cook’s tone lowered further. “Well, he left his papers scattered on his desk, didn’t he? And one of the main floor maids can read. She says as how he was sent a notice of a gathering of parties interested in such things—a gathering that also includes a sale.”
“Of fossils?”
Mrs. Williams nodded.
“Well, I hope he finds what he’s looking for. He should return in a sweeter temper.”
“And so do we all,” the cook said breathily. She sat back, smiling. “My own temper will be improved if Lady Tensford’s ointment helps my aching feet.”
Penelope smiled back and gathered up her satchel. “Do let me know if it helps and I’ll contrive to get you more. Thank you for a lovely visit.”
“I will. And if you stop by in a week or so, I’ll have a jar of cherry preserves to send along to the countess, in thanks.”
“I’ll do that.”
“See if you can convince Molly to come with you,” the cook said as they moved out of the kitchen and down the hall.
“That may be beyond my powers of persuasion,” Penelope said with a laugh. “I don’t believe she pauses to take a breath all the day long.”
“All we can do is try,” Mrs. Williams said wisely.
