Chapter Nine
Miss Millthorpe had finally come to the door, but in such a strange manner. Burkhart could not really understand what the lady meant by “thank heavens it is you.” It seemed an odd thing to say. But then, she was a matron living alone and perhaps that made her fearful of knocks on the door.
At least, that was what he’d imagined before he stepped into the parlor. It was not just a chair overturned. The entire room was topsy-turvy.
“What happened in here?” Miss Pansy said, as both twins looked round in wonderment.
“Girls, have you completely thrown over your manners?” the lady asked.
“Goodness, Lord Burkhart, Mr. Lelander, this is our Miss Millthorpe,” Miss Poppy said.
Burkhart bowed. “Ma’am, you have experienced some trouble.”
“I certainly have, Lord Burkhart,” she said. “But let us not get ahead of ourselves. Tea first.”
“Pops and I will help you,” Miss Pansy said.
“I will bring in the basket of supplies sent from the viscount and retire to the sleigh,” Johnny Johns said.
“Hand me that basket. It was very kind of the viscount to think of it. As for retiring to the sleigh, you will do no such thing, Mr. Johns,” Miss Millthorpe said sternly.
“It is cold out of doors and this is my cottage, not the Hall. There is no rank in my parlor. Except for the viscount and viscountess, of course.”
Burkhart attempted to keep a look of surprise from his features. Apparently, he was not a lord in the lady’s house.
Johnny Johns laughed and said, “Aye,” as if he’d been expecting that was what she would say about it. He handed the basket over and the ladies proceeded into the neat and compact kitchen of the cottage.
Johnny Johns, Burkhart and Lelander set about putting the furniture to rights. There was a Davenport desk that had been rifled through and two small, embroidered pillows had been ripped at the seams and the stuffing pulled out.
The lady’s parlor had clearly been ransacked. By whom, though? What had happened here?
Johnny Johns muttered, “This is a bad business.” He went to the door and put the latch on and opened the curtains wide to keep an eye on the horses. It was probably a good idea, they had all come unarmed unless Mr. Johns had a pistol inside his coat.
After they’d righted everything back into relative order, the three gentlemen sat down on the chairs on one side of a low table, leaving the sofa on the other side for the ladies.
They did not speak but rather listened to the quiet talk going on in the kitchen, which was mostly Miss Millthorpe inventorying the basket between scolding the ladies to be patient and show restraint.
Burkhart looked about him. It was a tidy little cottage with a cheery hearth, very like the sort of cottages they maintained on their own property for retired staff.
It was not overlarge, but large enough, and easy to heat.
Unlike Chemsworth Hall. This moment might be the first time he had been really warm since he arrived.
It should be a cozy and ideal location for the lady. But something had happened here. Something that would have been frightening to the governess.
Miss Millthorpe led the ladies back in. She settled herself in front of the tea tray and they all waited patiently as she inquired into how the gentlemen took their tea and poured it.
She evidently did not need to ask the ladies.
She seemed to know that Miss Pansy liked her tea strong and Miss Poppy liked her tea milky.
Finally, she poured her own and said, “You will be wondering why I did not initially open the door and what occurred to result in the shambles you encountered when stepping into my parlor.”
“I am very much wondering,” Burkhart said.
“He cannot wonder more than I wonder,” Lelander said.
Miss Millthorpe gave them both a cross look. It was very reminiscent of his old tutor right before he would say, “Stop this nonsense at once.” It was very effective.
“Last evening,” the lady said, “just after sunset, as the storm raged, there was a knock on the door. Naturally, I imagined it was some poor individual desperate for shelter from the elements. It was not. Two men pushed their way in, tied me to a chair in the kitchen which, by the by, I was easily able to free myself from after they left, and attempted to rob me. I was putting things to rights when you arrived, it was a deal worse than what you encountered.”
Miss Pansy and her sister looked positively horrified.
“As you might imagine, I was up most of the night, peering out windows and wondering if they would return. All I could think of was that there is a window in my bedchamber that does not lock.”
“You must have been so frightened,” Miss Poppy said.
“Naturally, as anybody would be. But I hope I have the fortitude to rise and meet the moment. I was not certain what I ought to attempt today, so I am touched that you girls thought to check on me.”
This resulted in the interesting scene of both ladies covering her with kisses and assuring her that they would always check on her.
She beat off this affectionate attack and said, “I put up with this sort of thing in private but not in company.”
