As he lay in a bed in the Minkerton’s house, he replayed every moment of what had happened. Had it been a man who had pulled him down?
It must have been. His ankle had not teeth marks, nor the slime one might expect from a creature with tentacles. It had not felt like something otherworldly. It had felt like the grip of a hand.
If it were a man, why? Had it been some sort of joke and now the prankster failed to come forward on account of it going wrong?
And what about the pole he’d seen so briefly, breaking the surface and disappearing again?
What was the purpose of what had happened?
As he scoured his memory, one thought kept nagging. He’d had to fight hard to break free. There had been no indication that there was a plan to let go of him. No indication that it had been a joke.
If itweresome sort of prank, he could see how a man might think it hilarious to grab and let go—to surprise and shock with no harm done. But to hold him down for so long…
If someone did mean him serious harm, he had a sinking feeling it might have to do with his guardianship of Miss Danworth. From the letters that continued to arrive, it was plain enough that the last thing these fellows wanted was a guardian on the scene.
Of course there was always Lieutenant Farthmore lurking in the back of his mind. He’d wondered if the fool would challenge him. Perhaps Farthmore had decided that would be too much trouble and had decided to drown him instead.
Charles stopped himself. He was allowing his thoughts to run away from him. There might be scores of fellows who wished to take their chance at Miss Danworth’s dowry, but none of them would resort to murder. It was too ridiculous. As for Farthmore, he could not imagine the drunken idiot was up to enacting a scheme so athletic.
Once he had dismissed that idea from his mind, he allowed himself to consider the more pleasant recollection of Miss Danworth’s person in a damp dress. It was wrong and ungentlemanly, but shehadlooked rather marvelous. It was not as if he’d spied inside her bathing machine, after all. Further, it was hard not to be gratified that she’d hurried herself in such a manner on his account.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The afternoon had stretched on after Lord Dalton had been transported to the Minkerton’s house and Miss Minkerton had taken her leave. Daisy and Mrs. Jellops sat sewing, though neither of them made much progress. Mrs. Jellops, especially, was unlikely to get much done, as her poor pudgy fingers trembled each time she took up a needle.
As the lady sighed and discontentedly stared at her needle and then sighed again, Daisy said, “You must not allow this accident to discompose you so very much. I am sure Lord Dalton will make a full recovery.”
Mrs. Jellops laid down her sewing and said, “I do not doubt it. But something evil has transpired, I feel it in my bones.”
“You do not believe in sea creatures?” Daisy said.
“No, certainly not. At least, I hope not. But if Lord Dalton told that boy he was pulled down. Well…”
“I will stay away from bathing, at least for now,” Daisy said. “I do not wish you to be upset.”
“It is not just that,” Mrs. Jellops said. “We’ve been left to fend for ourselves and I do not like it.”
“The watchmen will come at sunset,” Daisy said hopefully.
“Yes, I suppose so. I only feel so uneasy!” Mrs. Jellops said. “There was something calming about knowing Lord Dalton was just across the lawn. He is so strong and well I thought…dependable. I know I am being a ninny.”
“No,” Daisy said, “you are not. I feel it too. I think the best we can do is have an early dinner and we can sleep together, just as we have done in the past when we had need of comfort.”
Finally, Mrs. Jellops seemed to calm. “Of course, that is precisely what we will do. We will close the curtains and lock the bedchamber door. We will have each other for company and that will ease us both.”
“And perhaps we might have Mrs. Broadbent sleep in your room as it is next to mine?” Daisy asked. “I know it would be unusual, but the lady is, well she is so very…”
“Indomitable,” Mrs. Jellops finished. “I heartily agree to that idea. In truth, the lady gives me more comfort than any watchman at the bottom of the drive.”
All matters in Daisy’s household having been arranged, dinner had been served early and Mrs. Broadbent had been ensconced in the chamber next door. According to Betsy, this arrangement had caused a near uproar below stairs, as none of them had ever known a servant, housekeeper though she might be, to stay in the family’s wing.
Mr. Bellamy seemed most opposed on the theory that Mrs. Broadbent would take to crowing over it and reminding everybody that she’d done it. Gerald and Tom were put out because they’d grown used to Mrs. Broadbent’s fussing over them at night, making sure they’d had enough to eat and ordering water heated when they needed a bath. As for the maids, it further cemented in their minds that Mrs. Broadbent was a mysterious creature with unlimited powers.
Daisy could not much bother herself over the upset downstairs, as she was certain she’d made the correct arrangements. With Mrs. Jellops gently snoring next to her and Mrs. Broadbent snoring like thunder next door, she drifted off to sleep.
When she was awoken, she could not say how long she had slept or even what had disturbed her sleep. She sat up cautiously and listened.
Faintly, she heard the creak of a door below her. After years of frightened listening to noises below, she knew the house’s every sound. She was certain it was the door leading into the library.
