Page 50 of The Journal of a Thousand Years
“What?” she snapped at him.
“Shall I have Mrs. Bristow brew more tea?”
“I don’t want tea. I want something stronger.”
“There’s brandy in the decanter.” He indicated the drinks trolley with the crystal decanters and glasses. Then he left, closing the door behind him.
Alex sliced himself some cake. “Being stroppy with the servants isn’t going to make you feel better, Willie.”
“He was looking at me oddly.”
“He wasn’t. Let him do his job. It’ll help take his mind off Gabe.”
She shot to her feet. “And what’ll help us?” She began to pace back and forth. “I’ve got to leave again. This house is stifling.” She strode toward the door.
“My father asked us to stay, so we’ll stay. He might have news.”
Willie changed direction and strode to the drinks trolley instead. She poured herself a glass of brandy without offering a drink to anyone else, then sank into the armchair with another heaving sigh.
“Perhaps Cyclops hasgoodnews,” Daisy said hopefully.
None of us believed that. If he had good news, he would have informed Bristow.
The butler returned a few minutes later with Mrs. Bristow. She carried a tray with a teapot and extra cups and saucers.Usually, Murray carried the trays. Bristow rarely attempted it since his shaking hands made the contents rattle.
“Where’s Murray?” I asked as she set the tray down.
“Helping the police. He misses the work and Detective Inspector Bailey said he could assist them, since he’s trained.” She paused and glanced at Willie, then back to me. “Shall I pour, Miss Ashe, or would you prefer to do it?”
How odd that she would ask me. As the lady of the house in the absence of Lady Rycroft,Willieought to be giving the staff instructions.
Willie didn’t like being supplanted. Or perhaps she didn’t like being supplanted byme, Melville Hendry’s daughter. She took a sip from her glass, glaring at me as she did so.
“You do it, Mrs. Bristow,” I said.
Mrs. Bristow poured the tea then left, followed by her husband who once again closed the door behind him.
Willie pointed at it. “There! Did you see that? He gave me a look.”
Alex reached for his cup of tea. “Probably because he finds you annoying.”
“That can’t be it. I’ve been annoying for years, and he’s never given me strange looks before.”
“We all reach the end of our tether at some point.” Alex sipped his tea then placed the cup back on the saucer. He got up and went to the drinks trolley. “Anyone else need a brandy?”
We all declined.
Daisy watched him, her brow deeply furrowed. With his back to us, Alex didn’t notice.
His hand suddenly shook, causing him to spill the brandy on the trolley. “Blast.” He put the glass down with a heavy thud and lowered his head.
Willie started to rise, but Daisy was already on her feet. She placed a hand on Alex’s back. He turned and drew her into a fierce embrace, tucking her head under his chin.
Willie eased back into the chair and concentrated on her brandy. Despite their bickering, she clearly adored Alex as much as she did Gabe. It must be painful for her to see him distressed.
I would have tried to comfort her, but I doubted I would be welcome. Besides, I wasn’t sure I had the capacity to comfort others. I was sorely in need of it myself.
Petra took my hand again and squeezed. Standing behind us, Huon laid a hand on my shoulder. I gave them smiles, attempting to reassure them that I was all right. But I wouldn’t be all right until Gabe held me the way Alex held Daisy.
