“Really?” Tiffany asked.
Grace laughed. “He lost his leg below the knee. There be naught wrong with him above there. He always was a bonny lad.”
“Oh.” Tiffany blinked, a little nonplussed by the turn the conversation had taken. She picked up her teacup and drank a sip of the minty liquid to cover her confusion.
“Oh, my!” Grace chuckled at the sight of Tiffany’s pink cheeks. “I forgot. You had no brothers.”
“Indeed, I did not,” Tiffany set her cup down. “Do you think that someone could perhaps find Constable Brooks? Do you think I could have a chance to speak with him?”
“I’ll ask Lucas to go around,” Grace said. “I know that he is uneasy about the Marquess. His uncle, Lord Ronald, has come to call. Just arrived this evening.”
“Surely that is a good thing?” Tiffany looked puzzled. “I know Lord Ronald did not care much for me, but he seemed to have Lord Northbury’s best interests at heart.”
“I’d not wish to speak ill of my betters, but Smithers looked very grave when he came down to get My Lord’s dinner, and more worried yet when he was dismissed to get his own. He did not linger over it.”
“Grace, you don’t think that Lord Ronald has anything against Lord Northbury?”
“No, no. But he does fret him with fussing and making comments. I do not think Smithers would take it amiss if retired Constable Brooks were to have a look about. But he is not likely to ask it of him.”
“Then do see if Lucas can make an excuse to get away and go speak with him. Perhaps if someone goes around to his home, he well might be found.”
“It is kindly thought on,” Elizabet said.
“I will see to it,” Grace affirmed. “I think the entire household will breathe easier if we know what has happened. As it stands, all of us are under suspicion. It makes for an uneasy day.”
“I can understand that,” Tiffany said. “I would be grateful if you could let me know what comes of it.”
“I’ll be the bearer of tidings,” Elizabet said. “It will not do for Grace to be seen coming here too often. That could easily lead some’un back to find you.”
“Indeed so,” Grace added. “I’m out visiting a sick family member this night, you see. I do not think that Mrs. Twitchel is in the least fooled, but she did not question it.”
“Mrs. Twitchel is a good sort once you get to know her,” Tiffany commented. “I did not think so until Lord Northbury included her among my teachers. She insists that all be very correct, but I believe that she has a good heart.”
“Now, I have brought some more work for you,” Elizabet said. “It will not do for you to be out and about, but you do stitch right well.”
“I’m better at baking.”
“I know that, girl, and so does more’n half of Northbury. For something you baked to be seen here would be as good as standing on the tower an’ wavin’ a flag an’ shoutin’ ‘Here she is.’ You heed old Elizabet, an’ help us out wit’ tha sewin’. Emily found some newspapers, an’ even a tattered old schoolbook in the rag man’s bins. Mayhap it won’t be what yer used to, but it will while away the time.”
“Thank you, Bet,” Tiffany replied. “I am glad to be of help. I worry that I am endangering you all.”
“Don’t you worry a mite about that,” Elizabet reassured her. “Nor should you fret yourself about His Lordship. I’ll have a word with Constable Brooks. But for now, Grace and I must be off, for I promised to have her back in a timely fashion. Don’t fret. We will see to it all.”
But how can I help but fret? Something dreadful could happen to Percival with no one there to shield him from whoever hurt him. What if he develops an infection? Or he never recovers his memory, or is greatly changed by the blow on his head? How I wish I could be there! I do so very much hate waiting.
Chapter 36
Percival opened his eyes to find his Uncle Ronald glaring at him from the chair on the other side of his sitting room fireplace.
“Well, Nephew, I believe the time has come for me to say, ‘I told you so.’ Did I not say that you would come to regret hiring criminals and street scum?”
“Beg pardon, Uncle?” Percival blinked twice.
“Oh, do not attempt to gammon me, my boy. That woman’s knife was found sticking in your back. What more proof of her perfidy do you need?”
“We have no proof that she was the one who did it, Uncle Ronald.”
“She’s gone, isn’t she? Who but a guilty person would run after such an event?”
