Oliver went through the pages of the book quickly, then put it back. He pulled the next one on the shelf.
Nothing.
He put it back in its place and opted for a third one when he heard someone coming in.
There was a short young man with mousy hair, carrying a pile of documents standing at the entrance.
"Uh... pardon me, I was looking for Lord Tennyson."
"Hello."
" I was told by the staff he'd be here. This is his study, or am I wrong?"
"No, you're at the right place. He just went out." Oliver put the book back and wiped his hands in his pants. He gestured at the shelf. "The Lord asked me to deliver something to him."
"From the library?"
"I...”
The man was standing there, expectant and Oliver said.
“All right, you caught me." He lifted his hands in surrender. "I was checking the books. He has an amazing collection."
The man's eyes searched the spines of the books "Oh, yes. Yes, he does indeed. I see it even contains Dickens! And it was only published last month. "
"Mhm, it's amazing we have serial books now."
"That’s grand, have you read it?"
"I was hoping to."
"And I came at the wrong time. " The man laughed "I see. I’m very fond of his works. “
“So am I.”
“Well, I'll keep your secret in that case. "
"Thank you. By the way, I’m Oliver Abram. And you are? "
"Oh, I'm Lord Tennyson's new secretary. ‘
“What happened to the old one?”
“Yes, well…The old one was...dismissed. " He switched the papers in his other hand and outstretched his free one "Nice to meet you. Mark Jerald. "
"Nice to meet you too. "
They exchanged a polite smile and Oliver asked "He was dismissed? I only saw him yesterday, or a few days ago. How so?"
"It was a...a necessary change. "
"But I didn't know. And I haven't seen it in the papers. "
"I don't think it's been made public yet. "
"I see, yes. "
The man was close to Oliver in age, but he wasn't surprised Tennyson had chosen someone so young and less experienced than the previous one to take the position.
"And I'd say it's expected," the secretary continued "the public is more interested in different matters, something trivial like that wouldn’t be made public, compared to everything else going on."
"Yes. Yes, indeed. Or you mean the trial?"
He nodded. "It's in a few days, the news is everywhere. "
Oliver couldn’t contain the confusion from his voice.
"But the man was caught only last week, though- how come are they ready to decide already?"
"He was arrested on suspicion of illegal propaganda and organization of murder attempts of government officials."
"Yes, but was it proved?"
"I think they don't have any other suspects and it's pretty clear it was him."
Oliver tried to sound casual "Well, I hope he gets what he deserves, then."
"I should hope so too. " The man shifted his weight to his other leg. "I'm sorry, I didn't ask for your occupation?"
"Me? I'm just from the staff." Oliver looked at the exit and said " Good luck with your position Mr. Jerald. You're joining at a very difficult time. "
"Thank you. Yes, I'll try and do my best. "
Oliver remembered the book and pulled it out. "And let's keep a secret our mutual interest in Beak House."
The secretary laughed again.
"Mr. Abram, you have my word. "
****
“The ball and everything had been marvelous. “ Jenny said dreamily. “Usually the guests stay for longer, though … “
“But some of them are still here?” Adelia said.
“Yes, but Lady Henriette left early the other day.“
Oliver was listening to Percy, who had been explaining something about the horses in the stable, but Oliver listened closer to the conversation the two women were having now.
Della was probably somewhere helping in the household, since Lady Charlotte still hadn’t come back from her travels in Kent.
He found it slightly peculiar she spent so much time away, but the staff had said she just spends time there and that was all about it.
She’d never seen her with Tennyson.
Not even once.
He’d thought not all married members of the upper classes spent time together like ordinary people, but he still found it slightly odd.
“She is so pretty…” Jenny continued her dream-like tale. “Have you seen the way she rides, she’s so…so proudly sitting on the saddle. “
“I don’t know about sitting on saddles, but I heard she openly confronted Master Tennyson. “
“You can’t be serious. “ Jenny exclaimed.
“Yes, she did. The servants who had been tending the dinner discussed it for the whole of yesterday. “
“She is, “ Jenny shook her head and said “a little like the younger Master, isn’t she?”
