by Lisa Campell
“I bet that doesn’t go down well.”
Emilia could imagine how people being told not to treat others like they were nothing would go. She had witnessed it many times with her uncle. Chances were Anna was describing Christian exactly.
“It doesn’t go down well at all. They’re just spoiled people who think everything comes to them on a silver platter and they expect everyone to treat them as such.” Anna wrinkled her nose. “Father treated everyone the same, but he won’t have anyone talk down to him. No one messes him around, especially when these men turn into children. So many tantrums it’s amusing.”
Emilia frowned.
“You speak as if you’ve witnessed it. You’ve not been to Drake’s, have you?”
“No, Father would never let me in there. It’s not a place for children, he said. These people find out whether we live and come here to confront Father. They’ve even tried to do it when we’ve been out riding.”
“You mean they threaten your father in front of you?”
“Well, they tried. But Father sets them straight.” Anna lifted her chin, almost in pride. “He won’t stand for it, especially in front of me.”
“You’re the main part of his life.”
“I’d like to think so.” Emilia watched as Anna sighed heavily and slumped in her chair. “I do wish Father didn’t work as he does, because it can be dangerous. He’s been threatened a lot since he took over Drake’s, and there are a lot of late nights. I treasure our time first thing in the morning. But I know he’s doing it to make himself feel better.”
There was something about the way Anna said it that had Emilia curious. She sat forward, trying not to look too interested.
“Why do you say that? That’s a pretty deep thing to say.”
Anna bit her lip and sucked the inside of her cheek. For a moment, Emilia thought she had pushed too hard and she needed to take a step back. But then Anna spoke, looking away and staring at her worksheet.
“When Mother died, Father went to pieces. I didn’t see him for nearly a week. Grandmother looked after me. She said Father would come out in time. And he did, but he was different. It was...it was like…” She frowned. “You know when a jigsaw is almost completed but there’s a piece missing, and you don’t know where it’s gone?”
“It was like a part of him was missing.”
“Yes.” Anna swallowed. “Then Father brought Drake’s, and he started to turn back into the person I remembered. It was like he had found some meaning in his life. And I don’t want him to go back to how he was.”
Emilia let these words sink in. She had been led to believe that Thomas Andrews was no good. Anyone who was in charge of a gambling hall had to be no good. But there was so much more to him than that. He was a family man who deeply loved his daughter and had been devoted to his wife. He looked after his servants, who sang his praises. And when that was threatened, he was not afraid to stand up and face it down.
Was that what happened with her father? Did he feel threatened by Jonathan Hill and lose his temper?
“I miss Mother,” Anna said quietly. “I wish she could come back. Then she could tell Lady Wilson to go away in many colourful terms. She was very good at insulting people with such sweet words that nobody realized until long after.”
“I think everyone wants to tell Lady Wilson to go away.” Emilia touched the girl’s shoulder. “I know you want your mother back. But you’ve got me. And I’m going to make sure that Lady Wilson leaves you alone. She doesn’t scare me.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
Anna gave her a shaky smile, the gratitude shining in her eyes.
“Thank you. That means a lot.”
Emilia wasn’t sure how to respond to that.
The rest of the morning passed by pleasantly. Anna sped through her work and showed Emilia her ability to recall names and dates very easily when they went through the kings and queens of England. Emilia had to admit that she was impressed. Even with her schooling interrupted so many times because of the other governesses coming and going so often, Anna hadn’t lost any time. She was doing really well, and she clearly loved to learn.
It was hard not to have a soft spot for the little girl. Emilia watched her as Anna ate her lunch at her desk with gusto, wondering how she and Andrews were related. Looking at them, there was no doubt that they were father and daughter, but Anna’s temperament and attitude seemed very much different to her father. More than likely that was from her mother’s side. She was bright, opinionated but was learning when to pull it back. Emilia certainly enjoyed the lively poem Anna had created on her own.
Evelyn Wilson was trying to get rid of this child. Hopefully, wherever Andrews had gone, it was to tell that woman that he was going to kick her into the next year if she so much as said a word to Anna again.
That was another thing that had Emilia concerned. Thomas Andrews didn’t possess an explosive, violent temper. If anything, he was almost placid. There had been some anger when she mentioned her father’s murder, but that was restrained as he declared that he was innocent. The only time since she had arrived that Emilia had witnessed any type of anger was earlier in the day when Anna was threatened. That anger was directed at the person who upset his daughter. Andrews was protective of his daughter, and if the roles were reversed, Emilia would certainly have reacted in the same way.
But every other time, he was the perfect gentleman. He treated everyone the same and with a great deal of courtesy. Especially towards Emilia. Emilia couldn’t deny that she felt a thrill run through her whenever Andrews looked at her and gave her that smile. It was certainly a very nice smile.
You’re not here to think about his smile. You’re here to prove that he’s a killer. So focus.
