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If she ran into anyone, she would need to point them away from her father’s room. She had never encountered him being angry or secretive before. His annoyance at the breakfast table had frightened her a little.
She saw no one. She slipped into his room, to find his valet, putting her father’s frock coats away.
“My father was looking for you,” she said. He nodded, bowing to her.
“Thank you, My Lady.” He walked out, leaving her alone by the door. She waited until he was out of sight. She had never spied on her father before. To do so felt like it was completely out of line. Her heart was racing, her pulse loud in her ears.
She entered her father’s room, going over to his bedside table. She opened the drawer. Inside, there was a leather bible. She opened the front flap. There, she found a letter, but it was not in Mr. Conolly’s hand. She put it back, exactly where she’d found it.
She then noticed that the valet had left the jacket that her father had worn to breakfast, out to be cleaned. She placed her hand into the pocket on the inside, just over her father’s heart. She pulled out Mr. Conolly’s letter.
She unfolded it, her hands shaking a little in anticipation of answered questions. But what she read only left her with even more.
Your Grace,
I have spoken with Matthew Rapson, as well as his current employer. Rapson was in London at the time of the vandalism. His employer has given him a solid alibi. Not to mention, Rapson is illiterate. I do not believe him capable of the act in its entirety.
Rapson? She knew the former stable hand. Not well, however, he had always seemed very kind. That her father had suspected him was odd—she had been told that he’d left their employ of his own accord.
If you have any further leads for me to follow up on, I would be happy to do so. Rapson hinted that he was not the only employee to be upset with you. Do you know anything of this?
Enclosed is a bill for the time this week.
She unfolded the bill. Mr. Conolly had, apparently, spent three hours that week in following up leads for her father. Quickly, she folded both up and slipped them back into the pocket.
Arabella peered out of the room. The hallway was deserted, so she stepped out, making her way back to her own room, a few doors down. Annette looked up from where she was setting out Arabella’s dress for dinner later.
“My Lady,” she said, curtsying.
“Can I ask you a question, Annette,” she asked, sinking down into the armchair by the window. It was, like most of the furniture, upholstered in a dark crimson velvet.
“Of course, My Lady,” Annette replied. As she said it, her eyes widened. Arabella studied Annette closely. She was surprised to find her look so…nervous.
“Do you know of any servants who have been wronged by my father?” she asked, daring to ask.
“Do you mean who might have been inclined to write a message on the wall?” Annette asked, knowingly.
“Yes,” Arabella replied.
“Can it remain between us, My Lady?” Annette asked. “I don’t want to lose my job.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t utter a word,” she stated sincerely. “I merely want to get to the bottom of this. My father’s hiding something. I want to know what it is.”
Annette looked away from her. Arabella waited while her lady’s maid gathered her thoughts.
“To tell you the God’s honest truth, My Lady,” Annette said. “That list is far longer than I can account for.”
Arabella tugged on one of her curls. “Thank you for your honesty,” she said.
“Of course, My Lady,” she replied. “If you need, I can make a list.”
“Would you? It may help,” Arabella said. Annette nodded. “I can give it to Mr. Conolly, who seems to be looking into it.”
“Give me a few days,” she said. “So I can make sure I haven’t missed anyone.” She turned back to her work.
Arabella lost herself in thought, turning so that she was looking out the window, which overlooked the grounds of Norton. Far off, she could see her father, dressed in his dark riding coat. He was on one of Lord Norton’s hunters.
She was surprised at Annette’s response. Her father had always treated everyone with respect and courtesy. Annette hinted that there was a side to him that Arabella didn’t know.
