Page 6 of The Elusive Phoebe (The Widows of Lavender Cottage #1)

“He was involved in quite a few covert type operations and had a healthy relationship with the Crown.”

Her mouth went dry. She just stared at him, letting the information wash over her. “He was a spy?”

“In a manner of speaking, yes.”

“The whole time? When I married him? Working for the Crown?”

“He was, yes.”

She nodded, as though she understood, but nothing made sense. She definitely did not understand. But she never saw her husband, didn’t know what he did when he was not at the small home with her. He could have been any number of things and she would of course have had no inkling.

“I think I’ll just keep listening to you speak and hope this all begins to make sense. Please tell me what I need to understand.”

“He worked for the Crown and was often overseas. He never spent time with other ladies. You were his only, so to speak. ”

She nodded. Something about that was comforting and also so incredibly odd to be hearing such a thing from a stranger of a man.

“So, back to people searching for me? Will they…find me? Are they dangerous? What do I need to know?”

“Your location is unknown. I and those who you meet here in this borough are the only people who know where you are…and your servants who drove you here.”

“Are they loyal?”

“They are the most loyal of all your servants.”

“To…me or to him?”

“To you, to him, it is the same. He placed the only people he trusted closest to you.”

“So do you recommend I send for some of them?” She shuddered. Thinking of people as your jailers for so long did not lend itself to a friendly sort of rapport or fond memories.

“You could. Someone does need to keep that safe house going, someone we trust.”

“Safe house? Does the house have a use for the Crown?” She leaned back in her chair.

This was all too much. “Will I have to … manage that as well? I don’t have any desire to work for the Crown.

Or to do any of this.” She started breathing faster.

“Am I in danger?” She placed a handkerchief over her mouth, trying to slow her breathing.

“I see that this is a lot to take in. Perhaps I shall leave you to your letters and when I return in a week we can further discuss things.”

She held her hand out. “Wait. So should I not tell people here who I am? Should I hide my title?”

He tipped his head, appraising her. “That might be wise. Who already knows?”

“Only my closest friend Lillian. I haven’t seen her yet. I can ask that she not introduce me as Lady Smalling. I could be Phoebe Atwater. Most people don’t even know I wed or where I went. I was never in society.”

“For now, perhaps you move forward with that in mind. I will continue to hide your existence and location from the many who ask.”

“How many?”

He reached into his pocket. “Most of them are of no consequence. Some are treasure seekers. There are many who would marry you simply for the estate. For the money.” He clucked.

“But there was one who stopped by who gave me pause, so I took his direction.” He glanced at the paper.

“Do you by chance know an Archie Lytton?”

She gasped and then held onto that breath too long. How to answer such a question. Archie. Tears welled in her eyes. And she nodded. “Yes.”

“Would you like to know his direction?”

She nodded again but then paused. “Is he…safe?”

“I had some men look into him. He has been living in India, overseas, has made his own fortune and is quite successful. He can have no monetary reason to search you out. He seemed quite intent, emotional even.” He slipped the paper across the table.

“He left you a short missive. I think we can trust him. But the rest will have to be up to you. Do you wish for someone such as he in your life? Can we trust him not to talk? A new attachment to someone, a marriage of Lady Smalling will definitely bring you out of hiding. Perhaps we should wait for things to settle before you take any of those kinds of steps.”

She was shaking her head before he could even finish his sentence.

“I have no plans to marry. Ever. I don’t want that kind of situation in my life.

” She felt her face heat, knowing her emotion was giving her away, but she wanted to make sure he was perfectly clear in case there was some stipulation somewhere in his papers about her marrying.

He stood. “You’ve signed the most important document. Might I be the first to congratulate you on your rather large inheritance?” He held out his hand.

She stood and shook hands with the man as though she were a woman of business. Which, she was. She would have to become used to such a thing.

“Could you please leave me with all the information you have regarding my estate, the holdings, the tenants, the books? I’d like to take a look if I might.”

He raised his eyebrows with something that looked a bit like respect. “Certainly. I have brought your initial introduction to your new holdings. I can have more delivered and will certainly bring more with me when I come next week.”

She nodded. “Thank you. I will also require the servants. How needed are the servants in the Northern home? Might I take a few of them then?”

“They are needed. But I do believe they are meant to be for you, and not necessarily for the Crown. So take as many as you like, if you feel comfortable.”

“For years I thought I could not trust them because I felt a prisoner and they were working against me. Are they still working against me? Who’s their greatest interest? ”

“This might be difficult to believe, but you have always been. I imagine you still would be.”

She studied him for a full minute, not certain what to think about such a revelation. Her entire understanding of reality would need to shift for her to understand.

“They would also have information for you, that you might find interesting.”

He had a point there.

“I would like the stablemaster.”

“You don’t have stables.” He held his hands out.

“But he is a good man and could be put to use around here as a footman or general caretaker, could he not?”

“I suppose he could, yes. We will need a courier type horse man for that home then. Replacing him will be a vital task.” He ran his fingers over the papers as if considering how to phrase his next words.

“No one knows of that estate. It is kept hidden from most everyone and its connection to you and the late Lord Smalling is particularly guarded. My movement is also carefully crafted so as to remain elusive from others. It is not the easiest task to accomplish such a thing, but I am committed to helping you feel comfortable here.”

She nodded. “I can trust him. I need someone like that here. So, if you could, our first tasks will be, bringing him down here, finding his replacement, getting me a ladies’ maid, scullery maid, cook and footman.

” She grinned. Things were definitely looking up.

“I have the entire upper floor of this home full of servants quarters.”

“Yes, my lady. I will have results for you in the coming week.”

“Oh, excellent. And Mr. Crane.”

He donned his hat and coat. “Yes?”

“Thank you. I feel you have done far more for me than I even realized. I wanted to thank you.”

He bowed deeply with great respect. “You are most welcome. It was an honor to serve your husband. And it will be an honor to continue to serve you.”

“Was he…a good man, then?” She hated the plaintive sound of her voice. But this no nonsense, low emotion man seemed the perfect person to ask.

His eyes traveled over her face for a moment, then tipped his head. “He was the best of men. There are many who would have given their lives for him.” He cleared his throat. “His carriage accident is one of life’s greatest tragedies.”

She considered his words with the weight he gave them, unsure how to reconcile the man’s complete neglect of her, their lack of any sort of communication, with the man who was so obviously respected. They seemed to be two men, each of a very different cloth.

But she would discover what she could and attempt to reconcile it all in some way.