“However,” he said, resuming his disciplined military neutrality. “Your idea is not without merit. If we put you into a situation where he has to get in close to you to kill you, meaning we control how he can approach you and how close he can get, we may be able to catch him before you are harmed.”
Eugenia brightened with hope. “Like an enclosed room? With you hiding inside?”
“Exactly.”
Pacing again, Eugenia pondered. “If I start going to a certain place every day at the same time, our villain might be tempted to kill me there, as I have established a routine. The library?”
“My father likes to spend his time there,” Lady Helena said. “I do not believe that will work.”
“But he is not there during meals,” Eugenia said. “Perhaps we can put it about that I have permission from you to read there for two hours every time as you dine at luncheon.”
Lady Helena nodded, growing enthusiastic. “And as His Grace is fond of you, he will no doubt grant you permission as well.”
“Then it will take a few days to establish that new routine,” Mr. Oldman said. “However, your reputation is at risk, Miss Betham, as I would be in a closed room with you without a chaperone present.”
Eugenia gazed at Lady Helena, close to despair. “I should not care about my reputation,” she said, plaintive. “This is far more important than me being closeted with a man not my husband.”
“That is not true,” Lady Helena replied firmly. “It is very important for you to maintain a clean reputation. However, I have an idea. Your friend from the kitchen can join you. Perhaps under the guise that you are teaching her to read and write.”
Eugenia laughed with joy. “Mr. Simmons may not mind that. I will ask him at supper tonight. I believe Deryn would adore learning to read.”
Mr. Oldman shook his head, reluctant. “But the lower classes have no need to read or write. I myself do not know how. How will you convince His Grace, or even the cook, to permit it?”
“Perhaps that I wish to employ her,” Lady Helena replied. “That I like her enough to want her to learn so that I can use her as a secretary after I am married.”
He nodded, half shrugging. “Then I will return to my duties outside your chambers.” Mr. Oldman bowed to Lady Helena and then offered a shorter one to Eugenia. He smiled. “You have courage enough to become a soldier, Miss Betham, and I am honored to help you.”
“Thank you, Mr. Oldman,” she replied, blushing. “I am so very glad you have agreed to help us. I know I am safe in your hands.”
* * *
Deryn bent over the child’s primer, following each letter with her finger. “A,” she spoke carefully, “B.”
She hesitated over the next one.
“C,” Eugenia told her. “As in the word ‘cat.’”
“C.”
Though their plan had been met with skepticism from the Duke, he shrugged and said he did not mind if one of his kitchen maids learned to read and write if it meant a better future for her, nor did Mr. Simmons offer any objections. Deryn herself was overjoyed to be taught her letters and gave Eugenia a teary hug. Mr. Oldman stood within the library with them but remained concealed behind the door.
Lady Helena helped make certain that it became well known that Eugenia spent two hours every day during the luncheon hours in the library. Yet, for three days nothing at all happened, and Eugenia began to wonder if the plan to be the murderer’s bait would work at all. Still, Deryn learned more quickly than she anticipated, and she enjoyed the time teaching her. She felt safe with Mr. Oldman there guarding her.
“Now the letter ‘D,’” Eugenia explained, drawing it as she spoke, “would begin the word ‘dog’. This is what it looks like.”
As Deryn painstakingly drew it on the slate with chalk, Eugenia praised her efforts. “Very good. Pretty soon, we will be working on sentences.”
“What is a sentence?”
As Eugenia described how words strung together made a sentence, she noticed Mr. Oldman listening closely. She smiled to herself. All through the lessons with Deryn, she observed him following along.
After we catch this lunatic, perhaps Max will not mind if I teach him to read, as well. It is quite apparent he wants to learn.
He, too, might advance in Maximilian’s household if he learned.
Their two hours nearly up, Eugenia wiped the slate clean as Deryn lovingly placed the primers carefully on the shelf. From the corner of her eye, she saw the door to the library opening. Her first rapid thought was that Earl Whitington had arrived for his afternoon of reading. But she caught a glimpse of a dark cloak with the hood pulled down low and froze into place.
He came. He is here to kill me.
