Page 47 of The Ambiguous Enigma of the Hunted Lady
“Been bird watching?” Mrs. Redford smiled as she replaced the bowl atop the basin stand.
“I have become a professional.” Leah smiled back.
“Well, good thing you make at least something out of the time I suppose.” Mrs. Redford bobbed her head as she began to gather up the hand towels from the previous day. “My sister, now she was a bird watcher if I had ever known one, oh my, she could pick out a stellar jay from a hundred yards!”
“She sounds lovely.” Leah offered a polite grin. The housekeeper had missed the meaning of her quip by a wide mile.
“Oh, she is wonderful. Lives down in Surrey. Anyway, enough about silly me then. Big day for you isn't it, dear?” Mrs. Redford went on with her chores, never ceasing to speak the whole of the time.
“How do you mean?” Leah cocked her head.What is happening today?
“I heard that the Doctor was coming in from the city. He was supposed to be here yesterday, or something to that tune.”
“Did the Duke summon him as he said he would?” Leah was thoroughly excited by the prospect of seeing the doctor. While she still held distrust for them, for some reason she felt as if seeing Dr. Fowler would make her heal faster.
“He did, that he did, made a whole fuss about it as well.”
“It's very kind of him.” Leah sighed a bit wistfully. “I can only imagine how much the good doctor charges for a house call.”
“Oh, I wouldn't worry about that.” Mrs. Redford scoffed. “The Duke's got more money than he knows what to do with.
“He seems the charitable type.” Leah acknowledged with half a grin.
“Indeed, he is.” Mrs. Redford went on, propping up fresh pillows behind Leah's back. “It hasn't made him too many friends about London, from what I've been told.”
“What have you been told?” Leah was curious. For some reason she felt compelled to know as much about him as she could.
“Well, he's doing work for the poor, for one, nobody else seems to like that very much, don't know why though, seems only right.”
“It does, doesn't it?” Leah felt a twinge of happiness in her stomach.
“When he decides to do something, it will get done, you mark my words. So, if he says the bill will pass, then I suppose it will pass in good time.”
“He is not well liked?”
“I think it's more that he's not well behaved.”
“Well, I can't fault him for that.” Leah said.
“You seem to be enjoying each other’s company.” Mrs. Redford poked.
“He is very kind to me, yes.” Leah nodded.
Mrs. Redford winked. “Now why is that, if you don't mind me askin?”
“What do you mean?”
“I seen the Duke come out of here looking happier than he has for about six years, and that's all I'll mean to share about that.” Mrs. Redford smiled and finished laying down fresh hand towels. She began to make her way back towards the door.
“Wait, Mrs. Redford.” Leah burst out.
“Yes, dear?”
“What is the Duke has said about me? If anything at all?”
“It's not the saying, dear, but the looking.” Mrs. Redford winked again overtly, demonstrating her point.
“Is he here today?” Leah felt as if she were blushing. This was not normal for her, and it caused her some uneasiness as well as excitement.