The best way to find out what she could about him would be to get friendlier with the household. Emilia had been introduced to everyone and they seemed nice, albeit a little apprehensive around her. The housekeeper, Mabel Gallagher, and the cook, Mrs. Loretta Adams, were the nicest of the lot and were happy to entertain Emilia’s questions about the house. After her initial talk with Mrs. Gallagher, Emilia had kept her questions light. She would have to work her way in and not sound like she was purposefully looking for something against her employer.
If there was anything suspicious going on, they would know.
Anna finished her lunch and Emilia shooed her out into the garden. Anna loved to go running around the maze until she got dizzy, and that kept her busy. Emilia would need it, if she was going to talk to Mrs. Adams.
Gathering the trays and plates, Emilia headed towards the kitchens. The cook was bustling about the huge kitchen, the kitchen maids and various porters, including the boot boy, hurrying around with their various tasks. Emilia managed to get Mrs. Adams’ attention and headed to the main table.
“I have the lunch trays here for you, Mrs. Adams.”
“Oh, Mrs. Perry!” The white-haired, flour-dusted woman hurried over, wiping her hands on her apron. “Thank you, but there was no need to bring them down! I could have gotten one of the girls to collect it.”
“It’s fine. I don’t mind. You look very busy right now, anyway.” Emilia gestured at the mayhem. “Why is it so hectic? It’s just Miss Anna and myself in the house.”
“It’s baking day. We get everything sorted for the week, so we have one less thing to do every morning.” Mrs. Adams tittered. “Honestly, the staff here eat more than the master and his child. I swear I’m feeding them more than my employer.”
Emilia laughed. She had liked Mrs. Adams on sight. No matter what, she would try to feed anyone who sat down for more than five seconds. And her cooking was delicious. Emilia certainly couldn’t fault her for that. She was a cheerful grandmotherly type. It was no wonder she was the most-loved lady in the house.
“Where’s Miss Anna, anyway?” Mrs. Adams asked as she picked up the trays and passed them to a passing kitchen maid, who hurried off with them. “She’s not causing mischief
on her own, is she?”
“No, she’s running around in the maze right now.”
Mrs. Adams chuckled. “That girl and that thing. Just be careful. She can end up running circles around you if you don’t pay close attention. Lovely girl, but far too much spirit.”
“I know that much.” Emilia grinned. “She just needs something to temper her spirit. Nothing wrong with that at her age, but later on might be a problem.”
“You’ve got that right.” Mrs. Adams’ smile warmed. She was one of those people who could make you feel like you had a blanket wrapped around you. A comfortable person to be around. “My three daughters were like her. Absolute delights, but unless their minds weren’t focused on something, they tended to cause trouble. More so than my boys.”
“Your boys? I presume you had quite a few children.”
“I had fifteen.” Mrs. Adams shook her head. “That is far too many, in my opinion.”
Emilia stared. She was sure she looked like a fool with her mouth open.
“Fifteen? I’m surprised you’re still walking.”
Mrs. Adams laughed. “So am I. If my husband hadn’t passed away when my youngest was five, I would still be having children. But it’s worth it. Especially now they’re old enough to help out and have families of their own now.”
Emilia was still reeling from the news a woman had given birth to fifteen children. How anyone could go through that was beyond her. That was a new level of respect, and also wondering if the woman in question needed their head examining.
“Mother said she was having one child and no more. Turns out the birth was more traumatic than anyone realized. She couldn’t have anymore, after me.” Emilia shrugged. “She got her wish, in a sense.”
“Oh, that’s awful. Is she still around?”
“Sadly, no. She passed away a few years back.” Emilia bit her lip and tried not to think too much about her mother. The ache didn’t go away from her death, either. “She had been ill for some time, but she was always there for me when I needed her. She was an incredible woman.”
“I’m sure she was.” Mrs. Adam’s expression softened, and she squeezed Emilia’s arm. “Forgive me if I’ve made you upset. I do tend to talk a little too much. My eldest daughter calls me insensitive.”
“It’s fine, really.”
The fact the woman talked too much Emilia could work to her advantage. She looked around the kitchen.
“How long have you been working for Mr. Andrews?”
“Going on twenty-five years. I worked for his father first, and then when he died his son kept us all on.” Mrs. Adams’ eyes sparkled. “The Andrews family are just lovely people. Especially Mr. Andrews. He cares about all of us and makes sure we don’t go without. We do get paid a little more than a regular household, so we know when to count our blessings.”
“I can imagine.” Another one who thought Andrews walked on water. “Everyone around here seems to sing his praises.”
“Of course.” Mrs. Adams’ laughed. “Were you expecting otherwise?”
Yes, I was.
“I don’t know what I was expecting, if I’m honest.” Emilia shrugged. “I was just lucky I asked around for work at the right time.”
“Well, you have more luck than some of us.”
“How do you mean?”
Mrs. Adams waggled her eyebrows. “Mrs. Perry, you’re a young lady, and as far as I can tell, you’re not blind. I’m certainly not, and I can safely declare that Mr. Thomas Andrews is a very fine-looking man.”
