Page 100 of A Winter By the Sea
“Just that easy, ey? What—no proverbs to sway me?” He shook his head. “I am not keen to dance.”
A tense moment followed while the others exchanged uncertain glances.
Then Bernardi spoke again. “However, I would not mind seeing what passes for refreshments at a seaside assembly.”
“Then you will go?”
He shrugged. “I shall.”
Emily sent Sarah a satisfied look. “Excellent.”
After the meal, as they left the dining room, Mr. Thomson stepped near Emily and said in a low voice, “If you did not wish to attend with me, you might simply have said so. No need to invite the whole house to avoid spending time with me.”
“Not at all. I am glad you are going. But Mr. Parker will be there as well, and a trio could be awkward. This way no one shall feel like a gooseberry.”
His mouth pinched. “We shall see about that.”
The next morning, the laundress’s lad delivered a load of clean towels and sheets. Sarah paid the boy, then carried them upstairs and stowed them in the linen cupboard. Glancing down the passage, she noticed Mr. During’s door stood slightly ajar, a crack of sunlight spilling through it into the dim corridor.
Curious, she walked toward his room.
“Mr. During?” She tapped on the open door with her knuckles.
No reply.
Footsteps marched behind her and she turned. Here came Mr. During now.
“Miss Summers, what is it?”
“Oh, there you are. I was surprised to see your door open and wanted to make sure everything was all right.”
He frowned. “My door ... open? How did that happen? Did you unlock it with your own key?”
“No. It was open when I came upstairs.”
“Nonsense. I would never leave the door unsecured. Must be a fault of the lock.” He jiggled the latch.
“The lock is fairly new, but we could have Mr. Farrant out to confirm it is sound, if you are worried about it.”
“Oh.” He looked upward, as if struck by a thought. “I suppose I may have ... Well, I only stepped out for a moment to, um, use the water closet. That must explain it. I would never otherwise leave my door unlocked.” He went inside and looked around the room, then bent to study the plate chest.
“Don’t worry, Mr. During. I shan’t report you to Captain Conroy.” She said it as a lighthearted jest, but he looked up in alarm.
“Good heavens. I should hope not!”
“I was only teasing.” Sarah glanced over his hunched form and observed, “Thankfully there is a lock on the chest as well for added security.”
“True, though I open it from time to time to polish the pieces and keep them in readiness, should another occasion arise to use them.”
He rose to his feet with a sigh of relief. “No harm done.”
She regarded him with compassion. “I gather you miss setting out all the royal finery?”
He nodded. “Yes, although this is only the small plate chest. It holds little tableware beyond four magnificent silver candlesticks.”
Sarah nodded. “I believe I saw those at the party Sunday evening.”
“You may have, yes. The chest also contains items of a more ceremonial nature. The Duke of Kent has received several awards, like the Freedom of the City—as did his brother, the Duke of Sussex.”
