Page 40 of The Case of the Curate

“The matter is easily resolved, ma’am,” Lady Chadbon said kindly. “You must simply stay with us another night. The rain is already lighter, and I’m sure the roads will be passable by tomorrow morning.”

“But we would be inconveniencing you,” Mrs. Otteridge pointed out.

“Not at all. Both Chadbon and I are glad of the company. It is always particularly good to be with friends when outdoors is cold and damp! Sir Colin will understand perfectly that traveling in such treacherous conditions is simply not worth the risk.”

And somehow, the delay was accepted and the company soothed. In her own way, Lady Chadbon was as authoritative and as persuasive as her husband.

Kate filled her plate from the sideboard and collected a cup of tea from Her Ladyship before surveying the table. Miss Nye sat a little apart from the rest of the gathered company, with no one directly opposite her. There were two empty chairs on her right and no one at all on her other side. Kate sat next to her on the left, and they both smiled and murmured, “Good morning.”

Under cover of the general conversation now rising around the table, Kate said, “Tomorrow will be a much more comfortable departure. Unless you have a pressing need to be in London today?”

“Oh no, but Colin does so hate his plans to be upset.”

Kate smiled. “There is no point in railing against the weather, however! We just have to be glad the harvest is already in—however poor it proves to be.”

“Indeed,” Miss Nye said fervently. “I believe the corn laws are all that all will save us.”

Us being the landowning classes who alone would benefit from the high price of grain. However, the corn law had been passed and the returning soldiers bill still needed Nye’s support. So Kate merely smiled and let it go.

“I must say it has been a pleasure getting to know you and Sir Colin,” she said amiably. “I hope you have enjoyed your stay at Chadbon Court as much as I.”

“Oh, indeed, yes. Her Ladyship is such a kind and attentive hostess, and everyone has been so welcoming. It is not always so, you know. Some people quite ignore me at such occasions, but here—”

Seizing the way in, Kate interrupted without compunction. “Truly? But you are clearly so valuable to Sir Colin that he cannot be without you. Your quick mind and keen observations are a blessing to him and to his friends in Parliament.”

“You are too kind,” twittered Miss Nye, blushing. “I am only his amanuensis, you know.”

“Not only,” Kate said firmly, for she genuinely felt that this woman, like most females, was undervalued. “In fact, I was hoping to make use of your observations—not on politics, but on a discreet matter, you understand? Just between us ladies.”

Miss Nye sat up, looking more birdlike than ever.

“After dinner, on the night we arrived,” Kate said, spreading butter on her toast, “several people left the drawing room at one time or another for varying lengths of time.”

Miss Nye nodded. “Including you.”

Kate beamed as though her opinion was vindicated. “Including me. Twice! The first time I left was perhaps around ten o’clock, I think? Shortly after Mr. Grande had taken his leave.”

“Yes, indeed. Such a charming young man. I’m sure he will quickly get preferment. You were gone for quite a quarter of an hour.”

“I was, wasn’t I? What I’ve been wondering is, who left during those fifteen or so minutes? And when did they return?”

Miss Nye blinked. “Why on earth do you wonder about that?”

“Because I wasn’t there,” Kate said. “But you were, and I’m hoping you can be my eyes.”

“But why?”

“I believe someone acted…inappropriately during that time. And it is against all our interests to let that stand. Don’t misunderstand me, ma’am—I am well aware that if you had seen anything wrong you would have spoken out, to our hostess at the very least. But I need to narrow down the possibilities for Lady Chadbon, and understand who was where, and when. Largely for their own good, of course.”

“Of course,” Miss Nye repeated, with just a hint of sardonic humor that made Kate both warier and more respectful. “Since you ask, I believe Mr. Otteridge went out shortly after you left the drawing room. Then a few minutes later, I myself visited the retirement room. I did not see you there.”

“Oh, I wasn’t there.”

“Neither was anyone else. On my way back to the drawing room, I saw Mr. Newman running upstairs in something of a hurry.”

Kate nodded. Lewis had mentioned him already.

“This reminded me that I wanted to fetch another shawl from my bedchamber, so I did.”