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Chapter Five
“You have a visitor, Lady Eleanor,” the butler said.
Eleanor looked up from the book she’d been reading by the open window in the drawing room. She wasn’t expecting a visitor. She didn’t recall her father telling her that someone sent a request to see her. Before she could reply, Mr. Tumilson appeared in the doorway of the room.
She narrowed her eyes at him. “I didn’t ask to speak with you today,” she told him.
The butler’s eyes grew wide, and he shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other. “Would you like me to tell him to leave?”
“You can’t do that,” Mr. Tumilson told the butler. “What I have to say is important.”
The butler glanced between them uneasily.
She let out a frustrated groan and slipped the metal tag in her book so she wouldn’t lose her place. “Very well.” She gestured for the butler to leave. “You may go. I’ll deal with the insufferable oaf myself.”
Mr. Tumilson waited until the butler left before he turned his attention back to her. “Insufferable oaf? I take great offense to that.”
She stood up and walked over to him. “I don’t know why you should since all you do is criticize me.” The second dance they’d had hadn’t been any better than the first. All he’d done was harp on the fact that her father had a right to be concerned as if she was too stupid to know when her life was in danger or not.
“I wasn’t criticizing you. I was merely pointing things out. You haven’t solved cases before. I have. I know what to look for.”
“So you said during the second dance.” Over and over. “Why are you here?”
“I’m here to resolve the matter of your foul mood.”
“Foul mood?” She put her hand on her chest. “You think I’m the one with the foul mood?”
“Well, your attitude isn’t helping anything.”
She gritted her teeth. She would not throw the book at him. It was a good book. It didn’t deserve the abuse.
He shook his head. “I’ve never had so much trouble with someone I’ve been hired to protect. I’ve been a Runner for sixteen years. I’m not a novice at this. You would do well to heed my advice. It’ll make this a lot easier.”
Before she could reply, her father came into the room. “The butler said you were here.” He went over to Mr. Tumilson. “Did you find out something?”
Mr. Tumilson’s attention went to her father. “Yes, I did. Your daughter is not cooperating with me. Unless that changes, it will make it more difficult for me to figure out who intends to harm her.”
“You can’t put the blame on me,” Eleanor argued. “I’m more than willing to cooperate so as long as the person I’m dealing with is reasonable.”
Mr. Tumilson looked insulted. “I’m completely reasonable. There has never been a time in my life when I haven’t been diligent in everything I’ve said and done. I’m not prone to rushing into things like most people are.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “I didn’t do anything wrong last evening.”
“You refused to smile while we were dancing.” Mr. Tumilson turned to her father. “I don’t know if you noticed, but your daughter didn’t pretend to enjoy my company like she was instructed to.”
“It’s hard to pretend to be with someone when that person is high in the instep.”
Mr. Tumilson gasped. “I am not haughty. I’ll have you know I’m one of the humblest people you’ll ever meet.”
She gave her father a pointed look. Surely, now her father would realize he’d made a terrible mistake when he hired Mr. Tumilson. They would be better off with another Runner.
Her father rubbed his chin in a thoughtful manner. “I did get the impression you two didn’t get along all that well, but I figured it was a light matter.”
“It is not a light matter,” Mr. Tumilson said. “If she doesn’t cooperate with me, it’ll hinder my work.”
Her father glanced her way. “He makes a good argument. How can he find out who’s trying to kill you if you don’t follow his advice?”
She didn’t hide her irritation as she went over to her father. “I wouldn’t mind following his advice if he could manage to be civil while giving it.”