They both laughed and took up their tea.
“Miss Millthorpe,” Burkhart said, “can you say what you mean by they attempted to rob you?”
The lady smiled. A very self-satisfied smile, actually.
“I do not keep expensive items as a habit so there was little to take. The bulk of my money is invested in the percents. What little I keep on hand is located on my person, which they dared not investigate. My money is in an inside pocket and my gold cross was hidden under my fichu. For their trouble, they left with six silverplate teaspoons.”
Lelander set his tea down. “Is this usual for the area? A robbery by pushing into a house?”
“I certainly have never heard of such an outrage,” Miss Millthorpe said.
“Mr. Weston the senior will know,” Miss Pansy said. “He is the magistrate.”
“I cannot think this has happened before,” Miss Poppy said. “Marigold would have said something to Papa.”
“I would’a heard in the tavern,” Johnny Johns said. “Naught a word about anything like it.”
“What I wonder is where did they go when they left? The storm really was very terrible, the roads were impassable, so I think they could not have gone far,” Burkhart said.
“That’s true,” Miss Pansy said. “That’s how the baron turned up on our doorstep. He simply could not get further.”
“I think the baron must be very lucky that he did not encounter these criminals,” Miss Poppy said.
“Who, might I inquire, is the baron?” Miss Millthorpe asked.
“Baron Montachet,” Miss Pansy said. “He was attempting to travel to Oxford but realized he could go no further and sought shelter with us.”
“I see. Well, I simply wish these ruffians do not arrive back on my doorstep.” Miss Millthorpe said. “I am determined to have that lock on the window repaired, put a sturdier bolt on the door, and I will no longer answer it to strangers.”
“Miss Millthorpe!” Miss Pansy said. “You cannot think to stay here alone after such a thing has happened.”
“You must return with us to the Hall,” Miss Poppy said.
“I do think it is the best course,” Lelander said. “The viscount will wish to have a firsthand account of what has occurred on his land.”
“And he will wish to call in the magistrate,” Burkhart said.
Miss Millthorpe considered it. She said, “I do not like to be put on the back foot by a pair of lawless rogues. In this case, however, valid points have been made. I will return as a temporary measure.”
“Pack a case, Miss Millthorpe,” Burkhart said. “We will do the clearing up.” He actually had no idea what clearing up a tea tray involved. Did the teapot sit soaking in water? Just a rinse? Were the tea leaves saved and reused? He supposed he’d find it out.
Miss Millthorpe rose. “Girls, pack up the perishables the viscount has sent. We will bring them back with us. I will not waste Mr. Moreau’s efforts. Careful with my teacups and saucers, they are a set.”
Everyone’s eyes drifted to the aforementioned teacups and saucers. Burkhart thought they all had the same vague terror of breaking one of the lady’s things.
“I’ll not go near them with these ham hands, Ma’am,” Johnny Johns said.
“Very practical, I’m sure, Mr. Johns,” Miss Millthorpe said, marching in a very upright manner into her bedchamber to pack a case.
Miss Pansy looked between himself and Mr. Lelander and laughed. “I think Pops and I will manage the clearing up.”
Burkhart nodded. He had no wish to argue.
He imagined Miss Millthorpe’s disapproval over a broken cup would be terrible and had no wish to experience it.
She had that old governess and tutor trick of appearing the most powerful person in the room, despite the facts of rank.
He occupied himself with putting out the fire with the pitcher left on the mantle for that purpose.
There was no point in banking it, as he suspected Miss Millthorpe would be relocated to the Hall for several days, if not permanently.
It did not take long for Miss Millthorpe to return with a small leather case, which was hardly surprising.
She struck him as an organized and no-nonsense sort of person.
She would hardly hem and haw over what to pack.
She was soon followed by the ladies coming back from the kitchen.
Miss Millthorpe set her case down and went in to inspect their work.
Finding herself satisfied after a few corrections, Johnny Johns carried out her case and the perishables returning to the Hall, they donned their hats and coats and set off.
As there was now to be an extra person, Mr. Johns had surveyed his passengers and then pointed at Lelander. “You’re the lighter of the two gentlemen, you’ll ride up with me.” He then watched to assure himself that the viscount’s two daughters sat on the same side of the sleigh.
Burkhart smiled. Lelander would be stuck up front with the rather surly coachman while he would remain with the ladies. He could not have arranged it better himself.