“But what does he look like? Is he tall, short, blue-eyed, or—?”
“Tall, dark-haired, and dark-eyed. You’ll see him for yourself soon enough, I imagine.”
“Yes, but I’d like to know what to expect.” Lizzy leaned forward in her chair. “Is he terribly frightening? Does he growl and snarl if one attempts conversation?”
“No, he’s simply…reticent.”
Lizzy pursed her lips and stood. “He’s not the only one.”
“Well, I do have other things on my mind at present.”
“The letter, do you mean?” Lizzy frowned. “Too much fuss over one little missive, I should think. Lord Thurston won’t allow for any harm to come to you.”
Evie pressed her lips together. “He means to send me to Norfolk to make certain of it. I’m to leave first thing in the morning, under armed guard.”
Lizzy visibly started. “To Norfolk?”
“Under armed guard,” she repeated.
“You can’t be serious.”
“Whit certainly is.” She blew out a long breath. “I need to pack.”
Packing was accomplished with little speed and even less enthusiasm. It didn’t help matters to have Lizzy running off downstairs every ten minutes with excuses that ranged from the practical, “Lady Thurston might have some idea how many days you’ll be gone,” to the absurd, “I wonder if Cook remembered to slice the onions thin, the way Mrs. Summers prefers.”
“Caught sight of him yet?” Evie inquired after Lizzy returned from her seventh trip.
“I’ve no idea what you mean.” Lizzy pasted on an innocent expression and began folding the last of the chosen gowns into a trunk.
Evie smirked and carefully wrapped a bonnet in tissue. “All this running up and down the steps hasn’t been an attempt to catch sight of Mr. McAlistair, then?”
Lizzy scowled. “The man’s frightfully elusive.”
“He’s had considerable practice, you’ll recall,” Evie said with a laugh.
“And puts it to good use. I asked John Herbert if he’d managed a peek. He hasn’t, and John always knows what’s afoot in Haldon.”
“John Herbert? The new footman?”
“He’s been here near seven months, miss. I don’t know as I would qualify him as new.”
“That’s because you qualify him as dreadfully handsome,” Evie teased.
“He is that.” Lizzy sighed dramatically.
Eager to avoid a discussion on John Herbert’s tremendous handsomeness, which would inevitably be followed by a monologue on Robert Klein’s immense physical strength, which was guaranteed to precede a lengthy discourse on Calvin Bradley’s devilish charm, Evie asked, “Has anyone else arrived?”
“Mr. Hunter,” Lizzy replied, reaching for another gown, “an hour ago. And word just came from Lord Rockeforte by way of special courier. He’s been delayed, something about having to slip out of the house under the cover of night.”
Evie grinned at the idea of the proud and powerful Duke of Rockeforte finding it necessary to sneak out of his own home to avoid his wife and her friends. “How is it you’re aware of what the duke had to say? Eavesdropping, were you?”
“Not this time,” Lizzy answered without the slightest hint of shame. “Mr. Fletcher read the missive aloud for the benefit of Mr. Hunter. I happened to be in the parlor at the time.”
“Very convenient.”
“It was, rather.” Lizzy frowned absently at the contents of the trunk. “Does he seem at all familiar to you?”
“Mr. Hunter?” Evie set down her work. “Kate asks me that every time we see the man.”
Lizzy nodded. “There’s something about him, something that niggles at my memory. And he seems to always have this look about him, as if he knows exactly why that might be, and won’t tell.”
“Has he been unkind to you? Has he—”
“Oh, no, miss. Nothing of the sort.” Lizzy shook her head. “He’s very much a gentleman to the staff—more so, in my opinion, than some who’ve been born to the position. I think he has a secret, that’s all.”
“Perhaps I can ferret it out at dinner for you.”
Lizzy winced. “Dinner. Oh dear, I’d forgotten. Lady Thurston says you’re to take dinner in your room tonight.”
Evie blinked at that news. “Did she say why?”
“Not to me, but I overheard her informing Mrs. Summers she was uncomfortable with the idea of you being downstairs late at night.”
“Conveniently in the parlor again?”
“No, I was eavesdropping.”
Evie snorted out a laugh. “Well, it’s an absurd idea. She can’t possibly mean it.”
A knock on the door and the arrival of a maid carrying a tray of food told Evie that Lady Thurston was very much in earnest. Uncertain whether to be amused or annoyed at being banished to her room for dinner, Evie directed that the tray be set on the bed. After seeing the maid out, she sat down and reached for a roll.
“I repeat, this is absurd.”
“There are an awful number of doors and windows in this house,” Lizzy pointed out.