“I’m happy to go get them myself if you just tell me where to look.”
“I can’t help you because I was not the one Lord Halverton gave the bag to.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I thought…” She was certain it had been him, with his footman uniform, sharp jawline and golden eyes he was quite distinctive. “Could you tell me who did take it?”
“I would expect the second footman, Kit, dealt with it.”
“Ah,” she had been right about the uniform. Just the wrong face. “Could you tell me where to find him?”
“If you ring the bell, someone will come up.”
“I don’t want to be a bother. I know you all have work to do.”
“And you think getting under everyone’s feet is less of a bother?”
Aoife was taken aback by the bluntness.
“I’m sorry, have I done something to offend you?”
“Of course not, miss,” he continued to twist the key in the clock, not deigning to look at her.
Aoife didn’t believe him, but it would do no good to press. “It’s just a few small items, no doubt they’re somewhere on the servants’ side of the house in any case. It would surely be a lot more convenient if I just popped down there.”
“If you need something returned,” he said, measured now, “you should speak to the housekeeper. Or to his lordship.”
Aoife sighed, holding back her frustration. “I presume Mrs Harrow is in the servants’ quarters right now.”
“I expect so.”
“In which case, why don’t you tell me the way so I can ask her for the items to be returned.” She felt she had got him there.
He did turn to look at her now. “Mr Lanyon would not approve of my disclosing that information.” He turned to the clock. “Like you said, we all have work to do, and part of our jobs is to respond when you call. You should ring the bell.”
Mr Lanyon appeared then, giving James a scolding look. “Is there anything I can help you with, miss?”
“I was just asking the way to the servants’ side of the house.”
“I see. Well, James is quite right. If you need anything, you should ring the bell.” He gave James a hard look. “Though he could have provided that information more politely.”
James glowered at him before turning to Aoife, a blank mask of politeness in place. “My apologies.”
It looked and sounded genuine, but Aoife was convinced he didn’t mean it.
“Do you by any chance know what happened to my things?”
The butler looked at her blankly.
“I brought a few items with me: a pestle and mortar, some herbs. The other footman took them and I need them.”
“I’m afraid,” the butler said, and her heart sank, “they have most likely already been disposed of.”
“Right, thanks for the help.” She waited a heartbeat longer, watching him, hoping he might cave and provide some actual assistance.
He only stared at her, expression bland as porridge.
Aoife let out a slow sigh and turned away. “Helpful,” she muttered under her breath.
She walked down the corridor with deliberate steps, back straight, pretending she had somewhere purposeful to go.
