Seven Dials - Anne Perry [77]
“Well, as far as I can make out, nobody sees him often enough to wonder where he’s gone,” Tellman replied, looking at Gracie, then turning in his chair to Charlotte. “He doesn’t seem to have the same sort of life as most young men his age from a family like that. He doesn’t go to a regular club, so nobody thought it odd not to see him. There’s nowhere he’s known, nobody he talks to, or plays any sport with, wagers with . . . nothing to make a . . . a life!” He cleared his throat. “I see the same people just about every day. If I wasn’t there they’d soon miss me, an’ there’d be questions asked.”
Charlotte frowned. It was worrying, but there was nothing specific yet to grasp. The subject that rose to her mind was indelicate, but the matter was too serious to pay deference to such things. However, she was aware of Tellman’s sensibilities, particularly in front of Gracie. “He is not married,” she said, feeling her way. “And apparently not courting anyone, so far as we know. Does he have . . .” Now she was not sure what to say.
“Couldn’t find anything,” Tellman said hastily, cutting her off. “As far as I could learn, he was an unhappy man.” He glanced at Gracie. “Much as you said. Drinks a lot and gets difficult. Lost most of his friends lately. They don’t seem to see him anymore. Not that I’ve had time to look very deep. But nobody’s seen him, and he doesn’t seem to have been planning to go anywhere, so wherever it is, he went in a hurry.”
“And took Martin Garvie with ’im?” Gracie said, stirring the onions without looking at them. “Then why didn’t the cook know? An’ Bella? Surely they’d ’ave ’eard? ’E didn’t go without cases an’ things. Gentlemen don’t.”
“No, they don’t,” Charlotte agreed. “And you didn’t answer about his letters. Are they forwarded to him, wherever he is? Someone would decline invitations, but surely he would want his letters?”
“His father?” Tellman suggested.
“Probably,” Charlotte agreed. “But does he take them to the postbox himself? Why? Most people like him have a footman to do that. Has Stephen gone somewhere so secret the household staff are not allowed to know? And why did Martin leave no message for Tilda?”
“Wasn’t time,” Tellman answered. “It was a sudden invitation . . . or at least a sudden decision on his part.”
“To somewhere from which Martin could not send a letter, if not to Tilda, then at least to someone who could let her know?” Charlotte said dubiously.
Gracie tipped the potatoes and cabbage into the pan to let them heat through, to mix with the onions and brown nicely. “It don’t sound right ter me,” she said quietly. “It in’t natural. I think as there’s summink wrong.”
“So do I.” Charlotte looked unblinkingly at Tellman.
Tellman gazed back at her without shifting his eyes even momentarily. “I don’t know how to take it any further, Mrs. Pitt. The police have got no reason to ask anyone. I got shown out pretty sharply more than once, as it was, and told to attend to my own affairs. I had to pretend it was to do with a robbery. Said that Mr. Garrick could have been a witness.” His face pinched up, showing his loathing for having allowed himself into the position of needing to lie. Charlotte wondered if Gracie knew just what cost he had paid to please her. She looked across at Gracie’s back, stiff and straight as she paid attention to the hot bubble and squeak in the frying pan, and very carefully lifted it on the slice to avoid breaking the crisp surface as she set it on the plate beside the cold mutton. Perhaps she did.
Tellman took the plate from her appreciatively. “Thank you.” He began to eat after only the slightest hesitation when Charlotte nodded to indicate he was welcome to begin.
“So wot are we gonna do, then?” Gracie asked, damping the fire down and filling the teapot. “We can’t jus’ leave it. ’E in’t gone inter thin air. If summink’s ’appened ter ’im it’s murder, whether it’s both of ’em or just Martin.” She turned