Page 73 of My Gentleman Spy
He was unsure as to how he should read her at this point. Will had seen Hattie turn on an acting display worthy of the stage when it suited her, but something in the way she held herself told him this was noact.
He puffed out his cheeks. He had achieved what he wanted, Hattie was out of the cupboard and her presence in the house was no longer asecret.
“No one is going anywhere,” he firmlyreplied.
He gave Brutus a gentle nudge sideways with his foot. The cat who was nibbling on the edge of Will's house slipper give him a filthy look as it skulkedaway.
“Don't look at me like that you furry beast. If I do toss anyone out into the night, you are currently top of mylist.”
Mrs. Little whimpered. Hattie gasped. Mr. Little raised an approving eyebrow. Will saw a kindred spirit in the butler. It was comforting to know he was not the only one who viewed the cat in a less than favorablelight.
People were the oddest of creatures when it came to pets. Brutus ruled the house like a medieval tyrant, but the thought of attempting to overthrow her evil reign had them all holding their collectivebreathes.
It was time to get to the issue athand.
“Miss Wright, we have matters to discuss in private. Would you please retire to the sitting room upstairs?” hesaid.
“Which one?” repliedHattie.
The house, though not large bytonstandards still had two separate sitting rooms on the upper levels, not to mention two formal drawingrooms.
“The one at the top of the stairs on the left. The one which used to have that horrid burnt orange and black striped rug. I shall be with you shortly, after I have had a quiet word with myemployees.”
Mrs. Little shot him a look of dismay at this clear breach of social protocol. An unmarried woman did not go anywhere with a gentleman not of her family. When Will held her gaze, she quickly joined her husband in staring down at thefloor.
Good. About time someone acknowledged who it is that pays the bills in thishouse.
“It's not their fault I stayed hidden from you in the house. If anyone is to be punished, please let it be me,” saidHattie.
Will pointed toward the staircase and watched as Hattie slowly made her way across the floor and up the stairs. Once or twice she stopped and looked forlornly back at theLittles.
She was so much like his sister Caroline, it was uncanny. In Hattie's defense, she went quietly. Caroline Saunders would have stopped at every step and insisted on pleading her case. Hattie finally disappeared around the corner at the top of thestairs.
“If you are listening at the top of the landing I shall know,” he called afterher.
A huff followed by the swish of skirts signaled Hattie's departure. He turned back to face Mr. and Mrs.Little.
“Now I understand why you did it, but that is not to say concealing Miss Wright in my house was the right thing todo.”
Mrs. Little dabbed at her eyes with hersleeve.
“We are sorry for having deceived you Mr. Smith. I mean Mr. Saunders. We had hoped to find a solution to Miss Hattie's dilemma without you ever becoming aware of her presence. That said it was still wrong of us to have done so,” said Mr.Little.
“But she is all alone without a friend in the world. We had to help,” pleaded Mrs.Little.
They looked at one another, then reached out and held hands in a touching display ofunity.
“If you wish us gone sir, we shall have our things out of the house at first light. Though where we will go after twenty years of service to the Wright family I surely do not know,” said Mr.Little.
A lump welled up in Will's throat. The couple were the kind of faithful family servants who polite society would expect to be looked after by their employers in their old age. Only a heartless monster would throw them out on the street with noreferences.
“What? Oh, for heaven's sake! No one and I say this for the last time. No one is being thrown out of this house. Now if we can agree that you will never deceive me again, then we may all get some sleeptonight.”
Before her husband had a chance to stop her, Mrs. Little had thrown her arms around Will. Her tears stained the front of his silkwaistcoat.
“Thank you, sir, I knew you were made of fine mettle. You will take care of her,” shesobbed.
