The Lady By His Side(90)
Antonia sank onto the chair. “Yes.” She glanced at Sebastian as he circled the end of the table and helpfully claimed the place opposite her; she briefly met his eyes—he hadn’t heard the excuse for their absence she’d given her friends the previous day. “So far, we’ve covered only half the area Sir Humphrey and the inspector asked us to check for strangers. With luck, we’ll finish today.”
“Well,” Melissa said, “I sincerely hope Sir Humphrey and the inspector bring their investigations to a speedy conclusion so we can leave tomorrow, as planned. I had to get out of bed at cock’s crow to move the chair I’d wedged against my door so the tweeny could come in.”
“Cecilia had planned a ball for tonight”—Claire put down the slice of toast she’d been nibbling and reached for her teacup—“but I understand Sir Humphrey has sent word to all the neighbors, informing them of the murders and asking them to stay away.”
“Just as well,” Antonia said. “This is the country. News of the murders is sure to have spread by now, and as we all know, nothing short of an instruction from a magistrate is likely to keep the curious at bay.”
“That’s the last thing we need,” Melissa stated. “Having to receive the local gossips all agog for the scandalous highlights.”
“Actually,” Sebastian murmured, his gaze on his plate, “the last thing any of us need is the press.”
Melissa and Claire stared at him. “What an horrendous idea.” Claire sounded aghast. After a second, she asked, “When do you think they’ll arrive?”
Sebastian looked at Melissa and Claire. “When did Sir Humphrey send word to the neighbors?”
“Yesterday,” Melissa said. “Mrs. Parrish mentioned the ball to him, and he said he would call at the appropriate houses and ensure the word was spread throughout the neighborhood.”
Sebastian’s expression turned cynical. “Twenty-four hours for the news to reach Fleet Street, then twelve or so hours before the hounds reach here. If we are released tomorrow, even if the constables succeed in keeping the newsmen off the property, you can expect to run a gauntlet at the gate.”
A short silence fell while Antonia exchanged horrified glances with her friends as they digested that unwelcome prediction.
Melissa slumped. “This was our first excursion out from under our mothers’ wings. We’ll never be allowed out alone again.”
Claire pulled a disgusted face.
Sebastian grinned. “Wear veils and have your coachman whip up the horses twenty yards before the gate. The good gentlemen of the press will be too busy scrambling for their lives to notice who you are, much less demand answers to unwelcome questions.”
Melissa and Claire considered that image; both perked up.
Sebastian pushed aside his empty plate and caught Antonia’s eye. “We should get going.”
“Yes. All right.” She drained her teacup, pushed back her chair, and rose. She glanced at Melissa and Claire, who were once again regarding her with resigned envy. “Pray God nothing else bothersome happens today.”
“Amen,” Melissa said.
“And that Sir Humphrey and the inspector either find the murderer or else decide he’s flown and allow us to go home.” Claire flashed a weak grin at Antonia. “Have fun.”
Antonia hesitated, then replied, “Take care.” She looked at Melissa as well. “Both of you. And tell Georgia, too.”
“Oh, all the ladies plan to stick together,” Melissa said. “It’s boring, but we all feel safer that way.”
Sebastian, who had risen as Antonia had and circled the table to pull back her chair, nodded in approval. “An excellent idea.” He glanced at Antonia, hesitated for a second, then waved to the door giving onto the rear terrace. “Let’s walk around rather than go through the house.”
With a last smile for her friends and a nod to the others about the table, Antonia led the way. Sebastian reached around her and opened the door, then followed her out and closed the glassed pane behind them.
The day was overcast, but although darker clouds were massing to the north, there was no scent of rain, and the breeze, blowing fitfully from the west, was mild.
They went down the steps from the terrace to the lawn, then strode side by side around the short central wing which, at ground level, housed the kitchen and associated facilities. A brick wall enclosed the kitchen garden, but archways in both side walls allowed them to walk through to emerge on the lawn below the rear terrace running beside the library. They cut across toward the stable, eventually joining the path from the side door.