Betrayal at Lisson Grove - Anne Perry [101]
‘I’ll go home and see Daniel and Jemima,’ he said more calmly. ‘If they have had a week of Mrs Waterman, they may be feeling pretty desperate. She is not an easy woman. I must speak to Charlotte about that when she gets home.’
‘You don’t need to concern yourself—’ Vespasia began.
‘You don’t know the woman—’ he started.
‘She is irrelevant,’ Vespasia told him. ‘She left.’
‘What? Then—’
Vespasia raised her hand. ‘That is the other thing I was going to tell you. She has been replaced by a new maid, on the recommendation of Gracie. She seems a very competent girl, and Gracie looks in on them every day. I have been in touch with Gracie. All is well. In fact, I must say that I rather like the sound of young Minnie Maude. She has character.’
Pitt was dizzy. Everything seemed to be shifting. The moment he looked at it, it changed, as if someone had struck the kaleidoscope and all the pieces had shattered and reformed in a different pattern.
‘Minnie Maude?’ he said stumblingly. ‘For God’s sake, how old is she?’ To him, Gracie herself was little more than a child. His own intelligence told him that was because he had known her since she was thirteen, and she had not grown much taller than she was then. He knew her ability and her courage through experience. Who was this Minnie Maude left alone in charge of his children? She could be anyone!
‘About twenty,’ Vespasia replied. ‘Gracie has known her since she was eight. She has courage and sense. There is nothing to concern yourself about, Thomas. As I said, I kept a discreet eye on the girl via Gracie and everything was satisfactory. Perhaps just as importantly, both Daniel and Jemima like her. Do you imagine I would allow the situation to remain if that were not so?’
Now he felt clumsy and deeply ungracious. ‘No.’ He knew an apology was appropriate. His fear had made him foolish, and rude. ‘Of course not. I’m sorry. I . . .’ He hunted for words.
She smiled. It was a sudden, beautiful gesture that lit her face and restored everything of the beauty that had made her famous. ‘I would think less of you were you to take it for granted,’ she said. ‘Now, before you leave, would you like tea? And are you hungry? If you are I shall have whatever you care for prepared. In the meantime we need to discuss what is to be done next. It is now up to you to address the real issue behind all this ploy and counterploy by whoever is the traitor at Lisson Grove.’
Her words were suddenly and hideously sobering. How like Vespasia to discuss the fate of revolution, murder, and treason in high places over tea and a plate of sandwiches in the withdrawing room. It restored a certain sanity to the world. At least something was as it should be.
Pitt drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly, steadying himself. ‘Thank you. I should very much like a good cup of tea. The prison in Shoreham had only the most moderate amenities. And a sandwich would be excellent.’
Pitt arrived home at Keppel Street in the early afternoon. Both Daniel and Jemima were still at school. He knocked on the door, rather than use his key and startle this Minnie Maude in whom Vespasia seemed to have so much confidence.
He stood on the step shifting his weight from one foot to the other, his mind racing over what changes he might find: what small things uncared for, changed so it was no longer the home he was used to, and which he realised he loved fiercely, exactly as it was. Except, of course, Charlotte should be there. Without her, nothing was more than a shell.
The door opened and a young woman stood just inside, her expression guarded.
‘Yes, sir?’ She said it politely, but stood squarely blocking the way in. ‘Can I ’elp yer?’ She was not pretty but she had beautiful hair: thick and curling and of a rich, bright colour. And she had the freckles on her face that so often