Page 27 of The Mistress of Ashmore Castle

‘I never knew that.’ She was straightening Della’s forelock between her ears and combing it flat with her fingers. Della’s eyes were closed, her lip trembling with her half-asleep breathing. ‘It’s very fair, her mane. If she were a human, she’d be a beautiful blonde lady.’

He was amused by her fantasy. ‘What’d Biscuit be, then?’

She considered. ‘A grocer’s assistant. A little stout man in an overall coat, with a pencil behind his ear.’

He laughed. ‘You do say some things, Lady Alice! Want a cup of tea? I was just going to brew up.’

‘Yes, please. But not “Lady Alice”. Not here.’

‘It’s what you are,’ he said, meeting her eyes. The enigmatic smile was there, but it didn’t touch his eyes. She felt a little thrill of something, like danger.

‘I don’t want to be.’

‘Can’t escape from what you are,’ he said, and turned away. She followed him. What did he mean? Was it a warning? She wasn’t sure she liked it.

In the cottage, she sat at the table and watched him while he moved about making the tea, laying the table, fetching down the biscuit tin, filling the milk jug. She loved to watch him – whatever he was doing, his every movement was spare and perfect, no fuss or bustle, just things getting done as smoothly and without effort as a fish swims.

‘Heard there’s trouble up at the Castle,’ he said, bringing the teapot to the table and sitting down opposite her.

‘Oh, you mean William – our footman?’

‘’S right. You can be mother.’ She wrinkled her nose at the expression. ‘Let it mash a bit first.’

‘I know. There’s biscuits?’

‘Shortbread. Our Esther made it for me.’

‘I love shortbread. How do you know about William?’

‘Everybody’s talking about it.’ He looked at her seriously. ‘Murder’s a hanging matter, you know.’

‘Oh, but he didn’t do it. And the law would never hang an innocent man.’

‘Don’t you be so sure.’

She was perplexed. ‘Richard was talking about it. William’s so silly – he won’t say where he really went. And because he was out that night, and won’t say, the police think it must have been him that killed Speen. Why won’t he say? Richard says, whatever he was doing, it can’t be worth hanging for.’

‘You just said the law won’t hang an innocent man.’

But she was worried now. ‘I know, but – well, you think it might.’

‘Tea’s fit to pour now.’ While she was thus occupied, he said, ‘There’s a female, lives down Warner’s Rents.’

‘Those cottages in Ashmore Carr?’

‘Name of Tabby Mattock. Used to be barmaid at the Dog and Gun.’

‘What about her?’

‘She had a baby, back in Feb’ry. A boy. Her ma talked to rector last Sunday, asking about baptism. That’s how I heard about it. She’s living with her ma.’

‘Oh, is her husband dead?’

‘She’s not married.’

Alice looked up at that, and blushed slightly. ‘Oh.’

‘Was supposed to be marrying your footman, William, but he called it off.’