Page 30 of Trouble

‘She did in the version I tell.’

‘I just think, you know .?.?. piss or get off the pot,’ said Oliver. ‘I know, Meera. Sixpence. I’m running a little low on coins at the moment, as it is .?.?. I shall have to owe you.’

‘Captain Routley was there,’ said Akia. ‘I haven’t seen him for a while.’

Oliver patted down his pockets and then drew out a pipe. ‘Which one is Routley?’

‘Short. Pretty. Mrs Edwards used to say that he always looked like he was on the verge of crying.’

‘OhGod, yes. I can never tell if he looks twelve years old or fifty. Sort of like a baby in uniform, but also a bit like an elderly man in a dressing-up costume. Did we sense any discord there?’

‘Oliver,’ said Meera.

‘Don’t you tire of saying my name like that, Meera?’

‘I have a thousandOliversready to go, and they will never be enough,’ said Meera. ‘Are you going to light that pipe or conduct an orchestra with it? Give it here.’

‘Why would there be discord?’ said Emily.

As soon as she’d said it, she regretted it. She sounded far too eager for an answer. She was supposed to be keeping a low profile, not conducting an inquisition.

‘That isnotfor us to say,’ said Meera, as Oliver relinquished his pipe so that Meera could light it and take a puff.

‘Mostly because we don’t know,’ said Akia. ‘But Captain Edwards does not seem particularly fond of the navy any more. And who can blame him? If they really discharged him against his wishes, when he was doing so well—’

‘He hasn’t been discharged, he’s still wearing the uniform,’ said Oliver. Emily tried not to stare; tried not to make it clear that she was trying to memorise every detail of this conversation in case she could barter it later. ‘Doesn’t that mean he’s still on duty?’

Joe grunted in assent. ‘You can’t wear it furloughed, or dismissed. So he’s neither.’

‘Well, there you go. Nobody would risk the embarrassment of wearing it if they’d been discharged. Or at least – Ben wouldn’t.’

‘Jar,’ said Meera.

‘For what crime,jar?’

‘His name is Captain Edwards, Oliver. NotBen.’

‘It’s a swear jar! It’s not a fuckingBenjar. Yes, fine, I see what I’ve done there, a schoolboy error .?.?. I owe you twice over, I suppose.’

They sat in companionable silence until Joe cleared his throat.

‘He’ll propose,’ he said, surprising Emily. She wouldn’t have thought that Joe would have had anything to say on the subject of his master’s romantic affairs; half the time he didn’t actually seem to be listening to them at all. Everybody else seemed to take this in their stride.

‘Well, if he does, I shall be very pleased for him. And forus, if we are able to take on a full staff again.’ Meera sighed, somewhat wistfully. ‘We could have a groom again. A butler. A lady’s maid for each lady.’

‘I’m not giving up the big room,’ Oliver said sternly. ‘I have arranged all of my belongings in piles that please me, and any sudden change will wreak havoc upon my nerves.’

‘You will do exactly as you are told,’ said Meera.

She turned to Emily, offering her Oliver’s pipe. Emily declined.

‘How have lessons been with the girls?’

‘It’s just been the one girl, mostly,’ said Emily. ‘And it has been .?.?. fine.’

‘Ah,’ said Meera sympathetically. ‘Yes, I didn’t think you’d been seeing much of Aster. She can be—’

‘A nightmare,’ said Oliver.