Page 11 of Impossible
She supposed it was possible that the viscount’s poor demeanor had worn off on Og. It had certainly cast a pallor over the entire household. While Mrs. Bundle and Timothy weren’t surly, they were overworked and seemingly unhappy, even disgruntled. That Ada had met only the two retainers was alarming—both because she ought to have at least seen more and because she was fairly certain that meant there weren’t any others.
“I’ll start over here,” she said to Og, moving into the shadows where she’d heard the horse.
Ada met him—or her—a beautiful brown animal with warm, intelligent eyes. She’d always found horses captivating, but she didn’t necessarily want to ride one. Feeding and stroking them, however, had been one of her favorite things to do as a child, on the rare occasion she’d been able to do so, for her family hadn’t owned any. Later, when she’d worked as a governess, she’d had the luxury of visiting with the family’s horses now and again.
“Is this horse for riding or pulling equipment?” Ada hoped Og would answer her, but prepared herself for another grunt or growl in lieu of words.
“Ride. Her and the one next to her.”
Smiling, Ada pet the horse, who nickered softly. “What’s her name?”
“Topaz.”
“Well, hello, Topaz,” she said. “Aren’t you a pretty girl?”
This provoked a grunt from Og. “You can’t ride her,” he said brusquely.
“I wouldn’t want to. I don’t know how. But I can still visit and perhaps give her an apple. Would you like that, Topaz?”
“Never mind that nonsense. You aren’t coming back into my stables. Hurry with your business now.”
Ada tossed him a frown over her shoulder, then whispered to Topaz that she would definitely be back. After making notes about the horses in the ledger, she asked, “Who rides Topaz? I understand his lordship does not ride.”
“Me.”
Unable to contain her curiosity, she surrendered to it. “Why does he not ride? I find that so unusual for a viscount. I would think he would have ridden in the army.”
Another growl. “Mind yourself.”
Sighing, Ada knew it had been too much to hope for answers to her questions. She continued through the stable, recording the animals and equipment. The building was in decent repair and clean enough—for a stable.
“Is it just you here?” she asked finally, hoping he would at least answer that.
“There’s a lad who helps in the afternoons after he finishes his chores at home.”
“Where does he live?”
“On the estate.”
She barely lifted her lips into a fatigued smile. “How…vague.” She made notes in the ledger, then snapped it closed and stashed the pencil in her pocket.
Og crossed his arms over his chest. “Anything else, or will you get out of here now?”
“One last thing, though I’m not sure why I’m asking,” she added in a frustrated mutter. “I need to tour the estate and hoped you would take me around in the cart.”
“I don’t have time for that.”
“Of course you don’t. What if his lordship insisted?”
This earned her a scoff that was almost a derisive laugh. “He wouldn’t.”
No, he probably wouldn’t. Still, she’d ask him to. “Thank you so much for your time and…assistance, Og. Have a nice day!”
Squinting as she strode out into the bright morning, she gritted her teeth in frustration. But only for a moment. There was no benefit in succumbing to anger or allowing Og to ruin her day or her mood.
She went into the house and decided it was time to find the kitchen so she could see how many people worked there. Then she’d definitely learn how many retainers were employed in the household. These were crucial details in her investigation.
Making her way to the breakfast room, she went through the servants’ door and down the backstairs. Instead of noise and bustle, as one might expect from a kitchen in a house of this size, Ada was greeted with silence.
