Harriet carried her shoes as she tiptoed past her brother’s room on her way to the servant’s staircase. If she was going to prove to him that she could handle danger and be allowed to marry her colonel before she was past her prime, she needed to get an early start on the project.
And early it was.
She yawned as she opened the door to the staircase, startling a maid who was scurrying down the stairs. It had been a late night, or was that better said an early morning, for both her and her brother. Balls, especially ones hosted by Samantha, never ended before the wee hours of the morning. And, on the day after such a soiree, Edmund never rose before ten, which was yet three hours away and that meant that she would be well on her way around town before her brother noticed she was not in the breakfast room.
“Miss Philips!” (Mr. name), the cook cried. “You don’t look like you’re set to scrub my pots.” He teased with a chuckle. “Is this another time when I am not supposed to see you but should offer you a bit of cheese and toast?”
His eyes sparkled with amusement. Of all the cooks she had ever met, he had to be the most personable and likely, the most carefree, for he seemed not to be even a little bit afraid of being reprimanded for letting her escape. Mr. Barlow, the butler, and (Mrs. Name) the housekeeper were less obliging, which is why she liked to make a quick exit through the kitchen when needed.
“A little lunch to carry would be lovely. Have you seen Jimmy?”
(Mr. name) crossed to the kitchen door in three long strides. “Jimmy,” he shouted. “You are needed.” He turned back to Harriet who was buttering a couple of slices of bread. “He’ll be right with you, miss. Sally, get the young miss some cheese.” He took cloth from under his work bench. “Wrap it in this and take enough for Jimmy. We can’t have your protector become faint from hunger just so you can avoid your brother.” The last part was said with a pointed look.
“Are you going to tell him?”
(Mr. name) smiled and flicked his eyebrows upward. “Not until I see him. I do like my job well enough.”
“Where did you work before here?” Harriet asked when she noticed, not for the first time, that their new-as-of-last-autumn, cook walked with a slight limp.
“It’s in me papers, miss,” he answered.
She scowled. “And where would I find those papers?”
“I would imagine in the housekeeper’s room or your brother’s study,” he answered.
“Will you not just tell me?” she asked while wrapping the cheese Sally had brought her and the bread she had buttered in the towel (Mr. name) had given her.
“I know how you like a mystery.” He nodded his head smartly in greeting as Jimmy entered the kitchen.
A smile curled her lips and a chuckle escaped her. “What rank were you?” she asked. “Higher or lower than Jimmy?” Jimmy, she knew had been with her brother on the continent. That was why he was the groom she always asked to accompany her when she went out alone.
(Mr. name) laughed. “What makes you think I was in the army?”
“The way you nodded to Jimmy just now. It reminded me a great deal of how my brother greets Colonel Fitzwilliam.” Her brow furrowed. “In fact, now that I am thinking about it, my brother also greets you that way when he is down here pretending to get biscuits but doing something else which I have not yet quite figured out. However…” she tapped her lip. “I’d wager that what he is doing down here involves you, and that is why you do not fear being sacked as much as Barlow does. He was never on the continent with my brother you see, but Jimmy was, and I dare say so were you.”
(Mr. name) laughed again. “I’ve heard tell that you are clever. I thank you for the demonstration. I was a captain.”
“Which makes your rank higher than Jimmy’s.”
“It does,” Jimmy replied.
“Were you instructed to hide your connection to Edmund from me?”
The cook shook his head. “No, but your brother did think it would be a fun game to see how long it would be before you discovered it.” He nodded to Jimmy. “How long have you known Jimmy was in your brother’s unit?”
Harriet smiled as Jimmy groaned. “Just now. I knew he had been on the continent from his scar, but I had yet to confirm he was part of my brother’s unit.” She narrowed her eyes as she looked at Jimmy. “Is that why you would not tell me? Are you also part of this game my brother is playing?”
Jimmy nodded and smiled sheepishly. “He’s right proud of you.”
“That he is,” the cook agreed. “And I have to say, he said you’d have me figured out before a year was through. I was convinced I could get away with keeping my secret longer.” He tipped his head toward the door. “You should go before we’re discovered.” He put a hand on her parcel of food. “Take care to return safely because I do not want to have to face Colonel Philips as the one who let you escape if you do not.”
“That is why I have Jimmy.” She peeked to her left and her right before lowering her voice. “And a small pistol in my reticule.” The pistol had been a gift from Andrew after he conceded that he could not always see to Harriet’s safety, and therefore, thought it was best if she learned to defend herself.
Her brow furrowed. Had that truly been the reason? Or had Andrew known that trouble was outside the door so to speak. It had only been three months before he had died.
“Is there a problem, miss,” Jimmy asked from where he stood next to the door waiting for her to follow him.
Harriet shook her head. “No, I was just thinking about Andrew for a moment because my gun was a gift from him.” She smiled brightly even if she did not feel the expression. She couldn’t have these men worrying about Colonel Philips’s little sister any more than they likely were already tasked with doing. “Make sure dinner is exceptional, for I promise to return famished.” And with that, she stepped into the alley with Jimmy.