She said it loudly enough that a couple of kitchen maids working nearby giggled and one of them nodded in agreement. Emilia swallowed and looked away, hoping that her red face would be blamed on the heat.
“Is he? I haven’t noticed.”
“Tosh, child! Of course, you’ve noticed.” Mrs. Adams nudged her. “You wouldn’t be going bright red if you hadn’t noticed.”
So much for trying to remain aloof. Emilia wanted to sink through the floor. She had hoped to get through this finding out more about Andrews, and instead it had been turned around to discussing Andrews and his...attributes. Emilia did not want to discuss that.
“I’m a widow, Mrs. Adams.” Emilia protested. “I came here to work, not to stare at my employer.”
“Well, you certainly have some of the younger maids jealous of you because of your proximity to Mr. Andrews.” Mrs. Adams looked amused. “They would love to take your place.”
“You make it sound like I’ve become his mistress.” Emilia drew her shoulders back. “That’s not why I’m here.”
“I know it isn’t, dear. I’m just teasing you.” Mrs. Adams patted her arm. “I know you’re a God-fearing woman, and I like you. I just thought you ought to know.”
“Know that other servants want to be his mistress?” Emilia snorted. “I’m not about to stop them if they want to do that.”
Even as she said that, Emilia felt nauseous at the thought. That had her confused. Why did she not like the thought of another woman getting into Andrews’ bed? What was wrong with her?
“Well, that’s not going to happen. Mr. Andrews is a very honourable man, and he still misses his wife. No servant is going to get past that.” Mrs. Adams sighed. “You don’t get any better devotion than that.”
“So everyone keeps telling me.” Emilia smoothed her hands down her skirts. Why were her palms all sweaty? “What do you think about him being in charge of Drake’s? I’ve heard mixed feelings about that.”
“We were all worried when he bought Drake’s, but it’s settled down now. Especially since he got those who came here looking for a fight into trouble. No one messes with Mr. Andrews.” Mrs. Adams folded her arms, still smiling. “Being a business owner seems to be good for him. He’s found his calling. I wouldn’t advise anyone to run a gambling hall with the spoiled brats who go there, but it’s not my choice. Mr. Andrews can handle it, and he runs it with a strict policy.”
That sounded like what Emilia knew of Thomas Andrews from her father and uncle. They said that Andrews was very strict on things and he would not allow anyone to mess him around. Christian had mentioned a temper a few times, as had Peter. But Emilia was seeing no signs of a temper except when his daughter was under fire.
“Are the patrons scared of him?” she asked. “His temper doesn’t deter people from going?”
Mrs. Adams blinked. “Temper? What temper? The only time you get to get that temper is when you don’t listen the first time around, or if someone says anything against his daughter. Mr. Andrews has never lost his temper with any of us, and he had plenty of opportunities to do so. Stay around long enough, and you’ll find that out for yourself.” She then brushed herself down and started to move away. “Goodness, I’m talking too much again! I need to get on with the day’s cooking. Off you go, Mrs. Perry, and make sure that lovely little lady isn’t causing havoc upstairs.”
Emilia was left swaying at the sudden way Mrs. Adams bustled off. She turned and headed back up the stairs, breathing a sigh of relief when she reached cooler air. But it didn’t make her feel any better after what the cook had told her. She was full of praise for Andrews and she sounded very convincing. Emilia didn’t think she had a malicious bone in her body, so she would have no reason to lie.
Now she felt more confused than ever.
Chapter Fourteen
Thomas was still seething after he left the Latimer house. He had gone straight over to Evelyn’s family home, where she was currently living after the death of her second husband, after Evelyn had cornered his daughter and said those awful things. They were his neighbours and, for the most part, didn’t give him any problems, but Thomas couldn’t let this go... Anna didn’t deserve any of that and Evelyn was going too far, if Emilia’s word was anything to go by. Thomas trusted Emilia, even after only knowing her a few hours.
Lord and Lady Latimer were nice, respectable people who were equally shocked and concerned at their daughter’s focus on Thomas. She seemed to ignore the
m as well.
And they were just as outraged when Thomas went to them and told them what Evelyn had said. Ernestine, especially, looked like she wanted to burst into tears. As a mother of five, with Evelyn being the oldest, and a grandmother of two, she was fiercely protective of her children, but if they committed anything wrong on their part, she was the first to rip them apart. George Latimer had looked defeated, sitting there with his head in his hands.
It had taken almost an hour, but they hashed out a decision between them. Evelyn had gone too far, and Thomas didn’t want her anywhere near him or on his land again. Her parents were going to pack her up and send her to some relatives in Ireland. And that she was to stay there. Thomas knew Evelyn would put up a fight about it and make sure she stayed, but from the looks on her parents’ faces, they had had enough. Evelyn was becoming more than an embarrassment, and they weren’t going to stand for it any longer.