Page 18 of Miss Morton and the Missing Heir (A Miss Morton Mystery #4)

“Is there a key to the cellar?” Mrs. Scutton asked as she moved through the housekeeper’s room and on to the scullery where the newly installed pump gleamed brightly against the old stone sink.

“I believe the door is open!” Caroline called out as she hurried to catch up.

Mrs. Scutton gazed down into the blackness of the cellar. “I suppose the earl’s wine was sold off as well?”

“Yes. Apparently, it made a surprisingly large sum of money.”

Mrs. Scutton snorted. “Men like to drink.”

“If you wish to go down, I can fetch an oil lamp,” Caroline offered.

“No, I’m not quite that brave today.” Mrs. Scutton stepped back. “Shall we go upstairs?” She retrieved a notebook and a pencil from her reticule. “I need to consider what furnishings we will need to make it habitable.”

“Mrs. Frogerton rents all her furniture in Half Moon Street,” Caroline mentioned as they skirted Mr. Murphy’s workmen and edged up the stairs. “I’m sure she would recommend the company that supplied her.”

“That might be a short-term solution.” Mrs. Scutton walked over to the double windows at the front of the drawing room overlooking the square. “I don’t think the fixtures and fittings from our house in Epping will work with these proportions.”

“The ceilings are quite high.” Caroline looked up at the intricate plasterwork above her head.

Mrs. Scutton stared out of the window. “I assume that if Thomas does succeed to the earldom, he’ll have to sell our house in Epping simply to raise some capital before he embarks on his reforms.”

Aware that she’d been rebuked before for involving herself in the Scuttons’ affairs, Caroline remained silent as Mrs. Scutton walked back toward the door. She paused, her hand on the wall, and smiled.

“Isn’t there a secret door here?”

“Yes, there is.” Caroline looked at Mrs. Scutton in surprise. “How did you … ?”

“When Mr. Scutton and I came to call, we were brought up here by the butler, and there was no one in the room.” Mrs. Scutton smiled. “We were somewhat disconcerted at being left in an empty room, and then suddenly your father came through this door and gave us both a terrible fright.”

“That does sound quite like him,” Caroline said. “He did love a good joke.”

“He did seem to find it amusing, although he was nothing but kind to us during the rest of our visit.” Mrs. Scutton sighed. “I fear I am too tired to do anymore. May we leave?”

Caroline nodded and led the way down the stairs. The workmen had disappeared, leaving the lingering smell of sawdust and paint behind. They stepped over various bits of wood, and tools, and went out of the front door to find Mr. Murphy and his men sitting on the steps enjoying the fresh air.

Mr. Murphy rose to his feet. “Just enjoying a brew before we get back to work, miss.”

“It all looks to be coming along nicely,” Caroline said.

“I’ll make sure to tell Mrs. Frogerton.” Her employer had given up waiting for Mr. Castle to organize the repairs and had dealt with the matter herself.

She forwarded all the bills to Coutts where they were paid without comment. “Thank you, Mr. Murphy.”

“We’ll be done in a couple of weeks, I reckon.” He had a strong Irish accent and the black hair and blue eyes to match. “Once we get the stove in and the new privy, there’s not much else to do.”

“I’m sure Mr. Scutton will be delighted to hear that.” Caroline smiled and turned to assist Mrs. Scutton into the waiting carriage.

They set off, and Caroline sat back against the seat. “At least you’ll be able to give Mr. Scutton a positive report on the progress of the house repairs.”

“Yes, he’ll be delighted.” Mrs. Scutton twisted her hands together. “I can’t believe I won’t have to furnish a room for Mary.”

“It is indeed sad, ma’am,” Caroline said gently.

“Thomas won’t mind. He was all too keen on sending Mary off with that vicious husband of hers.” Mrs. Scutton sounded bitter, and Caroline couldn’t blame her. “If only he hadn’t paid off those debts. …”

There was nothing Caroline could say to that, and she was relieved when Mrs. Scutton relapsed into silence until their journey was completed at Half Moon Street.

After making sure Mrs. Scutton was safely ensconced in her room, Caroline made her way down to the drawing room where Mrs. Frogerton was sitting reading the newspaper.

“Caroline! How did it go?” Mrs. Frogerton set the paper aside.

“The work is progressing well, and Mr. Murphy sends his regards.” Caroline sat down. “Mrs. Scutton is still not quite herself but definitely improving.”

“Good. In all honesty, I can’t wait for the house to be ready to receive them.”

“Mr. Murphy said it would be within the next two weeks once you’ve decided on the stove.”

“Did Mrs. Scutton have an opinion on that?”

“No, she was far more interested in what had happened to the contents of the wine cellar.”

