to have breakfast with him in the dining room.’
‘Can I do anything to help, Mr Baines? It seems we’re putting you to a lot of trouble.’
He straightened up, staring at her in surprise. ‘Well now, you are a proper young lady, ain’t you? You ain’t no street urchin.’
‘I was brought up to be polite, if that’s what you mean.’ Angel eyed him curiously. ‘This is all very strange. Do you know what the colonel has in mind for me and Dolly, Mr Baines?’
‘It’s just Baines, miss. As to the master, we’ve been on many a campaign together, but I don’t presume to question his actions. Anyway, he likes to have breakfast early and he don’t like to be kept waiting. The dining room is on the left of the entrance hall. D’you need me to show you the way?’
‘I’ll be all right on my own, thank you, Baines.’
The atmosphere in the old house seemed friendlier somehow as Angel made her way through the maze of passages, or maybe she was just getting used to the drabness of the wooden panelling and the low ceilings. One thing was certain: the house lacked a woman’s touch, and although she had never been in a barracks, this was exactly how she imagined it might be.
Angel entered the dining room to find Sir Adolphus already in his chair at the head of a table that would have seated twenty, with room to spare. The furniture was heavily carved and a mahogany buffet was groaning beneath the weight of salvers filled with devilled kidneys, buttered eggs and a silver breakfast dish containing sausages and bacon.
‘Help yourself, Angel,’ Sir Adolphus said casually. ‘I believe a good breakfast is the only way to start the day.’
Angel’s mouth was watering. She had not seen food like this since she left the house in Spital Square, and she was very hungry. She took a little of everything, apart from the kidneys, which she had never liked, and went to sit at the table.
‘I’m very grateful to you for taking us in,’ she said in between mouthfuls, ‘but I don’t understand why you’re being so kind to strangers.’
He sat back in his chair. ‘I don’t like injustice, Angel Winter. I could tell, despite your rags, that you weren’t a common street girl, and I’m curious. The tale you told me is a mystery that intrigues me somewhat, and I intend to visit your Mr Galloway.’
Alarmed, Angel paused with the fork halfway to her mouth. ‘Why, sir? He’s not a good man. He promised Aunt Cordelia that he would look after me, but he broke his word.’
‘Exactly. That’s why I intend to meet the gentleman. It occurred to me last night that I must first seek your aunt’s permission if I am to take you to Grantley Park.’
‘Grantley Park, sir?’
‘We’ll talk about that later, after I’ve had words with Galloway.’
Angel spent the morning attending to Dolly’s needs. Baines kept the scuttle filled with coal and Angel dusted and swept the bedroom, opening the casement windows just enough to allow the air to circulate. Outside the snow was still falling and she was glad that she and Dolly were somewhere warm and safe. The dogs now recognised her as a friend and they followed her upstairs. Thor took up residence in front of the fire while Juno settled for the bed, and curled up beside Dolly, and soon all three were sound asleep, leaving Angel free to take a closer look at her surroundings.
She opened a cupboard and came across a shelf packed with children’s books. The pages were dog-eared and someone, maybe the mysterious Miss Susannah, had obviously been a keen reader. On a higher shelf sat a wooden doll with a painted face and jet-black hair, its jointed arms outstretched as if begging a small girl to take it to her heart. Next to the doll was a wooden Noah’s ark with chipped paintwork and, on closer examination, Angel realised that most of the animals were missing. She found a giraffe and an elephant tossed carelessly in a box containing wooden building blocks, and a monkey head-down in an empty inkwell. She put everything back in its place before moving on to the dressing table. The drawers were filled with lace-trimmed handkerchiefs, kid gloves, odd stockings and lengths of satin ribbon. A jewellery box contained glass beads and jewelled hair combs, knotted silver chains and odd buttons. Angel was getting a clearer picture of Miss Susannah in her head, and she decided that she must be a very spoiled and over-indulged young lady.
At midday Dolly managed to take mouthfuls of chicken broth, and she nibbled some bread and butter. Having eaten reasonably well, she went back to sleep, and Angel took the tray downstairs accompanied by Thor, although Juno chose to remain on the bed, guarding her new friend. Angel left the dishes in the kitchen, Baines having refused her offer to wash up, and she was on her way upstairs when Thor left her and raced to the front door. A gust of icy air preceded Sir Adolphus as he strode into the house. He looked up and saw Angel, who was about to ascend the stairs.
‘Come into my study. I need to speak to you.’ He discarded his hat and greatcoat and walked off in the direction of his study.
Angel hurried after him. ‘Did you see Mr Galloway, sir?’
‘I managed to track him down eventually.’ Sir Adolphus went to stand by the fire, holding his hands to the heat. ‘A despicable person. I disliked him on sight.’
‘Did he say anything about Aunt Cordelia, sir? Is she well?’
Sir Adolphus turned slowly to face her, his expression grim. ‘I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it appears that your aunt went out walking in the rain and caught a chill. She succumbed to lung fever several weeks ago.’
Angel sank down on a chair. ‘She’s dead?’
‘I’m afraid so, but if it’s any comfort, she believed to the last that you were living with a family in Essex and that you were happy and well cared for.’
Too stunned for tears, Angel stared at him, unable to put her feelings into words.
‘I’m no good at this sort of thing, child. But there is someone here who might be able to offer you comfort. Apparently she’s been camped outside Galloway’s office, refusing to move on until he told her where you were. The wretched fellow was glad to be rid of her.’
Angel’s breath hitched in her throat. ‘Lumpy Lil?’
‘An apt description. I’ve never seen a woman who so resembled a badly stuffed sofa in all my life. I sent her round to the kitchen to help Baines, although heaven knows what he’ll think of her. He has no liking for the female of the species since his wife left him for another man. You may go downstairs and see your friend, Angel, but keep her away from me at all costs.’
Angel rose to her feet. Her head was spinning and she was too shocked to think clearly, but one thing was foremost in her mind. ‘What will happen now, sir?’
‘Nothing has changed as far as I’m concerned. You have no legal guardian and I have a use for a girl like you. As soon as your friend is well enough to travel I’m taking all three of you to Grantley Park. You will be looked after, never fear.’
‘Why, sir? Why would you take us in?’
‘I have my reasons. Now go and find your friend. Make sure she isn’t upsetting Baines. He’ll only take so much from a woman.’
Dazed by the sudden turn of events, Angel left the study and went downstairs to the kitchen where she
