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“I assure you it was. Time is of the essence,” Guy said, following close behind.
Phineas glanced over at Hawthorne with a scowl on his face. “Would you have just stood by and let him shoot me?”
“I would have,” Hawthorne said.
Guy stepped over to the window. “I don’t believe in coincidences, so I must assume that your grandmother’s poisoning and Miss Locke’s abduction are related.”
“And what do you base this on?” Phineas scoffed. “Your experience as a banker?”
Ignoring Phineas’ snide comment, Guy said, “Miss Locke mentioned that Sarah delivered Lady Frances her tea this morning. Do you have any reason to suspect that she would want to poison your grandmother?”
“None,” Phineas said. “Sarah is much too kindhearted to poison anyone.”
“Let me be the judge of that,” Guy stated. “I wish to speak to her at once.”
Phineas walked over to the door and shouted, “Inform Sarah I wish to speak to her!” He turned back towards them. “I can assure you that speaking to Sarah is a waste of time.”
“What is your relationship with her?” Guy pressed.
“I may have had a dalliance with her,” Phineas remarked, “but when my grandmother found out, she made me end things with Sarah.”
“How did Sarah take the news?” Hawthorne asked.
Phineas winced. “Not well, but we have since made up.”
“What does that mean?” Hawthorne prodded.
Phineas grew indignant. “I see nothing wrong with having a harmless flirtation with Sarah, especially since she knows there can be no future between us. We have just become more discreet.”
“I see that some things haven’t changed,” Guy said.
Hawthorne glanced curiously at him. “What does that mean?”
“Phineas had a relationship with one of the maids at Eton,” Guy revealed. “It ended when the maid was found to be increasing and was dismissed from her post.”
Phineas sat down on the settee. “I vaguely recall that.”
Guy shook his head. “You may not remember her, but I have no doubt that she remembers you each and every day as she rears your child.”
“No one forced her hand,” Phineas said with a wave of his own.
Guy had a sudden urge to take his pistol out and shoot the man. Not to kill him, but just to wound him in the most excruciating way possible. He couldn’t believe the callousness the man had for others, and how he refused to take responsibility for his own actions.
Before he could act on his impulse, a blonde maid walked hesitantly into the room. “You asked to see me, Mr. Amesbury?”
“I did, Sarah.” Phineas rose and gestured towards an upholstered armchair. “Please take a seat while these gentlemen ask you a few questions.”
Sarah went to sit down in the chair and watched them with wide eyes. “Is something wrong?”
Guy walked closer to her and folded his arms over his chest. “Were you aware that Lady Frances was poisoned?”
Sarah gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. “I hadn’t heard that,” she said. “That is terrible news.”
“You were the one who delivered the tea to Lady Frances this morning, were you not?” he asked, not convinced by her reaction.
“I was.”
“Did you notice anything unusual about the tea?”
