She lifted her gaze quickly and her cheeks flushed bright red. “I have my suspicions,” she said, her tone quiet. “The signs are there, but I would prefer to wait until I am sure before anyone else knows. My husband should be the first to know.”
Instead it was her maid. I cleared my throat and glanced at my notes. “Will there be anything else, my lady?”
“Not at the moment. Don’t forget to speak to Cook about the basket. I intend to walk to the Emerson cottage in an hour’s time.”
“I will be ready.”
Lady Leith shook her head. “I will not need your company. Mr. Stone will be accompanying me as there seems to be a complaint about the cottage roof.”
Mr. Stone was going to be away from the office. If I could find a key in that time, I could get in and make my search. “Of course, my lady.” It took all of my self-control to keep my eagerness from showing as I retreated from the room.
Now was my chance.
AS QUICK AS I COULD, I conveyed Lady Leith’s wishes to the Cook and then Mrs. Horner. At the right time, I had a bonnet and spencer ready for my employer’s walk. She thanked me, took the basket of food, and started for the office where Mr. Stone was at work. On a whim, I followed her down, taking care to stay far enough back that Lady Leith did not take notice of me.
“Mr. Stone, come. It’s time for us to go see the Emersons,” she announced as she stood in the open doorway. “Surely you did not forget our appointment this afternoon?”
“Lady Leith, I’m afraid I have a great deal to do,” I heard Mr. Stone respond. “There are several positions in need of filling in the household, as you must be aware. I will consult my schedule and let you know what time would be convenient.”
“Right now is convenient for me, Mr. Stone,” Lady Leith said, her tone reproving. “With a party of guests about to arrive, it will be some time before I am free to visit the Emersons. This is a matter that must be addressed sooner rather than later as you yourself said in your report.”
There was a pause. “Are you asking me to leave my work?” the steward finally asked. His tone was one of resentment.
“Indeed not. I am asking you to perform an aspect of your work that must be addressed. However, if you feel it is an inconvenience, I shall see the Emersons on my own. I will be sure to tell them all complaints shall be addressed to their satisfaction.”
Taking a step back, Lady Leith moved to do as she said. The sound of a book being slammed shut could be heard in the office. A moment later, Mr. Stone came rushing out, his jacket in hand. “A moment, Lady Leith,” he said, pulling the door shut behind him.
Lady Leith continued on as though she hadn’t heard him. With a sharp curse, Mr. Stone let go of the door handle and rushed away from the office door. He went in the opposite direction of where I stood and vanished around the corner in pursuit of her ladyship.
I couldn’t help but smile at Lady Leith’s manoeuvring of the situation. Was it the suspected child who inspired her to take charge of her household? Whatever the reason, I would not question it. She deserved to make her home how she desired.
In any event, there was one thing Mr. Stone had failed to do when he left the office. The door remained unlocked.
It opened with ease and I glanced around once before I stepped in. Eager to complete my task as soon as possible, I went straight to the desk. Papers were stacked in organized piles. The inkwell was still open and a pen was resting by it, though whatever Mr. Stone had been writing was out of sight.
Breathing out, I took a seat at the desk and began to flip through the papers. It was unlikely that anything incriminating would be left in plain sight, but I had to check to be sure. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary and it only took me a few minutes to glance at each page. None of the handwriting on the papers looked familiar and nothing seemed suspiciously worded.
Next, I searched through the drawers of the desk, which took less time than the correspondence had. “Nothing,” I said with a sigh as I sat back.
Either Sir Horace was clever enough not to keep incriminating notes at his home or he was not at all guilty of spying against the country.
As I went to push the last drawer closed, I heard a slight click from somewhere in the desk. Puzzled, I bent down and examined the underside of the piece of furniture. The shadows made it difficult to see and I ran my hand along the surface of the wood. My fingers found a small latch.
