She nodded, then left him with the laundry. She would find a few bits to give him. She made her way to the kitchen. Cooking fat, he said. She took some while the cook was distracted.

Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight

“They streamed out of there like their rumps were on fire.” Jeremy regaled his mother and Minerva in the house’s kitchen while they each drank an inch of port. It was a celebration of the end of their duties at Whiteford House. Jeremy’s pay sat on the table in front of him. The stack of coins would be shared with Beth for a bit of personal spending, but Minerva’s pay would go toward household expenses.

It was the understanding that they had made when they joined their fates five years ago. She paid neither of them but she maintained the household. For several years the jewels she sold took care of that. The last year life became more precarious.

Her pay for the last few days did not amount to much, but would help until she could obtain some of the trust’s income. Also, she had returned to find a letter from Mrs. Drable that contained the name of a woman who might be calling to seek out the services of Hepplewhite’s Office of Discreet Inquiries. She hoped so, and not only because it would mean earning some money. She wanted to prove this was an enterprise in which she could succeed.

“None of them looked happy,” Jeremy added. “We were busy for over two hours and received many complaints about the wait. Well, only three of us getting the horses and carriages ready, so it couldn’t all be done at once, could it?”

“Who looked the least happy?” Minerva asked.

“That young one who favors fancy waistcoats. He was not as angry as some of the others, like that dark-haired woman with the deep voice, but he appeared miserable.”

“That would be Phillip. He needs money. He is profligate and runs up debts everywhere. He could end up in debtors’ prison.”

“If he went to the type who loan money, he might be worse off than that.”

Minerva had not considered that Phillip’s concerns were for his physical safety. That might make him very rash if he thought his uncle was going to change his will. After the way he threatened her in the library, she was inclined to find reasons to move him up the list of suspects.

She began to sip the rest of her port, then thought better of it. She already glowed from its warmth, and did not want to put herself at a disadvantage. Chase might flirt a little and charm her with his smiles, but he was no friend and she needed to have her wits about her.

“Did you come to know the footman Andrew?” she asked Jeremy.