Page 32 of The Demons of Wychwood

It was brass monkeys cold and so I pulled on my smalls, a vest, shirt, and trousers. Then I pulled on thick woollen socks and stuffed my feet into a pair of house slippers. I felt Kit’s eyes on me all the while. I then went to my small sink, brushed my teeth, and washed my face. Looking in the mirror and seeing the debauched reflection of my Lord, decided I wouldn’t shave my blond stubble today. I returned to the bed then, gave Kit a final peck on the lips, and left him to his own devices.

****

Elowen busied herself at the range and I was happy to see there was a good pile of honey cakes keeping warm. A pot of tea was waiting on the table with place settings for four, including Bess, who was propped up on a chair on cushions and tied in place with one of my old belts so she didn’t fall. The baby was feeding herself a honey cake and sipping from her milk bottle, quite content. I ruffled her riot of blonde curls, and I seated myself. Bess and I said our ritual good morning and how do you do, a little game we always played to teach her some manners. Even though she hasn’t quite got the hang of making the words she babbles in the right places.

“You have a good night?” Elowen asked her back to me as she flipped honey cakes.

“Might have,” I said coyly. I did not want to talk about my personal affairs with my sister.

“You do know your bed sounds like a sack of angry cats!”

“Oh, gawd!” I moaned and held my face in my hands mortified that she’d heard what we’d been up to.

“It makes quite the racket. I have offered to buy Felix a new bed!” Christopher Havelock’s cultured voice made me lower my hands, sit up straight, and turn to the doorway. All three of us laughed then.

Kit had thrown on his trousers and shirt, but not his waistcoat or frock coat. It was nice to see him dressed down and comfortable.

“Please, take a seat, milord. Help yourself. We don’t put on airs in this house,” Elowen said.

“Thank you, Mrs. Lazarus,” Kit took the seat opposite me and I poured a cup of tea for himself and me. Then Elowen placed a plate of honey cakes, and a pot of jam in the middle of the table. I dug in, smothering a honey cake with jam and eating it before Kit had spread jam on his own.

“Awww. You’ve done yourself proud with this batch,” I praised as my sister sat with us and placed a honey cake on her plate. I poured tea into her cup and passed the milk. We ate in silence for a while; Bess keeping us all entertained with her babbling nonsense words as me and Her Highness continued a long, heated conversation that only she seemed to understand.

“They were delicious. Thank you, Mrs. Lazarus,” Kit said when he’d finished eating.

“You can call me Elowen, milord.”

“Very well, as I’m a guest in your house you may call me Kit.”

“Oh no. I couldn’t do that,” Elowen said, shocked. “It wouldn’t feel right, milord

“You worked at Penhelligan Hall, yes?” Kit asked as he refilled his tea cup.

“I did, milord,” Elowen said ponderously, ”I was taken on as a housemaid.”

“I’m sorry, but…I don’t remember you,” Kit admitted.

“I’d be surprised if you did. Mrs. Trelawney made sure we knew not to disturb the masters. I remember you though. You didn’t visit much cos you were at university, just came on the holidays. The maids all thought you were awfully handsome!” Elowen blushed as she said that.

I watch the conversation as I ate. It was a delicate back and forth as if both Kit and Elowen were walking on a frozen lake.

“I hope it’s not too much of an impertinent question, but why were you let go? Your brother mentioned some bad business attached to Penhelligan Hall and it troubles me greatly. I know nothing of it. Please be frank. If there is anything I can do to help, you have my ear.”

Elowen sent a daggers glare at me and her jaw tightened. The atmosphere in the room turned icy and I knew that if his Lordship wasn’t here I’d have been in for a right telling-off. Elowen’s teacup shook in her hand, I reached out and took the cup from her and placed it on the saucer.

“Tell him Elly, go on. You won’t get into trouble,” I said softly.

Trembling, Elowen rose from her chair and went round to Bess. She untied the belt and picked the child up.

“No one’s taking my Bessie from me!” Elowen said fiercely as she held her baby in a protective embrace.

“What are you going on about?” I said confused.

“Ain’t that why he’s here…to claim Bess for his family?”

“Forgive me, but I don’t understand. Why would I be here to take your daughter?”

“Because the brute that got me with child is…related…to you.”