“Be ever so fine if you did elope,” Tess put in, not helping matters. “He’s sweet on you, Mrs. H.”

“Hush,” I said sternly. “Don’t talk nonsense.”

“Afternoon, Elsie, Tess, Mrs. Redfern.” Daniel entered on the heels of this comment, moving with his usual briskness through the scullery, a sack across his shoulders. He lowered the sack to the kitchen floor, making a show of rubbing his back. “Good day, Mrs. Holloway. A bit wet out, and your order of potatoes has nearly done me in. Can I beg a bit of coffee from you before I must face the elements once more?”

His face was damp, his cap dripping water on to my clean floor. Mrs. Redfern humphed and marched out with a teapot and cup on a tray. Daniel grinned after her then turned to me.

“Save any scraps for me, Kat? I mean, Mrs. Holloway.”

His dark blue eyes glinted, his smile as charming as ever. He dragged his cap from his head and wrung it out with exaggerated care, making Tess laugh and Elsie giggle.

He cast his gaze about the room as he always did when he entered one, no matter which persona he wore. He spied Miss Townsend in the corner, who had looked up to take us in.

Miss Townsend’s eyes widened the smallest bit, and her lips parted. Daniel’s eyes likewise widened, but so subtly, one had to know him well to discern it. I also saw his very slight shake of head. Miss Townsend subsided, closing her mouth.

Miss Townsend had recognized Daniel, and he her, I could see clear as day. And neither had expected to find the other on this afternoon, in my kitchen.

4

I alone noticed the silent exchange between Daniel and Miss Townsend. Elsie had returned to her sink, and Tess carried on chopping herbs while she burbled at Daniel.

“Mrs. Holloway made us a lovely meat pie for luncheon. There must be some left. I saw her setting back a slice.”

“Yes, indeed.” I finished crimping the tart shell for the pears and wiped my hands on the towel again. “It is in the larder. Would you care to step through with me, Mr. McAdam?”

Daniel clapped his cap to his head. “Come to think of it, I must get on. Many more deliveries to make.”

“It won’t take a moment.” I gave him a hard stare. “And you need to warm yourself.”

I saw Daniel realize refusing me would be a mistake. He gave me his devil-may-care smile and followed me into the corridor to the next room.

“Leave the door open,” Tess called after us. “Or Mrs. Redfern might think you up to something.” Her cackle of laughter drifted off.

I marched into the larder and to the shelf where I’d left the slice of meat pie on a plate covered with a bowl. When I turned around, I found Daniel immediately behind me.