A Marquess, A Miss And A Mystery. Annie Burrows

she was here at Theakstone Court? Her heart gave a funny little kick in her chest. She studied his face carefully.

      He gave her a surreptitious wink.

      If she was going to prove that she could work with him in an active role, then she was going to have to pick up little hints like that and run with them. Although she had no idea what his plan was, he looked as though he definitely had one.

      And if she didn’t want to end up trying to track down Herbert’s killer on her own, then she supposed she would have to follow his lead.

      ‘I do think it might help if I could be useful to you, Miss Underwood,’ she therefore said, ‘in some way. I know I must be a most difficult guest to have at such an event and the last thing I want is to cast any shadow over your enjoyment.’

      ‘And I just happen to know that Miss Underwood is in dire need of help,’ said Lord Devizes, with a knowing smile.

      ‘Oh?’

      All three ladies turned to him. And as they did so it occurred to Horatia that they must look exactly the way all the other ladies looked when they gathered round him. As if they were hanging on his every word. Though at least none of them had silly looks of admiration on their faces while they were doing it.

      ‘Yes, I have just learned that the nursery is in a state of chaos.’

      The nursery? What did she know of nurseries? Or children of any sort, come to that?

      ‘Lady Twickenham informs me that there is no resident governess to preside. I imagine that the children must be behaving like little savages while the visiting governesses are battling it out for supremacy.’

      Miss Underwood clasped her hands at her breast. ‘I deny...that is, I cannot be everywhere at once...’

      ‘On second thoughts,’ said Lord Devizes, giving her a considering look, ‘perhaps Miss Carmichael is not the best person to put in charge of such a task. After all, what can a spinster know of children? Or what might keep them out of mischief?’

      This calculatedly disparaging remark immediately caused both Miss Underwood and Lady Elizabeth to leap to her defence.

      ‘I am sure Horatia is perfectly capable of restoring order over some squabbling servants,’ said Lady Elizabeth loyally.

      ‘Most governesses are unmarried ladies, you know, of good birth and...’ said Miss Underwood at the same time.

      Lord Devizes raised his hands, as though in surrender. And then sauntered away, a satisfied smile curving his lips in a way that made Horatia simultaneously want to slap him and applaud him for the masterful way he’d just manipulated them into installing her into the very arena he wished her, for some reason, to investigate.