“What is this?” Slipping out of the chair, I went onto my hands and knees to climb under the desk. I pulled the latch and watched a small door swing open. Reaching into the small space, I pulled out a small handful of papers. “Now, why does Sir Horace have this hidden away?”
The first paper was an unsigned letter. It was a brief note to inform Sir Horace of Jonathan Sinclair’s death. Why had he kept it for so many years? And why did he feel it necessary to hide it?
Unsettled, I set it aside and unfolded the next piece of paper. My breath caught in my throat as I took in the series of numbers that filled the paper. It looked exactly as the ones that had been found in Jonathan’s possession!
Chapter Seven
“I was right,” I breathed out, leaning against the desk. I stared at the paper in no little shock. Of all the things I had imagined I might find, this was not one of them. “Coming here wasn’t a waste of time. Sir Henry knows something.”
But did he know that something, whatever it was, because he had found the note himself? Did he have the paper because he’d been working with my brother? Or was Sir Horace one of the enemies?
Crawling out from under the desk, I searched for a clean sheet of paper. As quickly as I could, I copied the numbers so that I could add it to the others for further study. Would the numbers correspond to another Shakespearean sonnet as I had used to solve the cipher before or was another book the key?
The other papers that had been beneath the cipher took several minutes to read. Most were simply notes containing only a handful of words: “No proof.” “It’s been handled.” “Further investigation required. No action can be taken without serious repercussions.”
“Be careful.”
They were not notes one would receive in the daily running of an estate. The writing was vaguely familiar, though I did not take the time to consider why that might be.
A glance at the clock showed that I’d been in the room for over half an hour. While I knew Lady Leith and Mr. Stone would be gone for some time, I didn’t want to risk it any longer. I’d learned what I needed from the room.
Back under the desk I went to return the papers as I had found them. When I straightened back up, I slipped my copy of the numbered page into my pocket. I walked to the door and opened it just enough to peek out.
No one was in sight in the hallway. I slipped out and closed the door firmly behind me. Giddy with excitement, I started down the hallway. There was work still to be done, such that did not involve sneaking around the house.
But, first, I would find a hiding place for my new clue.
“MISS NELSON, LADY LEITH has requested you in her sitting room.”
Surprised by the maid’s words, I lifted my gaze from the hem I was repairing. The young woman was staring intensely at me from the doorway of the dressing room. “Of course. Thank you, Fanny,” I said, puzzled by her behaviour. “I’ll go right down.”
I hadn’t seen Lady Leith since she had returned from her walk and I’d taken charge of her bonnet and spencer. She’d seemed distracted and had left me immediately. It had only been an hour since then.
When I entered the sitting room, Lady Leith was in front of the window. For several moments, she kept her back to me, though she must have heard me. My stomach twisted as I waited. She’d never behaved like this before, not even when I’d been accused of pursuing her brother-in-law.
What had happened?
“Who are you?” Lady Leith faced me and her tone was as hard as the expression in her eyes. “You are not the dowager’s spy because even she could not put on
such a convincing performance of disliking you. So whose servant are you and what did you hope to accomplish in coming here? No more lies, Nelson.”
Though she was not much older than I, Lady Leith’s demeanour was much as my mother’s had often been when she caught me in some mischief. Her jaw was set and her lips were pressed together.
“What do you mean, my lady?” I asked with no little caution. Why would she think I was a spy? Nevermind that I could be called that considering my actions.
“Come, Nelson,” Lady Leith said with a scowl. “I have suspected for some time that you are not what you claim to be. Your skill at the pianoforte betrayed you as having had a good education, enough that a position as governess or companion would be open to you. Certainly, either option would be far preferable to the thankless position of a personal maid.”
Miss Burnham had been too occupied with her own romance to see such evidence and then Miss Dunbar had been too selfish. Of course I should have realized my current employer would be different. She was observant and took an interest in other people despite the worries she had.