Oliver heard the remark, but chose to ignore it and continued conversing with Percy.
“I heard she went hunting with the Lords, too. “ Adelia said and turned to Oliver.
“But you were there, too. Right, Oliver?”
She faced him and he looked away from the other man.
“Uh, yes.“
“Was everything all right?”
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
“This is a bit odd. “
The older woman eyed him suspiciously.
“How?”
He asked and he saw all three servants exchange a look.
“I.. why do you think it’s strange? Did you think something happened between the master and her?”
Oliver realized he sounded surprised even at his own words. Which was something entirely new, popping in his head, because he had seen something was obviously going on between the two, but he had never thought it had something to do with matters of the heart.
“Really, between them? ”
“No, it’s not that”
“Than what is it?”
He searched their faces and found worry.
It wasn’t that they were thinking their master and the Queen’s first attendant were more than interested in each other, then.
At the same time, he couldn’t tell them why he had been there in the first place, since none of them knew he was supposed to report to the older Lord about Callum’s doings and what he had been careful for.
“No, never mind, “
Adelia said and Oliver felt more relaxed.
She looked at him, still slightly confused, but at least she wasn’t going to question him further.
“Does anyone want more tea?”
Adelia got up to put some for them, when they heard the back door slam shut.
****
Callum’s dark figure appeared on the doorway . He smiled weakly and nodded
“Good evening.”
They all got up and greeted him.
“Good evening, Your Lordship. “
“No, don’t…don’t mind me.“
He said and made a few steps further, heading for the inside of the manor. They sat back down quietly.
It was the second time Oliver had seen the master get home late, using the servants’ entrance, so he wasn’t as surprised as he had been the first time.
Besides, he knew the Lord slightly better now. What worried him, however, was that there was something off this time. Last time, he’d been in a hurry to disappear and move past unnoticed.
While now…he had a very bad feeling. He knew the idea sounded absurd even unspoken, but there was something going on.
Yet, Oliver couldn’t just get up out of nowhere and follow the master uncalled for when the servants were here.
Jenny leaned over.
“Do you think he’s been out gambling again. “
Percy followed and said quietly “Maybe?”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course I’m not. Or it could be something else?”
“Like what?”
Percy bent over the table further and Oliver realized he and Adelia had leaned in too, mirroring their companions’ posture.
“I think he had a fight with Master Liam earlier today?”
“Oh, no. But why? ”
“I couldn’t hear well. “
“But they rarely fight. I mean, Master Liam doesn’t”
“Aye, but he was saying he shouldn’t go. “
“Go? Where? ”
“I don’t know, Jenny.” Percy said “He didn’t say. “
“The brothels, again.“
Oliver noted this time Jenny referred to the place directly with its name.
“They’ve been fighting occasionally recently. “
“Or he’s drinking again, then. “
They were all speaking very fast over each other, in hurried, hushed voices.
“Might be, yes…Master Liam was really worried.”
“Of course he was…”
“And not only him, I think Master Tennyson has been a bit of angry these days too, but I don’t know if it’s that…”
“I only hope no one sees him.”
“Or if Thomas happens to, you know. “
“Right, true.”
Oliver remembered the accident with the laudanum and hoped it wasn’t that this time. Jenny continued speaking of gambling and drinking when Callum suddenly appeared back and leaned lightly on the doorframe.
The maid almost spilled her tea all over herself and they all quickly pulled away from each other.
“I …”
The master began and everyone seemed mortified. Oliver knew they thought he’d probably heard them.
What surprised Oliver was not the fact Callum might have heard them, but the fact he had even bothered to come back. This really wasn’t like him and Oliver was alarmed, at once.
Now that he had a better look at the Lord, and the way he was heavily leaning on the doorframe, combined with the way his face had paled visibly, it was like it suddenly hit him.
“Damn it, Callum. “ he thought and got up.
He resisted the urge to rush and get Callum out of here as quickly as possible.
He approached and said.
“Allow me to take you upstairs, My Lord.”
“Yes, I …thank you. “
“Of course, Sir.“
The servants looked at them surprised as they were leaving no one saying a word.