“Good, then I will pick the range that I like and bill Coutts Bank for it.” Mrs. Frogerton paused. “Have you seen Mr. Scutton?”

“Not since breakfast, ma’am.”

Mrs. Frogerton lowered her voice and glanced over at the door. “I suspect he might be up to no good.”

Caroline stared at her. “How so?”

“I saw him take the letter Mr. Lewis sent you.”

“The one I read and discarded?”

“Yes, it was on the tray the butler brings the post on and then it wasn’t.”

“Did one of the staff take it down to the kitchen to be disposed of?” Caroline asked. “It seems unlikely that he’d be reading my private correspondence.”

“I did doubt it myself, lass, but when Mr. Scutton went out quite soon after breakfast, I asked the butler where he’d taken his hackney cab to, and it was the same street as Mr. Lewis’s offices.”

“That is quite close to his own solicitors, ma’am.”

“Yes, but still …” Mrs. Frogerton studied her face. “It is rather peculiar, isn’t it?”

“I suppose I’ll have to ask him when he returns.” Caroline sighed.

“I wouldn’t worry. Knowing Mr. Scutton, he’ll be eager to seek you out if he has something he wishes to tell you.”

Caroline nodded. Mr. Scutton certainly felt he had the right to interfere in her affairs even while he warned her to keep out of his. “I think that’s good advice, ma’am. I can assure you that I have no wish to discuss my business dealings with him.”

“Why should you? He is not proven to be related to you at this point.” Mrs. Frogerton returned her attention to her newspaper. “I wonder if Mrs. Scutton will come down to lunch? Perhaps you might inquire, Caroline.”

After lunch, when Caroline was writing another letter to Susan she feared her sister would never receive, Mr. Scutton came into the drawing room and shut the door behind him.

“Lady Caroline, I wish to speak to you.”

She set down her pen with some reluctance, wondering how long it would be before Mrs. Frogerton returned. “How may I help you?”

He went to stand in front of the fireplace, his hands linked behind his back as he regarded her. “I took it upon myself to visit Mr. Lewis this morning.”

Caroline considered what to say. Part of her wished to accuse him of reading her personal correspondence, while the rest of her was curious about what he might reveal.

“I know you will consider my intervention in your affairs as improper, but for all intents and purposes, I currently stand as the head of the Morton family, and thus your interests are mine.”

“I beg to differ.”

“Lady Caroline, we both know that women require the protection and guidance of men—the stronger sex—and that Mrs. Frogerton might be formidable in her own way, but she is hardly of your class.”

“I’d much rather listen to her advice than any man’s.”

“Which is precisely my point. You have been living in her house for quite some time now. It is not surprising that you have come to depend on her counsel when there is no one else to turn to.”

“That’s why I have Mr. Lewis, sir.”

“But Mr. Lewis’s interests are primarily those of Mrs. Frog erton, are they not? Didn’t she recommend him to you?”

“I’m quite capable of making my own decisions, Mr. Scutton.”

“I’m not saying you aren’t, Caroline, I’m simply suggesting that you don’t have to do so any longer because I am more than willing to stand as your advisor in all matters.

” He sighed. “I’m aware that we haven’t always seen eye to eye, but I sincerely care for your interests, my dear, and I wish to see you succeed in this world. ”

Caroline turned to look more fully at him and gripped the back of the chair so tightly that her fingers hurt. “And which particular interests are those?”

“All of them.” A slight frown overlaid his concerned expression. “Mr. Lewis confirmed that he represents you and your sister for matters that have nothing to do with the earldom or the Morton estate. I can assure you that he refused to tell me anything more than that.”

“I’m glad to hear it.”

“I’m simply offering myself as your representative if you need me.” Mr. Scutton held her gaze. “Mr. Lewis is a highly regarded professional, but he is Mrs. Frogerton’s man.”

He bowed and left the room, nodding to Mrs. Frogerton as she came in. “Ma’am.”

Mrs. Frogerton looked inquiringly at Caroline as she sat down. “From the expression on your face, I can only conclude that Mr. Scutton did visit Mr. Lewis. I sincerely hope he was sent away with a flea in his ear.”

“Mr. Scutton wanted me to know that he stands ready to provide protection and guidance when I need it because women are too feeble to manage their own affairs.”

“Did he now.” Mrs. Frogerton raised her eyebrows. “And yet I didn’t hear raised voices when I came in. Did you let him get away with such ridiculous blather?”

“I think he was trying to be conciliatory,” Caroline said. “I wonder why?”

“Probably because he wants whatever assets you have for his own use.” Mrs. Frogerton said bluntly. “And he’s finally worked out that fighting with you won’t help his cause.”

“Yes,” Caroline said. “I believe you are completely right.”