Betrayal at Lisson Grove - Anne Perry [136]
He wondered why. ‘Lady Vespasia?’
She gave a little sigh. ‘I dislike being offensive, but since I assume you escaped from . . . where you were, that you have little money, and I dare say are in less that your usually elegant state, you had better give my name, as if you were booking it for me, and tell them that I shall settle when I arrive. Better if you do not give anyone else’s name, your own, or Thomas’s.’
‘Actually Charlotte had the foresight to pack my case for me, so I have all the respectable attire I shall need,’ he replied with the first flash of amusement he had felt for some time.
‘She did what?’ Vespasia said coolly.
‘She was obliged to leave the lodgings,’ he exclaimed, still with a smile. ‘She did not wish to abandon my luggage so she took it with her. If you don’t know me better than that, you should at least know her!’
‘Quite so,’ she said more gently. ‘I apologise. Indeed, I also know you. I shall see you as close to midnight as I am able to make it. I am very glad you are safe, Victor.’
That meant more to him than he had expected, so much more that he found himself suddenly unable to answer. He replaced the receiver on its hook in silence.
Pitt was at home, sitting at the kitchen table beginning his supper when Minnie Maude came into the room. Her face was pink, her eyes frightened, her usually untamed hair pulled even looser and badly pinned up at one side.
‘What’s the matter?’ Pitt said, instantly worried as well.
Minnie Maude took a deep breath and let it out shakily. ‘There’s a lady ’ere ter see yer, sir. I mean a real lady, like a duchess, or summink. Wot shall I do wif’ ’er, sir?’
‘Oh.’ Pitt felt a wave of relief wash over him, like warmth from a fire on cold flesh. ‘Show her in here, and then put the kettle on again.’
Minnie Maude held her guard. ‘No, sir, I mean a real lady, not jus’ some nice person, like.’
‘Tall and slender, and very beautiful, in spite of the fact that she isn’t young any more,’ Pitt agreed. ‘And eyes that could freeze you at twenty paces, if you step out of line. Lady Vespasia Cumming-Gould. Please ask her to come into the kitchen. She has been in here before. Then make her a cup of tea. We have some Earl Grey. We keep it for her.’
Minnie Maude stared at him as if he had lost his wits.
‘Please,’ he added.
‘Yer’ll pardon me, sir,’ Minnie Maude said shakily. ‘But yer look like yer bin dragged through an ’edge backwards.’
Pitt pushed his hand through his hair. ‘She wouldn’t recognise me if I didn’t. Don’t leave her standing in the hall. Bring her here.’
‘She in’t in the ’all, sir. She’s in the parlour,’ Minnie Maude told him with disgust at his imagining she would do anything less.
‘I apologise. Of course she is. Bring her here anyway.’
Defeated, she went to obey.
Pitt ate the last mouthful of his supper and cleared the table as Vespasia arrived in the doorway.
‘I always liked this room,’ she observed. ‘Thank you, Minnie Maude. Good evening, Thomas. I am sorry to have interrupted your dinner, but it is unavoidable.’
Behind him Minnie Maude skirted around her and put the kettle onto the hob. Then she began to wash out the teapot in which Pitt’s tea had been made, and prepare it to make a different brew for Vespasia. Her back was very straight and her hands shook just a little.
Pitt did not interrupt Vespasia. He held one of the hard-backed kitchen chairs for her to be seated. She declined to take off her cape.
‘I have just heard from Victor,’ she told him. ‘On the telephone, from a railway station not far from the city. Charlotte was with him, and perfectly well. You have no need to concern yourself about her health, or anything else. However, there are other matters of very great concern indeed. Matters that require your immediate and total attention.’
‘Narraway?’ His mind raced. She was being discreet, no doubt aware that Minnie Maude could hear all they said. It would be cruel, pointless and possibly even dangerous to frighten her unnecessarily.