“Mr. Stone has informed me someone was in the office while he and I were at the Emerson’s cottage.” Lady Leith moved to a chair and sat down. “He has already accounted for the other servants, and that leaves only you, Nelson. What were you trying to find in there? What are you doing in this house?”
What had I missed? I’d been so careful to leave things as I had found them. Taking a deep breath, I clasped my hands together. “May I sit down, my lady?” If we were going to have this conversation, it would be on equal ground.
She raised an eyebrow and then gave a curt nod. Relieved, I sat across from her. “Thank you. You are correct that I am not a lady’s maid. Not really. However, I assure you that no one sent me to cause mischief or to spy on you. My name isn’t Julie Nelson. I am Juliet Sinclair.”
Again, Lady Leith’s left eyebrow went up. “Juliet Sinclair? You don’t mean...Mr. Jonathan Sinclair’s sister?” Her tone was dubious, which was understandable.
As her husband had been a friend of Jonathan’s, I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised she’d known my brother as well. “The very same. As I have some respect for my family name, I have been using the name of ‘Nelson’ these past few months.”
Leaning forward, she narrowed her eyes. “I suppose there is something of Mr. Sinclair in your eyes. Very well. Let’s assume I believe you. What induced you to take part in such a pretence?”
From her tone, it was difficult to tell what she was really thinking. Her expression was also blank. How had she become so good at hiding her emotions?
“It wasn’t my idea, I assure you.” How much could I safely tell her? “You see, since the death of my parents, I have lived quietly with my great-aunt. However, earlier this year, I read an alarming comment in the Times. It made reference to a family whose name began with ‘S’, who were traitors to the country.”
Surprise flickered over Lady Leith’s face. “And you assumed it was referring to your family?”
From the way she put it, it did seem rather a stretch. “That only brought it to my attention, but then I began to hear rumours brought to me by my great-aunt’s servants. People whispered how fortunate it was that my father and brother were dead as it saved the trouble of a trial and execution.”
“You cannot be serious!”
“I wish I were not. I knew my father had friends in London, so I decided to visit one of them in the hopes he would put a stop to the rumour. Of course, I could not visit the gentleman myself, but I could call upon his wife. Due to...well, a misunderstanding, she mistook me to be an applicant for the position of lady’s maid.”
Lady Leith sat back, her expression dazed. “How on earth did such a misunderstanding occur?”
“To be honest, I am not entirely sure. If I had to hazard a guess, one of the servants was negligent in their duties, however, the lady herself only exasperated the situation. Every time I attempted to correct her, I was interrupted. Indeed, I could not get a word in edgewise. Not without being inexcusably rude.”
Her lips twitching as though she were fighting a smile, Lady Leith gave a nod. “That would be Mrs. Burnham, I presume?”
“You are acquainted with her?” I hadn’t wanted to name Mrs. Burnham outright.
“Well enough to understand how you found yourself in such a situation.” Lady Leith folded her hands in her lap. “However, Mrs. Burnham’s mistake does not explain how it came to be that you accepted the position. Why did you do so?”
“When I received the letter offering me the position, I gave the matter a great deal of thought. Mrs. Burnham expressed a negative opinion of my family during what she believed was my interview with her. A lady’s maid can have a close relationship with her employer. How better to convince Mrs. Burnham to approach her husband on behalf of what remained of the Sinclair family?”
I kept my gaze on Lady Leith, watching for any change in her expression. For the most part, she appeared to be puzzled. “Surely, once that was accomplished, you ought to have returned to the care of your family. Your great-aunt, you said? Months have passed, though. Why did you continue this pretence?”
“Because it was while I was in the Burnham house that I learned my parents did not die in an accident as I had been told. Neither did my brother die from a fever as had been reported to me. They were murdered and no one had made a search to bring the man responsible to justice.”
Lady Leith’s hand flew to her lips. “That cannot be true.”
“Mr. Burnham himself informed me in a letter, and while I was in Bath, I had it confirmed. At least, as far as my brother being murdered, that is.”
