Gertie heaved a heavy sigh and shoved herself up from the chair. “I’ll do me best, m’m, but it ain’t going to be bloody easy.”
Cecily smiled, though it was the last thing she felt like doing. “I know you’ll manage just fine. You’re bringing them to the pantomime tonight, aren’t you?”
“Yes, m’m. They’re really excited about it. Though the way things are going I wouldn’t be surprised if Mrs. Fortescue blows up the ballroom or something.”
Cecily winced. “Don’t even think it.”
“No, m’m. Thank you, m’m.” Gertie dropped a curtsey then trudged to the door. She had almost reached it when she paused, then spun around. “Oh, I almost forgot, what with everything else going on.” She paused again, looked as if she was about to say something, then apparently changed her mind. “Never mind, m’m. I’ll take care of it.”
Sensing that something else was troubling her housemaid, Cecily felt compelled to pursue the matter. “Take care of what, Gertie?”
“It’s… well, I don’t like to tell tales and all, but…”
With infinite patience, Cecily waited.
“Well, it’s that Sid Barrett.” The rest of her words came out in a rush. “He’s making a nuisance of himself, m’m. I mean, he keeps getting in our way, chatting us up, trying to get a rise out of us. I think he’s bothering the other girls, too, from what I hear.”
Cecily sighed. She had suspected as much. She might have known the new footman was too good to be true. “Thank you, Gertie, for letting me know. I’ll see that Sidney behaves himself in future.”
“Yes, m’m. Thank you, m’m.” She looked anxious. “I don’t want to get him into trouble or anything. I just want him to stop bothering us.”
“I’ll take care of it, Gertie.”
“Thank you, m’m. Then I’ll get back to me work.” Reaching the door, she looked back. “I just hope we get all this sorted out in the next day or two, or this could be the worst Christmas I ever spent at the Pennyfoot.”
As Cecily watched the door close behind her, she was inclined to agree.
Gertie walked slowly back to the foyer, her brain buzzing with questions. She needed to see Dan in the worst way. She needed answers, reassurance from him. Yet there was no way of knowing if he would tell her the truth.
What would she do if she found out that he’d killed Ian? She’d just about die, that’s what. She couldn’t imagine going on without him. Yet she’d have to, for the sake of her twins.
How could she get through Christmas, pretending to be happy and excited when all the time all this turmoil was going on inside her mind?
They had to find out what really happened. Even if it wasn’t what she wanted to hear. It was the not knowing that was killing her.
Deep in thought, she reached the foyer, then jerked to a halt as a short, bald-headed man stepped into her path. Recognizing Archibald Parker, she did her best to look pleasant. “Can I help you, sir?”
“Yes, yes, I hope so.” Archie glanced around the foyer, as if looking for someone, but the only person visible was Philip, the clerk, half hidden behind the reception desk. “I… had a word with Mrs. B. about this, and I thought I’d mention it to you, as well.” His nose twitched violently, and his mustache seemed to dance in unison as he gazed at her. “I would like a bed warmer in my bed tonight.”
Gertie frowned, wondering if he was being fresh, or simply meant that he wanted a warming pan.
Archie looked worried. “Mrs. B. said it would be all right. Perhaps you could bring it up after the pantomime? I can’t go to sleep when my bed is so cold.”
Deciding to give him the benefit of the doubt, Gertie nodded. “I’ll see to it, Mr. Parker. I won’t be bringing it up myself as I’ll have other duties to attend to, but I’ll make sure that one of the footmen warms your bed for you tonight.”
“Oh, thank you. Thank you.” Archie beamed at her. “I shall look forward to a good night’s sleep, then.”
“Very well, sir.” Gertie was about to pass, when he stopped her with a hand on her arm. “I’m so sorry to hear about your loss.”
She paused, with a heavy thud of her heart. “I beg your pardon?”
“Your loss. I know you weren’t married to the deceased, but he was the father of your children, am I right?”
Lost for words, she could only stare at him.
“Must have been a dreadful shock. I don’t suppose you know who did it?”
Gertie finally found her voice. “No, sir. I don’t. Even if I did, I really don’t see as how it’s any of your business.” She twisted away from his grasp and marched off, with his wheedling voice following her.
“I didn’t mean any offense! Please forgive me if I upset you!”
Stomping down the stairs she muttered to herself under her breath. Nosy bleeding busybody. How the heck was she supposed to put everything out of her mind if everyone in the world knew about the murder and kept trying to talk to her about it?
Doing her best to curb her temper, she marched down the hallway to her room. This time, all was quiet as she reached it. Daisy must have found something to keep the twins occupied.
Opening the door, the first thing she saw was her nanny lying on the bed with her book propped up in front of her. The second thing she saw was Lillian and James on the floor. A pile of building blocks lay between them, and resplendent, in the middle of them, stood a tall, ornate candlestick.
CHAPTER 14
“I’m going out for a little while,” Cecily announced, as Baxter unfolded the daily newspaper. “I thought I’d do a spot of shopping.”
“Oh, right.” He started to fold up the newspaper again. “I’ll come with you.”
“I’d rather you didn’t, dear.” She smiled to take away the sting of her words. “Actually I was hoping to find a very special Christmas present for you.”
“Oh.” His expression said that she’d left it a little late, which wasn’t like her at all.
“I already have your presents,” she hurried to explain. “This one will be a little extra.”
Curiosity crept across his face. “Well, now you’ll have to give me a hint.”
“Certainly not!” She finished tying her scarf over her hat and picked up her muff. “It’s supposed to be a surprise and I’m not going to spoil it, so you’ll just have to wait until Christmas morning.”
“Oh, very well.” He opened the newspaper again. “Samuel taking you, then?”
“Yes, dear.”
“You won’t be late for supper, I hope. You haven’t forgotten the pantomime is tonight?”
“Of course not, dear. How could I?”
“Good. I wouldn’t want to be there without you.”
“There’s no fear of that.” She bent over and planted a kiss on his cheek. “I’ll be back before you know it.”
He grunted an answer and she hurried to the door, thankful he hadn’t asked too many questions. She really hated to lie. As it was, as long as she actually bought something for him, she could convince herself she’d told him the truth.
For, one thing she was sure of, if she told him where she was really going, he’d have made no bones about his disapproval, and she was in no mood for an argument.
Samuel was waiting for Cecily in the foyer when she arrived there, and she wasted no time in hurrying outside. She had only an hour or so to achieve her purpose, and return in time for supper.
The wind had died down, and rain spattered on the roof and windows of the carriage as they sped down the Esplanade toward the town. Wreaths of fir and holly hung from every gas lamp along the seafront. Light from the windows of the little shops spilled across the wet pavements, and people stood huddled in front of the bay windows or hurried in and out the doors.
