She blew out a breath. “I was, er…throwing stonesinto the lake.”
Gideon stared at her. “I can’t think of a single reason why you’d be doing that, when you must be aware Mrs. Briggs is awaitingyour arrival.”
“I wanted to see if I could tell how deep it is.” She lifted one slender shoulder in a shrug.
“Six fathoms at its deepest point, though I’ve no idea why it shouldmatter toyou.”
She blinked at his curt tone. “I…it doesn’t matter, my lord. I was simply curious.”
He closed his fingers around the stones in his fist. “Curiosity isn’t a desirable quality in a housemaid.”
“No, I suppose not. I didn’t think of that.” She frowned, considering it, but then her face brightened. “I’ve got excellent aim. Perhaps that might prove auseful skill?”
Gideon didn’t like strangers, or impertinent servants, or surprises, but to his great annoyance, he found himself asking, “For what, precisely?”
“I should think it would come in handy for any number of tasks, like…” She paused, her brow wrinkling. “Wait, I know! For slapping cobwebs from the corners with a broom! This castle looks as if it’s dripping in cobwebs.”
“You’re too slight to be a proper servant.” Her thin, white wrists looked as if they’d snap under the weight of a broom. “I doubt you could lift a coal scuttle withouttoppling over.”
Gideon didn’t usually concern himself with the sturdiness of his housemaids, nor was he in the habit of questioning Mrs. Briggs’s judgment, but he was curious to hear what she’d say in reply, and it had been a long, long time since he’d been curiousabout anything.
Her smile faded. “I’m stronger than Ilook, my lord.”
Gideon grunted, thinking whatever she lacked in strength she’d likely make up for in ingenuity, but he didn’t say so. It sounded too much like a compliment. “Mrs. Briggs didn’t say a word to me about a new housemaid arriving today.”
He didn’t mention he’d hardly exchanged a dozen words with Mrs. Briggs since he’d arrived from London this afternoon. There hadn’t been time. He’d been impatient to begin a search of the grounds, and Mrs. Briggs, who hadn’t been expecting him to return to Kent until next week, was up to her neck in wedding preparations.
He’d intended to remain in London with Miss Honeywell for another week, but his friend Lord Haslemere, who’d spent most of the winter rusticating at his country estate in Surrey, had heard the rumors about the White Lady and sent Gideon a note, warning him a ghost was prowling about his castle, and calling himback to Kent.
“I assure you, Mrs. Briggs is expecting me today, my lord.” Miss Gilchrist’s chin hitched up. She was doing her best to brazen it out, but she was beginning to look as if she’d rather plunge into Darlington Lake than spend another moment withhim.
Gideon couldn’t blame her, really. Housemaid or not, no young woman wanted to be trapped alone in the dark between the Murderous Marquess and his enormous, haunted castle.
“Mrs. Briggs is expectingsomeone.” He doubted it was this peculiar young woman who didn’t look or speak like any servant he’d ever seen, and who’d appeared out of nowhere to throw stones into his lake. Still, she was here, and Mrs. Briggs needed the help. “Very well, Miss Gilchrist.” Gideon beckoned her forward with a sigh.“Come with me.”
“Yes, my lord.” She took up the traveling case at her feet, and followed him through the arched doorway on one side of the courtyard and into the long, narrowentrance hall.
“This way,” he said, when she paused to take in the timbered ceiling and carved wood paneling on the walls. He led her down a corridor off the entry hall to his study, which was tucked into a back cornerof the castle.
“Sit down.” Gideon waved her to a chair near his massive carved mahogany desk, then crossed the room to pull the bell and summon Mrs. Briggs.
He seated himself behind the desk and rested his elbows on the arms of his chair. Neither of them said a word as they waited, each staring at the other until Mrs. Briggs tapped her knuckles against the door. “Yes, Lord Darlington?”
“Mrs. Briggs. Come in, please. Cecilia Gilchrist, the new housemaid, has arrived.”
“Yes, of course. With one thing and another, I nearly forgot.” Mrs. Briggs hurried across the room and held out her hand to Cecilia. “My goodness, you’re a tiny bit of a thing, aren’t you? Welcome, welcome. I’m Mrs. Briggs, the housekeeper.”
Miss Gilchrist rose and dipped into a hasty curtsy. “How do you do, Mrs. Briggs?”
“Very well, very well indeed. Sit down, child.”
Miss Gilchrist sat down.
“I’m relieved you’re here at last,” Mrs. Briggs went on. “I expected you an hour ago. I thought perhaps you’d changed your mind about accepting the post when…” Mrs. Briggs trailed off, and an awkward silence descended.
There was only one reason Miss Gilchrist would have changed her mind about the post. Mrs. Briggs had told him their last prospective housemaid had arrived in Edenbridge, heard the rumors about the Darlington Castle ghost, and turned right back around, leavingthat same day.
“But here you are,” Mrs. Briggs went on with a bright smile. “Not a moment too soon, too. We dearly need the help to ready the house for Lord Darlington’s bride.”
