Ten
The knowledge moved faster than gossip and settled deeper.
Elias polished the same door handle three times.
Mercy carried a bowl of apples from the pantry, clutching it as though her life depended on it.
And Mrs. Fenwick kneaded bread with such force Anna feared the dough would confess to treason before supper.
“Anna,” she said as Anna entered with the mended linen Mrs. Fenwick sent her to deliver. “Come here, dear.”
Anna obeyed, closing the door behind her. Mrs. Pembroke didn’t look up. “Major Ellis will begin with the lower servants.”
“Soon?” Anna asked.
“I’m afraid so. That man knows enough to be irritating.”
“At least that’s not the same as dangerous,” Anna said.
Mrs. Pembroke looked at her. “My dear, irritating men are often dangerous because they never believe themselves irritating. They mistake it for confidence.”
Anna would have laughed if her stomach hadn’t been in knots. “Mrs. Pembroke, what should I say?”
“The truth, as much as possible, of course.”
Anna’s jaw dropped. “The truth?”
“Yes, dear. Where you were, what work you did, whom you served, how little attention you paid gentlemen when they were speaking about matters that did not concern you.”
“But I did pay attention.”
“Yes, dear, but that part is not useful.” Mrs. Pembroke smiled at her.
Anna held the linen tighter. “And if he asks about Mr. Reed…”
Mrs. Pembroke’s needle paused. The tiny hesitation frightened Anna more than a quick answer could have. “Then you simply say Mr. Reed came and went at Captain Whitby’s bidding, as he often does. Truths can be wonderfully accommodating when handled with care.”
Anna looked toward the window. “Mr. Reed went to the harbor post.”
“So I understand,” Mrs. Pembroke said, continuing to embroider.
Anna tried not to twist the linen, wrinkling it. “Bell is to be moved tonight.”
Mrs. Pembroke’s head came up. “Who told you that?”
Anna remained silent.
Mrs. Pembroke lowered her embroidery. “Anna…”
“He didn’t tell me with words,” she blurted.
“Mr. Reed?”
Anna nodded. “In the hall. He shook his head, as if to warn me not to come closer. But before that, he was in the parlor with Captain Whitby and Major Ellis. When he came out, he looked…”
She stopped because she didn’t like what came next. He’d looked concerned. Afraid. Determined. All of those meant she’d been watching him too closely. Worse, they made her heart beat faster and her belly flutter.
Mrs. Pembroke studied her for a long moment. “Is it possible that Mr. Reed is trying to keep you from danger, my dear?”
“It is also possible he is trying to keep me from hearing what he carries to the British,” Anna countered.
“Well, yes, that could be.”
Anna looked at her, aghast. “That’s not helping.”
Mrs. Pembroke gave her a bland look. “No, but it is honest. I find honesty bracing when comfort is unavailable.”
A knock sounded at the door, and Anna nearly jumped out of her skin.
Mrs. Pembroke sighed. “Come in.”
Elias entered, pale but composed. “Major Ellis is in the parlor, ma’am. He, uh, requests Anna.”
Anna’s mouth went dry.
Mrs. Pembroke rose. “Does he?”
“Yes, ma’am. Lieutenant Rothborne is with him.”
“Of course he is. Men like Lieutenant Rothborne are never absent when intimidation is about to be exercised.” She set her embroidery down and crossed to Anna.
“Now you listen to me. You are not clever. Nor are you bold. And you’re not afraid because you’ve done something wrong.
You are afraid because officers frighten sensible women. Understand?”
Anna nodded.
She gave her a curt nod. “Good. And one more thing.”
Anna drew in a shuddering breath. “Yes, ma’am?”
Mrs. Pembroke closed what little distance there was between them. “Do not reach for your side seam.”
Heat crept up Anna’s neck. “I don’t have the locket,” she said in a low voice.
“No, but fear remembers where things were hidden,” Mrs. Pembroke said, voice stern.
Anna gulped.
Mrs. Pembroke opened the door and stepped into the hall with Anna behind her. They descended the back stairs, swept past the pantry, and into the servants’ hall. When they entered the parlor, Major Ellis stood near the table while Lieutenant Rothborne leaned against the wall with his arms folded.
There was no sign of Captain Whitby, which Anna didn’t like. His laziness could sometimes be used as a shield. Major Ellis offered none.
Mrs. Fenwick stood near the hearth, rigid with fury. Mercy hovered beside her, her eyes rounded to saucers. Elias took his place near the door.
Major Ellis looked at Mrs. Pembroke. “Madam, I requested the maid, not an audience.”
“And yet here we all are,” Mrs. Pembroke replied, motioning to the others. “How fortunate that you do not have to repeat yourself from room to room.”
“I will question her alone.”
Mrs. Pembroke calmly clasped her hands in front of her. “No.”
Rothborne blinked. “I beg your pardon?”
Mrs. Pembroke gave him a pleasant smile. “You may question my servants in my house with me present, or you may remove yourself from both.”
Major Ellis studied her employer, and Anna stilled. After a moment, he turned his attention to her. “Very well.”
