Page 49 of The Devil’s Lair

I spin around. Alice is at the bottom of the hill in front of the house, waving one arm, with Daisy tucked underneath the other. Relief floods through me. “Oh, thank God.” I grasp Isla’s hand, and we trudge down the hill toward Alice. “You’re a lifesaver.”

“I saw Isla take a tumble from the kitchen window and Daisy take off. She knows me, so I called her, and she came. Goodness, you’re both freezing. Why don’t you come in and have a cup of tea and some cake? I’ve got a fire going.”

“Are you sure? I don’t want to disturb you.”

“Disturb me? My dear, you’d be doing me a favor. It gets lonely out here all by myself.”

Of course. Her husband George is in what amounts to a cell beneath Oakleigh. Whatever I do, I mustn’t ask her about him. I’d hate her to think Tobias had gossiped and I was here mining for details. Whatever crimes her husband committed, she’s a complete innocent who doesn’t deserve to suffer. She seems like such a lovely lady, too, who’s being kind to me. Two bouts of kindness in the space of a few hours. I’m not sure what to do with that.

“Then, we’d love to. I hadn’t realized we’d been out so long.”

“We’ll get you warm and fed, then I’ll drive you back to the main house. It’s not far by car.”

I’m about to refuse when it starts snowing again. Decision made. “That would be lovely.”

She leads us inside the house. I take off Isla’s coat and boots, then mine, leaving the coats over the banister and the boots by the front door. Daisy’s snuggled up by the fire when we enter the living room.

I narrow my eyes at her. “Bad girl, running off like that.”

She stands, turns in a circle the way dogs do, then lies back down, unbothered by my scolding. Isla drops to her knees and begins stroking Daisy’s fur.

“I’ll make the tea,” Alice says. “You two get warm and comfortable.”

I rub my hands together, warming them over the fire. It’s a nice place, cozy, and far smaller than Oakleigh. I can’t help but wonder if George lived out here because he knew what he’d done to Tobias’s mother and was lying low. He must’ve had a right to live at the main house. Although what do I know about the dynamics of wealthy families?

Alice returns with a tray loaded with tea and cakes, plus a juice box for Isla. She sets it on the table and pours me a mug. “Get that down you. It’ll warm you right up. Here you go, Isla. Which cake would you like? I have chocolate, raspberry, or lemon cupcakes.”

Isla points at the chocolate one. Alice peels off the paper wrapper and hands it to her.

“Careful with the crumbs, Isla.”

“She’s okay. A few crumbs never hurt anyone.” Alice sits on a chair nearest the fire while I take the couch, wrapping my hands around the mug to warm them.

“Thank you for grabbing Daisy. I don’t know what I’d have done if I’d lost her. Vicky would never have forgiven me.”

“Of course she would. You’re family. That’s what families do. Besides, we’d have found her eventually. The estate is huge, but we have staff everywhere, and the perimeter is well guarded. She wouldn’t have made it far before someone picked her up.”

“Even so, she’s my responsibility. I’d still have felt awful.”

“All’s well that ends well.” Alice adds two spoonfuls of sugar to her tea and stirs. “Besides, it’s given us a chance to get to know one another.” She puts down the spoon and picks up her mug. “Tell me about yourself.”

“There’s not much to tell, honestly.”

“I’m sure that isn’t true. Tobias wouldn’t have picked you for his wife if you weren’t an utter delight.”

Does she not know how we met? Is it her understanding that we’re somehow in love? If it is, I can’t allow her to continue thinking along those lines.

“Tobias is a lovely man with a kind heart, but we’re not… in love. It’s a marriage of convenience.”

Alice throws her head back and laughs. “My dear, every single De Vil marriage is one of convenience. They’re all arranged in one way or another.” She grows wistful. “Except for me and George.”

By mentioning him, she’s opened the door to a question or two and helped divert attention away from me. I hate talking about myself. “Where did you meet?”

Alice’s eyes light up. “In Japan. I was over there working for an international bank, and we were out to dinner one evening when George bumped into me. Literally.” She chuckles. “I was on my way to the ladies’ room when he came around the corner at a clip and almost knocked me off my feet. He apologized, insisted on buying me a drink, and the rest is history.”

I’m mulling over a reply when Alice speaks again.

“Whatever Tobias has told you, George isn’t a bad man, you know. Just… misguided.”