Page 28 of A Silence in Belgrave Square (Below Stairs #8)

“Excellent,” I cried, forgetting to worry about who would hear me.

Cynthia shook her head, her triumph fading. “Not so quickly. There are quite a number of names on that list. It is a popular brand of ink with aristocrats.”

Indeed, I recognized the name of Lord Downes, Lord Peyton’s neighbor, and more ladies and gentlemen in Belgrave Square and Mayfair.

“Even so, it was well done, my friend.” I sent her a broad smile. “Please give Mr.Thanos my thanks as well.”

“Thanos.” Cynthia’s face fell, her weariness returning. “He is put out with me. I believe my adventure in assisting him is finished.”

“What are you talking about?” I quickly fetched another piece of toast from the tray and dropped it onto her empty plate. “Mr.Thanos is never put out with anyone. He is the most genial of gentlemen. You must have misunderstood him.”

Cynthia shot me a dark look. “I did not misunderstand him taking me to task last night for overindulging and getting thrown out of a gentleman’s club with Bobby.

No one tumbled to Bobby’s being a woman, but they guessed at me.

The doorman threatened to summon the police, and only Bobby and Thanos, who said he happened to be passing, prevented him.

They told the doorman they’d take their foolish woman home and she’d never bother them again.

Which means that the club is forever closed to me.

Bobby left me in Thanos’s care, and he lectured me something fierce all the way home.

I don’t remember much about the ride, but I recall that. ”

Tears welled in her light blue eyes and trickled down her cheeks.

“Oh dear.” I took the cup from Cynthia’s hand, set it on the night table, and dared seat myself on the edge of her bed. “Mr.Thanos is only worried about you. I worry about you. You can be reckless sometimes, and he, like me, doesn’t want you to come to harm.”

“He was following me about.” Cynthia’s gaze was defiant through her tears. “Happened to be passing. Ha. He knew I’d gone to that club. He was hanging about, waiting for me to be thrown out so he could scold me.”

“Nonsense. Mr.Thanos might have been keeping an eye on you, but not because he was waiting to lecture you. He was concerned, as I say, and trying to help. He cares for you, Cynthia.”

“I doubt that very much. If so, he has a damned funny way of showing it. I find his books and sort his papers, write out his long equations that I don’t understand one whit of, make certain his shoes match, and that he doesn’t lose his spectacles.

Thanos thanks me profusely, but does he give me one look of tenderness?

Try to press my hand or steal a kiss? Not a bit of it.

If I try to sit too close to him, he draws away in a hurry. It is humiliating.”

“Mr.Thanos is painfully shy.” I picked up her teacup.

“And very much a gentleman. If foolish gestures of passion are what you want, then break the poor man’s heart and find another gent to give them to you.

You are a lovely young woman—I’m certain you will find many a gentleman willing to kiss you.

But they will not be as kindhearted as Mr.Thanos. ”

Cynthia regarded me with a stunned stare as I made this speech. “I, break his heart? I doubt I can. I disgust him. You did not hear what he said to me last night.”

“Which was?”

Cynthia blew out a breath. “That I was wild and silly and too anxious to impress my unconventional friends. So much so I’d come to grief.” She broke off sullenly. “Much of what you say to me, in fact.”

“You know I never scold you out of disgust,” I said.

“It is because I do not want to see you paraded through Bow Street nick where unsavory sorts will taunt you. I quite understand your fondness for Bobby and Miss Townsend, because I have grown fond of them too, but you have no need to go to jail for them. Nor would they wish you to.”

“Bobby and Judes come from powerful families,” Cynthia conceded.

“They can get away with much more than I can. I might be an earl’s daughter, but my pa would never bestir himself from Hertfordshire to throw his weight about.

” She reached for the teacup. “My way of saying you and Thanos are right, and I am an idiot.”

“Your father would certainly bestir himself.” I thought of Lord Clifford, the feckless gentleman who loved his family more than he’d admit. “He’d race to London and land himself in great trouble, as usual, and we’d have to pry him out of it, as we have before.”

