He pulled out a chair and sat down. Max followed. The door opened and what looked to be the innkeeper’s wife walked in with a maid behind her, both carrying trays. The maid looked to be an older child and stayed close to the woman.
“M’girl, Lizzy, will serve ye yer ale, while I set your dinner, good sirs. Yer room is ready. Cleaned it meself. Yer things ’ave been taken upstairs. Your chambers be the third and fourth doors on the right. My, trade ’as been brisk today,” she added, smiling. “We ‘ave a small party in this day and are a bit behindhand. My apologies fer any inconvenience. The rooms all latch from the inside.” The short, pudgy woman helped Lizzy set the table.
“The food looks very good. Thank you.” Harlow picked up his glass and sipped. The ale was cool and frothy and tasted good on his parched throat. “’Tis good.” He inclined his head in appreciation.
Both women bobbed a curtsey and left the room.
“I have never had stargazy pie,” Max said after the door closed, “but I’m game to try it.”
“It is a local specialty. I find it tasty, but the fish heads eyeing me thus, do not appeal. I have to close my eyes and eat.”
Max gave a hearty laugh, causing Harlow also to chuckle. They clinked glasses and dug into their repast.
An hour later they made their way to their rooms, stopping first at Harlow’s. They found a note on the small table next to the bed, sealed with a wax letter ‘C’, addressed to Harlow.
Saw you arrive. Meet me at the previously discussed location at seven of the clock. C.
Harlow passed the note to Max.
“Good. Maybe he can shed some light on the widow’s movements. I hope everything can wait until I have at least two hours’ rest,” Max muttered.
“The long ride and a full belly makes me crave sleep.” Harlow nodded agreement. “We have several hours before we need to be there. A nap beckons.” He looked out of the window at the quiet street. “The post office is probably less than half an hour away.”
Max nodded and stopped at the door. “I think we should meet with Avalon soon.”
Visions of Lilian flew across Harlow’s mind. “I agree. I would like to make sure they have arrived safely at home. I sent him a note through Haydon and indicated we would visit today if possible.” What I really want is to see Lilian.
Chapter 13
Lilian sat up and stretching, looked around. She felt refreshed. Nevertheless, it took a moment to get her bearings and realize that she was no longer in that dusty, bumpy coach, or waking up at a coaching inn. Her bedchamber at Elysium Manor was a welcome sight. She adored the Chinese cane furniture her grandmama had given her—a small writing desk, medallion back cane chair and a matching canopy bed. The furniture added to the elegance of the room with its gold on white wood and fabric of sky blue with large ivory and gold flowers. “Waking up in this room always makes me feel cheerful,” she muttered to herself. Determined not to waste a second of the day , she rang for her maid. The sun was shining and a soft breeze from her open window, carrying the smell of roses, stirred her senses. She looked over at Cooper, softly snoring on the pillow next to her.
“Wake up, little fellow!” She nudged him gently, and he stood up and stretched. “That is a funny way to stretch, but I will wager it makes your back feel good. I wish I could stretch in that way.” She loved learning his personality. It had been almost a week, and he had become very comfortable. His neck was almost completely healed, too.
Her foot itched, and she absently threw back the cover and scratched it. The door to her room opened, and Clara walked in, carrying a tray of food. Lilian pulled the cover back.
“Good morning, Clara.” She could not prevent her voice from bubbling with happiness.
“Good morning, m’lady. Ye seem in fine spirits today! I ’ave brought ye breakfast. ’Er ladyship wishes to go to town. She plans to leave in two hours and asked me to make ye and Lady Lydia ready. She wishes ye both to go with her. I let ye sleep as long as I dared—and may I say as how it pleases me it did ye some good,” she said jovially.
Clara set the tray she was carrying on a table. “I ’as brought yer fav’rites—coddled eggs, bacon, buttered toast and a few slices of ham. A good meal is needful to start the day!” Her maid walked to the window and pushed the blue curtains apart, tying them open at the sides.
“It smells delicious.” Lilian sat up. “I would love to go with Mama to town. It will be pleasant to visit the shops. I would like some ribbons and other fripperies to refresh my wardrobe and…” Lilian stopped talking when she realized that her mood was lighter than it had been in months. What has accounted for that? She glanced at her puppy. Cooper sat quietly on the floor, looking up at the tray. “As beggars go, you are very polite, are you not?” she quipped, amused at this aspect of his personality.
Clara uncovered a small white bowl at the back of the tray. “This is fer Cooper. Yer mother suggested I bring his breakfast up here, too.” She cackled. “I have not seen yer Mama take such interest in an animal in an age.” When Lilian raised her brows at this over-familiarity,
