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"Did she tell you she was acquainted with Miss McCleethy?"
"No," I answer, somewhat embarrassed."She is mad, and it is difficult to decipher her ramblings. But she was at Saint Victoria's
School for Girls when this terrible misfortune befell her, and we've reason to believe that Miss McCleethy was in their employ at the same time."
"That is curious." Miss Moore says, pouring milk into her tea till the liquid turns a cloudy beige."Do you know that for a fact?"
"No," I admit. "But I've sent an enquiry to their headmistress. I expect to know shortly."
"Then you know nothing, really," Miss Moore says, smoothing her napkin in her lap. "Until you do, I would advise you to be careful with your accusations. They can have unforeseen repercussions."
We look at each other guiltily."Yes, Miss Moore."
"Ann, what have you done there?" she asks.
Ann's been scribbling on a piece of paper. She tries to cover it with her hand."N-nothing."
That's all it takes for Felicity to pull it away.
"Give that back!" Ann whines, trying unsuccessfully to grab it.
Felicity reads aloud. "Hester Moore, Room She Reet." "It is an anagram of your name. Not a very good one," Ann says hotly."Fee, if you please!"
Felicity reads on, undaunted. "O, Set Her More. Set More Hero." Felicity's eyes flash. A feral grin appears. "Er Tom? Eros He,"
It doesn't matter that it makes no sense. It is that Tom and Eros have been combined in the same sentence that has humiliated Ann to no end. She snatches it back. Others in the tearoom have noted our childish behavior, and I'm terribly embarrassed that our visit has ended on such a note. Miss Moore will probably never invite us on an outing again.
Indeed, she checks her pocket watch."I should be seeing you girls home."
In the cab, Miss Moore says, "I do hope you have no further acquaintance with the water nymphs. They sound particularly gruesome."
"That makes two of us," Ann says, shivering.
"Perhaps you can bring me into the story. I should like to fight the nymphs, I think." Miss Moore adopts a mock heroic face. It makes us laugh. I am relieved. I've so enjoyed our day; I should hate to think there will not be another like it.
When Ann and Felicity are safely home again, we travel the short distance to Belgrave Square. Miss Moore takes in the sight of the lovely house.
"Would you like to come in and meet Grandmama?" I ask.
"Another time, perhaps." She looks a bit worried. "Gemma, do you really distrust this Miss McCleethy?"
"There is something unsettling about her," I answer. "I cannot say what it is."
Miss Moore nods. "Very well. I shall make enquiries of my own. Perhaps it is nothing at all, and we shall laugh at how silly we've all been. In the meantime, you might do well to be wary of her."
"Thank you, Miss Moore," I say." Thank you for everything."
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
WHEN I COME THROUGH THE DOOR, MRS. JONES IS beside herself."Your grandmother is expecting you in the parlor, miss. She said for you to come the moment you arrived. "'
Mrs. Jones sounds so dire that I am afraid something terrible has happened to Father or Tom. I burst into the parlor to see Grandmama sitting with Lady Denby and Simon. I have just come in from the cold. My nose is on the verge of dripping from the sudden warmth of the room. I will it to stop.
"Lady Denby and Mr. Middleton have come to pay us a call, Gemma,'' Grandmama says with a panicked smile as she takes in my rough appearance."We shall wait for you to dress so that you can receive them."
It is not a request.
Once I am presentable, we take a stroll in Hyde Park. Lady Denby and Grandmama trail behind us, allowing Simon and me a chance to talk while also being chaperoned.
