“Then, if you ladies will excuse me, I must get back toLinfield.”
Mark kissed Emily’s hand and his sister on the cheek andleft.
Alice and Emily were left alone and they just looked at each other—both seeming to be in a state ofwonderment.
Then Alice snapped back and said, “Silas has long coveted a painting of mine that I have refused to sell him. I shall write him a note and suggest that I am willing to sell the painting to him, but I have another buyer who is willing to take it from me immediately. That should get him over here posthaste.”
“What a conniving family you all are,” Emily said with alaugh.
“Are wenot!”
* * *
Alice had invited Silas to tea at four o’clock to discuss the painting, if he was still interested. She had had no reply to her hand-delivered note, so both Emily and she were on tenterhooks as they waited to see if he would showup.
Just before four o’clock, a carriage pulled up in front of the house and from the front window, Alice could see it wasSilas.
“You best wait in my study. If he sees you, he will be on guard. And I need him to bevulnerable.”
“Oh, no, I want to hear everything that transpires, and if he lies, I am ready to pounce,” Emily saiddefiantly.
“Very well, then. There is the wood closet next to the fireplace. Hide there and listen.” Alice laughed. “And I believe I would do the samething.”
Emily entered the wood closet but kept the door ajar just enough to see and hear what mighttranspire.
The housemaid ushered Silas into the room, hat in hand. Alice was seated at the piano, playing a simpletune.
“Alice, goodafternoon.”
“Silas,” she said, showing nothing of herintentions.
Silas went over and stood before the painting he coveted. “So, you have finally agreed to sell this tome?”
“Perhaps. I have had a very generous offer from an art dealer, and I am tempted. But as you have always expressed such an interest in that painting, I decided to let you have the firstrefusal.”
“And what is the gentlemanoffering?”
“Fivehundred.”
Silas sucked in air. “Oh, that is far beyond what I consider it to be worth,” he said, turning to faceAlice.
“Very well, then it shall behis.”
“Wait, not so fast,” Silas insisted, moving closer toher.
Alice rang the small bell on top of the piano and the maidappeared.
“We shall have tea now,please.”
“Yes,ma’am.”
Alice rose from the piano and went to the tea table by the fireplace. From there it was easy for Emily to see and hear the conversation without revealingherself.
Alice engaged Silas in light banter until the tea was served and they had settled into a comfortable conversation. Then Alice paused and eased into herattack.
“By the way, Uncle, what has brought you to London? I seem to remember you saying over the weekend, that you had business at home thisweek.”
Silas shifted uncomfortably in his chair and hesitated before saying, “An urgent matter came up that demanded my presence inLondon.”
