He glanced at the stairs, but made no move to ascend.
“I assume the constables arrived,” I added, “and that’s why you’re here?”
Christopher nodded, smoothing down his lapels and situating the jacket across his shoulders.“Tom came down to say that they had requested his help, since he’s here.So he stayed.”
I nodded.“What now?”
“Upstairs,” Christopher said, “if you don’t mind.”
He tucked his hand through my arm and pulled me towards the staircase.“We shall see you for supper, Crispin.”
Crispin blinked.“Certainly, Kit.”
I glanced at him over my shoulder as Christopher pulled me towards the stairs, and the look he gave me was as confused as the feeling that permeated my own being.
ChapterSixteen
“Did you and Tom have a spat?”I inquired as we reached the top of the staircase and Christopher dithered for a moment before turning left.
He flicked me a look.“Whatever do you mean?”
“Something is wrong,” I said bluntly.“You don’t usually carry me off by myself the moment you come inside unless something is wrong.You have to forgive me if I suppose you’ve had a disagreement.”
He shook his head.“No disagreement.”
“If not that, then what?Didn’t want to see the corpse again?”
It was hard to blame him for that.I had been happy to get out of the carriage house and away from the dead man, too.
“I don’t mind the corpse,” Christopher said, and then made a face.“What am I saying?Of course I mind the corpse.But no, that’s not why.”
He steered me around the corner and down the west wing towards my room.The hallway was empty now.Laetitia was long gone, as of course she would be.It occurred to me to wonder whether she was inside her room, and if so, whether she could hear us.It didn’t occur to me until after the words, “What, then?”had fallen out of my mouth, however.
I followed it up immediately with, “Never mind.”
Christopher nodded.“Best wait until we’re inside.”
He opened the door to my bedchamber and scanned the room before pushing me through the doorway.I arched my brows again, but went.He followed, and shut the door behind us.
“I don’t know how we can make it any more secure,” I told him over my shoulder.“If you have a secret to tell me, we may have been better off outside.”
“We may have been, at that.But we’re here now.”He gestured to the bed.“I suppose we’ll simply have to whisper.”
“You’re worrying me,” I said, as he folded down next to me.
“I’m worried myself.”
But that was all he said.After some seconds had ticked by in silence, I prodded.“What are you worried about, Christopher?Are you certain nothing’s going on with Tom?”
“Nothing’s going on with Tom,” Christopher said.“Nothing like what you’re thinking, at any rate.He’s fine, as far as I know.And he came running when I rang him up, so I’d say everything is hunky-dory.Other than the ostentation of dead bodies, of course.”
Yes, other than that.“I believe what you’re talking about is an ostentation of peacocks, but never mind that.If not Tom, then what is it?”
“It’s Crispin,” Christopher said.
I furrowed my brows.“What about him?”
He glanced at me.“I’m worried that he’s mixed up in this.”