Cynthia softened enough to laugh. “Again, you are right, Mrs.H. Shall I go to Thanos on bended knee and beg his forgiveness?”

“You should go to him, in any case. After you drink all this tea and finish your breakfast.” I rose from the bed. “At this point, Mr.Thanos is probably in great anguish, certain he’ll never see you again.”

A gentle light entered Cynthia’s eyes, one that showed me more than she realized. “The poor chap. He’ll never tie his cravat right if he’s upset, or find his lecture notes. He does need me, doesn’t he?”

“Indeed.” And you need him , I added silently. Someone who sees your worth and loves you for who you are.

“I know I’ve torn it.” Cynthia took a gulp of tea. “But fear not. I will put on my prettiest frock, fly to the Polytechnic, and grovel. Will that satisfy you?”

“It is not me who needs to be satisfied,” I said. “Now drink up. And thank you very much for the information about the ink bottles. It is helpful.”

“Is it?” Cynthia peered at me doubtfully. “Seems we proved nothing but that those in Belgrave Square are willing to spend much on their ink.”

“I will pass your findings to Daniel. He might be able to make something of them.”

Cynthia’s brows rose. “I thought he was gone to the ends of the earth on some covert assignment for the police?”

“He was.” I still could not be effusive about what he’d been doing until I asked him whether Cynthia and Mr.Thanos could be brought in on his secrets. “He has returned, at least for now.”

“Well, give him my best.” Cynthia downed her tea in several swallows and reached for the toast. “And thank you for the repast, Mrs.H. Exactly what I needed.”

My little rebuke about Mr.Thanos hadn’t hurt either, I saw. “I am pleased I could help.”

I left Cynthia munching happily, her good spirits restored. I reflected as I slipped into the backstairs—I could still hear Mrs.Bywater ordering the staff about in her chamber—that I was glad Mr.Thanos had made known his feelings for Cynthia, if in an awkward way.

I hoped their reconciliation brought about the touching of hands or stealing of kisses that Cynthia longed for. Though I had the feeling Cynthia would have to instigate any kissing with Mr.Thanos. But all would be well between them.

If not, I’d sit them down and explain how lucky they were to have each other. Not everyone was so fortunate, a lesson I was learning myself.

* * *

Daniel did not return that day, or Saturday either. I would have worried, but James visited, telling me his father was well. Daniel was spending much time at Scotland Yard, James relayed, explaining to his guvnor everything that had happened in the Belgrave Square house.

I imagined that would take some time, even if Daniel had learned little. Mr.Monaghan was thorough, so Daniel had told me.

I went over the list Cynthia had given me many times in my idle moments, of which I hadn’t many.

With Lord Peyton’s name on the list, I felt I could ignore the others, but I decided to be cautious.

The likelihood of Daniel writing envelopes for anyone but Lord Peyton was small, but still, I put a tick mark next to several of the wealthy people who lived nearby and had purchased ink.

I hoped Daniel would be able to get away from Monaghan on Monday, so Grace and I could spend time with him. Grace had not seen Daniel in weeks, and I knew she missed him.

Cynthia did seek Mr.Thanos at the Polytechnic, and they made things up.

She did not tell me this, but I saw her leave on Friday morning, after our chat, and when she returned, she was in fine spirits.

She did not come down to the kitchen, as her aunt had her busy with helping with her charity gatherings, but Cynthia beamed a large smile at me in passing when our paths happened to cross.

I finished my work on Sunday evening and lingered well into the night, hoping for but not truly expecting Daniel to visit. I was buoyed by anticipation of spending the next afternoon with Grace, so I waited less anxiously than I might.

When the knock came on the back door, however, I was across the dark and quiet room in an instant, ready to pull Daniel into my embrace.

I wrenched open the back door…and saw no one. That is, until my gaze moved downward to find a much smaller personage than Daniel had come to call.

It was Adam, Hannah’s son and messenger. My heart beat hollowly in concern—had Hannah met with some danger?

Adam, with his characteristic silence, handed me a folded paper.

I opened it, my blood chilling as I read Hannah’s words. They proclaimed:

Peyton died tonight.