Anna continued to force herself not to move. If she could, she’d bolt like a rabbit.
“Miss Turner,” Major Ellis said with a sly smile.
She curtsied. “Sir.”
“You served at Captain Whitby’s gathering last night.”
“Yes, sir.”
He began to circle her. “You moved through the parlor, dining room, the halls.”
She nodded. “The dining room, halls, and pantry. Yes, sir.”
“And you spoke to Mr. Reed.”
Her heart picked up. Mrs. Pembroke shifted slightly beside her, just enough that Anna knew she’d heard the danger in the question too. “Mr. Reed spoke to me, sir,” Anna said.
“About what?”
She tried to remain calm. “Mrs. Wexford’s complaint about the sugar, sir.”
Rothborne huffed an impatient sound. “You expect us to believe that?”
Anna lowered her gaze. “It was a very loud complaint, sir.”
Mrs. Fenwick coughed into one hand as Mercy stared at the floor, her lips pressed together. Major Ellis didn’t so much as glance their way.
“And in the hall?” he asked.
Anna’s palms began to sweat. “He told me crowded rooms were dangerous, sir.”
His eyes narrowed. “Why?”
“I suppose because I was carrying a tray of glasses.” That should appease him.
He stopped circling her. “Do you often require warnings from couriers to carry glassware?”
Then again, maybe not. “No, sir.”
“Then why would he say such a thing?”
Anna looked up at him just enough to let her embarrassment show. “I don’t know, sir.”
Rothborne stepped closer. “Perhaps because he knew you had something to hide.”
Anna forced herself not to look at Mrs. Pembroke. “I had no wish to break Mrs. Pembroke’s crystal.”
“You’re lying,” Rothborne hissed.
Mrs. Fenwick bristled. “Lieutenant...”
Rothborne ignored her. “You hear things and remember things. You are too quick with your hands and too slow with your answers.”
Anna’s throat tightened. “I am sorry, sir.”
Major Ellis watched her for another moment, then changed direction so abruptly Anna nearly swayed. “Where did you go after Mr. Reed spoke to you?”
“To the dining room, then the pantry, sir.”
“After that?”
“The kitchen.”
“Who was there?”
Anna thought of sighing, as if bored, then decided against it. “Mrs. Fenwick, Mercy, Elias came in twice, and of course, Mrs. Pembroke.”
“He came in with what?”
Anna blinked. “Sir?”
“What was Elias carrying?”
Her mind raced. Elias had carried the folded tablecloth to the laundry basket, the one with the locket beneath it. “Empty trays,” she said.
“Both times?”
“I believe so.”
“You believe so,” he repeated.
“I was busy, sir. There were many trays.”
Major Ellis’s eyes narrowed again. “And after supper?”
“I helped clear plates.”
“And after that?” Lieutenant Rothborne asked.
She glanced his way. “I carried glasses to the kitchen.”
“And after that?” Ellis said, taking a step toward her.
“I do not remember every step, sir.”
Lieutenant Rothborne smiled. “How convenient.”
Anna started to lift her gaze to him and stopped. “No, sir. Exhausting.”
A few seconds of silence passed before Mrs. Pembroke said, “An accurate summary of the evening, my dear.”
Major Ellis turned to her. “Your servant has a tongue.”
Mrs. Pembroke sighed as if she were addressing a child. “All my servants have tongues, Major. It is one of their more essential qualities.”
Lieutenant Rothborne’s face darkened.
Major Ellis looked back to Anna. “Do you know Josiah Bell?”
She shook her head. “No, sir.”
“Have you heard that name?”
Anna hesitated just long enough to make the answer dangerous. “Yes, sir.”
“Where?”
She had to answer. He already knew she’d been near the hearth.
“At the ball. I heard someone say, ‘Bell is still silent.’”
Rothborne straightened. Mrs. Pembroke didn’t so much as blink as Major Ellis’s expression sharpened, but not with anger. With interest. “Who said it?”
Anna swallowed. “I do not know, sir. There were many gentlemen speaking.”
“You admit you heard it,” Lieutenant Rothborne said.
“I heard those words. But I didn’t understand them.”
“And you told no one?” Major Ellis asked.
“No, sir.” The lie felt uglier than the others, perhaps because it mattered more.
Major Ellis came closer. “If you hear something tonight, Miss Turner, something about roads, riders, or prisoners, you will bring it to me.”
Anna curtsied. “Yes, sir.”
His eyes narrowed. “If you do not, and I learn you withheld information, no one in this house will protect you.”
Mrs. Pembroke’s voice turned glacial. “That will do, Major.”
Ellis ignored her and bent to Anna’s face. “Do you understand me?”
Anna lowered her eyes. “Yes, sir.”
He stared at her a moment longer, then turned to Rothborne. “We’re finished here.” His eyes swept over the rest of them. “For now.”
The moment the door closed behind them, Mercy made a small sound and covered her mouth as Mrs. Fenwick rounded on Anna. “You should sit.”
“I am well enough.”
“You are the color of curdled milk, child.” Mrs. Pembroke took Anna by the elbow. “Come.”