Page 34 of Of Fate and Phantoms
Gus beamed. "Thank you, sir."
Seth opened his mouth to protest but must have thought better of it. He simply shot me a glare then tucked into his soup.
"Speaking of tomorrow," I said as I sat beside Lincoln. "Our new housekeeper will begin in the morning. Her name is Mrs. Cotchin, and she has excellent references from a household that Lady V is familiar with. She was a senior maid there and with the housekeeper far from retirement age, she decided she had to leave their employ if she wanted to improve her situation. I think she'll fit in here nicely. Doyle has met her, haven't you, Doyle?"
The butler had entered quietly and helped himself to soup. He was used to dining with us on the odd occasion, and he no longer held himself in check if Lincoln or I entered the service area.
"I have," he intoned. "She's an experienced woman of good character."
"He means she's nice," I added.
"But will she fit in?" Seth asked. "This household is not an easy one to adjust to. And what do we tell her about the strange comings and goings?"
"We don't tell her anything," Lincoln said. "That side of things must remain a secret for now. Understood?"
We all nodded.
Cook pouted. "I ain't going to see you much no more, am I?"
"You'll see me," Gus said.
"Not me," Seth said. "Downstairs will become strictly for servants only."
"You're a tosspot," Gus told him. "And you ain't no better than me, Cook or Doyle. The last year should've proved that to you."
"Things are different now with my mother and Alice here. The invitations to social engagements are coming in thick and fast. It's time to resume my proper place in society."
"You wish to leave my employ?" Lincoln asked.
"What? No! I need to work. I just meant that I have to fit my work around my newfound popularity."
"I thought you hated the sycophants and gossips," I said.
"I do, on the whole."
"Are you trying to appease your mother?"
"God, no. I'm simply assisting her now that she has Alice to think about. And you, too, of course, Charlie. My mother wishes to take you both out to show you off to her friends. It's only right that I come along to keep an eye on things."
Gus snorted. "You mean make sure no gen'lemen catch Alice's eye."
"Don't be ridiculous." Seth beamed and pushed out his chest. "No other gentleman could possibly interest her when she gets to see me every day. She might go out, but she always comes home to me."
"Toss pot," both Gus and Cook said.
I didn't share their sentiments on this score. Despite his cockiness, a hint of vulnerability edged Seth's tone. He truly liked Alice and wanted to make a good impression. This man, who won hearts wherever he went, was finding it difficult to win the heart of a woman he actually admired.
"What happened with Lady Gillingham?" Lincoln asked me.
I exchanged a glance with Doyle, the only witness to events in the drawing room. "She was about to tell me something that may have been important to our investigation, but we were interrupted by her husband."
The black centers of Lincoln's eyes constricted to pinpoints. His spoon stilled in the bowl. "And?"
"And she threw him across the room."
Gus and Seth set down their spoons. "Bloody hell," Gus said. "Is he dead?"
"No." Cook sat back in the chair and rubbed his stomach. "Next time, we hope."
