Page 58 of The Ambiguous Enigma of the Hunted Lady
After Leah was quite sure that the house had settled down again, and that she was once again in her own strange sphere of a box, Leah gingerly got to her feet. She sucked in air strenuously as she planted herself squarely on the floorboards. She was up.
Walk to that basin.
Leah took slow, even steps towards the water basin. She quickly found that the pain in her abdomen was not so great if she controlled her speed and limited the range of her legs. By taking small, measured paces with a straight back, she could move around the room fairly freely.
It still hurt a bit to breathe, but it was nothing that she couldn't manage. Then she heard Mrs. Redford's carrying voice sound from somewhere near the stairs, shouting out something.
Whatever it was, it got the house a bit of a bustle. Leah could hear feet pattering about on the floor boards and could only assume that the house's staff had suddenly swung into action.
Leah knew this could mean one of two things: either the Duchess had ordered a new painting and it was arriving, or Kenneth was back from London. The latter of the two thoughts gave her stomach the briefest flutter.
* * *
Kenneth came up his steps in a single bound, giving Daniel a brief start at the door.
“Good evening, Your Grace.”
“Evening, Daniel, don't always be so proper.” Kenneth shot back, tipping his hat as he handed it to his footman.
“A pleasant trip to London then, Your Grace?”
“It was, indeed.” Kenneth handed off his coat and cane. “Would you do me the courtesy of informing the kitchen and my Mother that my Uncle, Lord Wilson will be joining us for supper?”
“Of course, Your Grace.” Daniel bobbed his head. “Is there anything else?”
“Is our guest well?”
“From what I hear, Your Grace.”
“She is awake then?”
“Your Grace would have to see for himself.” Daniel nodded a bow and retreated with the news that would throw his mother into a complete frenzy. Unexpected dinner guests were not one of her strong suits, especially distinguished members of the family.
“So, I shall.” Kenneth uttered. He checked his appearance in the mirror hanging adjacent, and brushed back a few loose hairs around his ear. Then he proceeded to leap up the stairs two at a time as if he were on campaign.
Kenneth drew to Leah's door, composed himself, scolded himself for appearing too excited, and then knocked briskly.
“Leah?” he called out.
“Wait a moment, Kenneth.” she answered. Kenneth had expected to hear,come in, then, or something of that nature, but instead he fumbled over this road bump.
“Of course.” He stepped back from the door, grasping his hands behind his back.
“Will you send Mrs. Redford to me, Kenneth?”
“Mrs. Redford? Why?”
“I need to get dressed.” she said back rather curtly. “You have promised me a walk through the gardens.”
Kenneth, already thrown off guard by her refusal of entry, took a moment to put together the information she had just presented. Once it had all fallen into place, he took off at an alarming rate to find the housekeeper.
Mrs. Redford was found in the kitchen, where the staff had gone from preparing a simple meal to an extravagant one. There were vegetables being cut, birds cut open, and large pots being set onto burners.
“This is a rather jolly amount of food.” Kenneth remarked as he caught up with Mrs. Redford.
“Oh! Dear me, Your Grace, you startled me, pardon me.” she ruffled her garments and got her bonnet straight.
“There, it's only me.” Kenneth laughed. “Now I must insist that you abandon whatever task you had at hand and go fetch some appropriate clothing for Miss Benson.” Kenneth smiled as he finished his sentence.I must continue to refer to her as Miss Benson.
