Page 77 of The Curious Story of the Missing Lady
“Mr Herrick?” said Madeline.
Both man swung around, as they had not been aware she was there behind them.
“Not the constable?” said Brightman.
“One and the same, sir,” said Foster. “He had an urgent matter to discuss with His Lordship. I left them here. About an hour later, maybe a little longer, I found His Lordship upon the floor.”
“Well, we must speak with Mr Herrick.”
“Indeed,” said Madeline.
Brightman’s eyes went between the two. “I do not wish to pry into matters that do not concern me, so I will take my leave.”
“Giles will show you to your room,” said Foster, tugging the silk bell pull as he spoke.
“Thank you, Foster.” He bowed his head to Madeline. “M’Lady.”
Madeline watched him leave, and then turned to Foster. “I had no idea Mr Herrick was here last night.”
“He arrived late last night. He’d said it was urgent.”
“I see. And you have no idea to what it pertained?”
“No, M’Lady.”
She glared at him with narrow eyes. “Foster?”
“Yes, M’Lady?”
“Foster, I’ve known you too long. You like to put on the air of a man partial and indifferent to the personal goings-on at Aspendale. Surely you must have heard something.”
The butler puffed out his chest. “I assure you, M’Lady, I was not privy to a single word uttered in this room between His Lordship and Mr Herrick.”
“I see. Well, we shall await Mr Herrick’s next arrival then.”
“We shall. I’m going to tidy up in here if you’ll excuse me.”
“Of course, Foster.”
She turned to leave when the butler called after her once more.
“My Lady,” he said softly, “had I heard any part of the conversation last night, I assure you, you would be the first to know.”
“I believe you, Foster.”
“Yes.” He stared as if wanting to say more.
“Will there be anything else?”
Foster swallowed hard. “When you were gone—missing—from this house, there was an emptiness here that I’ve not felt ever in my life. The walls did not resound with your singing or the music or your laugh. I have dedicated my life to this house, and yet it had become an empty shell without its most treasured occupant. Since you were a little girl, tumbling through the halls along with Lady Emily, I have watched over you as if you were my own. Well, that is all ...” He paused to clear his throat softly, for his voice had begun to waver. “I have not had the opportunity to convey these thoughts to you earlier. I am heartily sorry for the predicament you found yourself in, and am heartily grateful for your return for it has sparked more joy to my heart than I have known within these walls.”
She took a step closer and noticed that there were tears in the man’s eyes and his bottom lip was trembling.
“Foster, you dear, dear fellow,” she said. She wanted to throw her arms around him. “You are the beating heart of Aspendale. Don’t you ever forget that I know that.”
“Yes, M’Lady.”
“I will see you at breakfast.”
