Page 52 of Lady Audacious
‘Indeed, and I intend to collect.’
‘Are you flirting with me?’ She widened her eyes, truly astonished when it occurred to her that he very well might be. She couldn’t be absolutely sure and her enquiring mind required clarification. ‘Good heavens, whatever for?’
He chuckled. ‘I wish I knew.’
‘Well, let me know when you reach a conclusion, but in the meantime I should be obliged if you would desist. I am already disadvantaged enough, being unremarkable and totally out of your class, as well as not having the first idea how to respond to your ridiculous method of amusing yourself.’
‘Goodness.’ He grinned at her. ‘I imagine your pupils were terrified if they got on the wrong side of you. Speaking personally, I know that I am.’
Odile shook her head, fighting against a smile and enjoying herself far more than was appropriate. Hats were raised to Reuben by every man they passed. The ladies smiled at him and looked askance at Odile. Many tried to engage him in conversation but he politely managed not to be detained by any of them.
‘Here we are,’ he said, steering them towards the stall selling honey, which didn’t have any customers at that particular moment.
A middle-aged lady stood behind the table displaying jars of honey, soap and beeswax candles. A younger woman who looked so much like her that she had to be her daughter was sitting on a stool, humming to herself and staring at nothing.
‘Lord Amberley,’ the woman said. ‘May I interest you in some of the sweetest honey this side of Portsmouth?’
‘Indeed you may. You are Mrs Longstaff?’
Her ingratiating smile turned suspicious. ‘How do you know my name?’ she asked warily.
‘This is Miss Aspen, who has recently taken possession of Fox’s Reach.’
‘Ah, I see.’ Her expression cleared. ‘You’ll have heard that my Sadie worked there, I dare say. Well, she didn’t do anything wrong, or damage the place in any way, if that is what you suppose.’
‘The possibility never crossed my mind,’ Odile assured her with a smile. ‘The house is falling down anyway, and I am sure its state of disrepair has nothing to do with your daughter.’
‘Aye well, nothing that’s been said would surprise me. If a person’s different, they are held responsible for all sorts of mischief.’
‘Believe me, I understand that better than you could possibly know,’ Odile replied, conscious of Reuben watching her with a slight frown. ‘We have come to find you because we are keen to know all about the previous owner, Mr Smythe.’
‘Why?’
‘Tell us what you know,’ Reuben said in a calm tone imbued with a wealth of authority.
Their attendance at Mrs Longstaff’s stall had ensured a steady flow of customers, probably more interested in overhearing Reuben’s conversation than in purchasing honey. Nevertheless, it had the desired effect and as Sadie slowly served the customers, took their money and laboriously counted out their change, Mrs Longstaff nodded.
‘There ain’t a lot to tell. Fox’s Reach has always been a bit of an oddity. Hardly ever occupied. It was vacant for ages before Mr Smythe moved in. Word was that he needed a servant who knew how to keep his business to herself. A local agent interviewed our Sadie on his behalf, amongst others.’ She glanced at her daughter, who wore a perpetually dreamy expression. ‘I didn’t think she stood a chance of being appointed. You could have knocked me down with a feather when she got the position. She enjoyed it an’ all. Well, you can see for yourself that she’s efficient enough. She does a thorough job, just so long as no one rushes her and as long as she knows what she’s supposed to do.’
‘How long did it last, her position at Fox’s Reach?’ Odile asked.
‘Several years. She was only needed when he was here, mind, but he paid her half her wages, which weren’t much, when he wasn’t. That were generous of him, I suppose.’
‘What did Mr Smythe do for a living?’ Reuben asked.
Mrs Longstaff shrugged. ‘No one knew. He was a recluse, didn’t encourage visitors and never mixed in village life. Sadie told me he spent hours in the garden with his herbs. Wouldn’t allow anyone else to go near them.’ Odile nodded, having a good idea why. ‘Well, that and his cellar.’
‘Cellar?’ Reuben and Odile said together.
‘Oh aye. He had visitors occasionally and they spent hours down there.’
Odile’s gaze clashed with Reuben’s. ‘Do you know who the visitors were?’ she asked.
Mrs Longstaff shook her head. ‘A man and a woman. Sometimes two men. That’s all our Sadie said.’
It was clear that Mrs Longstaff had told them all she knew. Reuben purchased a generous number of candles and several jars of honey by way of thanks, and they made their way back to the Portcullis.
‘I don’t understand,’ Odile said. ‘The more I learn about Mr Smythe, the more confused I become.’