“This is extraordinary!” she said, her shoulders relaxing. She shook her head. “I should not believe you, and yet, I find that I do.”
That was a relief. “Thank you, my lady. Were someone to come to me with a similar tale, I am not certain I would think them at all sane. It is a strange tale.”
“But why, if this pretence is to find this killer—which I must say I find to be ill-advised—are you here?”
I’d wondered when she would think to ask that. Heaving a sigh, I shook my head. “To escape Bath. I’m sure you remember the dowager’s questions about Mr. Daniel Dunbar being attacked by a servant.”
“She asked if you had attempted to kill him, though I’d heard some rumour that he’d attacked a...maid.” Lady Leith straightened up, her eyes widening as she connected the facts together. “Are you telling me that was true? And you stabbed him?”
“He was drunk and would not listen to reason. I’d refused his attention countless times before he burst into my room the last night I was there...” I tried to keep my tone calm, but the memories were still unsettling. “I gave him every opportunity to leave me but in the end I had to defend myself.”
“Of course, of course,” Lady Leith said quickly. “I’d heard rumours of his—” She broke off with a shake of her head. “Suffice to say, I do not doubt a single word you say. Perhaps he will think better of such behaviour from now on.”
A laugh bubbled up. “One can only hope.” My amusement faded as quickly as it had come. “Please forgive me for taking advantage of your kindness. I meant no mischief in becoming your maid.”
Except for my intention to discover whether her husband had a part in murdering my brother. How was I going to explain that detail? Could I hope that she wouldn’t press me any further?
“What was it that made Mr. Stone believe someone had been in the office?” I asked, curious to know what I had missed.
Lady Leith shook her head. “He claimed he capped his ink before he left the room but found it open when he returned. And then, one of the maids, Fanny, said she saw you come from that area of the house.”
As hard as I tried, I could not remember how I had left the ink after using it. “That...was not well done of me.” After I copied the note, I had only been concerned with making sure the papers were in the right place
.
“No, indeed,” Lady Leith said with a slight smile. “For whatever reason, Mr. Stone has taken you in dislike, Nel....forgive me. Force of habit. Miss Sinclair. I believe he expects me to send you off before the sun sets.”
Why was I not surprised? Was he aware of Sir Horace’s activities? Now, that was a thought to consider later on.
“Now that I am aware of the situation, we cannot continue as before,” Lady Leith said, much to my dismay. “I understand how you were drawn into your situation. In your position, I might have done the same. I shall have a carriage made ready to return you to your home.”
Was my work done just as I found my first real clue? “I appreciate your thoughtfulness, but my mission is not yet finished.”
“How do you intend on continuing your search, then? Is there somewhere specific you intend to go?” Her eyes narrowed. “Or was there another reason you came to Clarendon? Did you find something? When you were in my husband’s office, I mean.”
Should I just tell her? She’d been understanding up to that point and, to be fair, she had taken longer to reach the question than I’d expected. “Yes,” I said slowly. My hand went to my pocket and I pulled out the copy I’d made. “I found this.”
She took it from me and she frowned. “How very odd.” She sent a glance at me. “I assume this has some greater meaning to you?”
“I have a single clue, but I don’t know what it means. Only that it is very important.”
Interest sparked in Lady Leith’s eyes as she leaned forward. “Perhaps you ought to share it with someone. I’ve often heard that a second opinion can be invaluable in such matters,” she said, a note of eagerness in her voice.
The shift in her attitude was amusing. Of course, with only her mother-in-law for company, anything out of the ordinary to occupy her mind must have been more than welcome. “It would be easier to show you, my lady, if you would allow me to go get the papers.”
Clasping her hands in her lap, Lady Leith gave a nod. “Of course.” She then sent a glance at the clock. “The dowager will be rising from her afternoon nap soon and I will have to go to her.”
Clarendon Estate (The Sinclair Society Series, #3) Page 6