Page 64 of Ghost in the Garden
Angela had beenglad to spend last night in her husband’s arms. Quite apart from the physical pleasures to be found there, it reaffirmed that she always won. His affairs never mattered. He always came back to her. It did Silver no harm to see that either, just in case she was getting ideas.
Not for the first time, as Silver fastened her dress and brushed her hair and chatted of nothing by way of speech lessons, Angela wondered about the extent of the woman’s relationship with Mr. Grey. He was an impressive specimen, and he certainly carried himself like a king, but he undoubtedly possessed nothing like Caleb’s wealth. If he did, neither of them would be scratching around to make a living from other people’s squalid problems.
Angela wondered idly what it would take to bring Silver permanently into the fold. She would have to be more than a lady’s maid. A secretary, perhaps. Or a companion to accompany her to the great houses Caleb was conquering…
Too soon to suggest such a thing.
“Well?” she asked. “Do you know who the ghost is?”
Rather to Angela’s surprise, Silver said, “Yes, I think we do, though we don’t yet know her purpose. I propose to find that out today.”
“She won’t come today,” Angela said impatiently. “There’s no fog,”
“She might. If she does, then you will have your answers. If she doesn’t, we’ll have them later. But my theory is she comes every Thursday and Saturday, at fixed times that are thrown off kilter in storms or fogs, when traveling is difficult.”
“And goes into my cellar? Why? We saw no sign of her on Thursday.”
“No, but we were somewhat distracted by a dead body on Thursday.”
“So what do you mean to do?”
“Follow her into the cellar.”
“If she comes,” Angela said. She met Silver’s eyes in the mirror and held them. “Who do you think she is?”
“It is only a theory, so you must not act on it. But I think it’s the wife of Frank Fraser, the rent collector in St. Giles.”
Angela was startled. How did Silver even know about the rent collector in St. Giles? “Iris Fraser?” she said in astonishment. “Why on earth wouldshecreep into my cellar?”
“Perhaps she is conducting some kind of liaison with one of your servants.”
Not the servants. Caleb, Caleb, have you no standards?Angela curled her lip. “I don’t see Duggin standing for that.”
“On the contrary, I doubt Duggin is interested how your servants conduct themselves so long as they do their jobs and do not endanger you or Mr. Lambert.”
Angela laughed and pushed back her chair to stand. “Well, I can’t imagine Iris Fraser—who’s a silly bit of fluff if ever I met one—being a danger to anyone.”
She went down to breakfast. Caleb had already gone, so she didn’t linger. Instead, she visited the kitchen to confer with Ida Feathers, who was alone with a cup of tea, though it smelled more like gin.
“That girl of yours is stepping out,” Ida said slyly. “With the bloke who came here with her on Thursday night, I reckon. Very intimate, they was, according to Bert. The fine ladies would kick her out without a character.”
“Then it’s fortunate I’m not a fine lady.”
“Yes, you are,” Ida said. “You’ve just more sense. And more heart. I think Silver knows when she’s well off.”
“I hope so. When does she usually go to meet him?”
“Around seven each evening, when we’re all busy and she’s got nothing to do.”
“That’s what I thought.” For a moment, Angela almost asked her about Iris Fraser. But no, she would not betray such ugly suspicion, even to Ida. She, Angela, was his wife, his support.
“What are your thoughts about dinner this evening?” she asked, as though she cared.
*
Constance had learnedlong ago that very few men, whatever awful things they had done, were completely beyond redemption. She had supposed Lambert to be one of those rare exceptions, and was as happy as Solomon to bring him down if she could. Her only concern had been for Angela, who, like other women before her, loved an evil man and would always stand by him.
But as she went about her duties that day, tidying and caring for Angela’s clothes as she had once done for her own in the early days of her ambitions, she realized she was regarding him differently since last night.
