The walk through the expansive forest to the Dupree's manor was longer than Eliza had prepared for, but she devoured the uninterrupted minutes she got with her fiancé. Since they arrived in Nottinghamshire, he had been pulled in so many different directions that she missed their old tea times that they used to have in London every day. He had made her a priority from two to three in the afternoon where they would discuss his closed and open cases and she wanted to instill that private time here. She had thought it was going to be much harder to persuade him to allow her to tag along, so she was surprised when she hardly had to do any fussing at all.
They had just passed the tall, dilapidated stone gate when Eliza glances at Colin and says, "I think I should take the lead here." Colin's steps slow and he turns to her with a curious glance, "Oh?"
"Yes, I was the hostess last night who thought I should check on her antagonized guests. I'm sure they'll be more welcoming for that reason than us showing up to interrogate." Eliza tugs on Colin's arm to continue their journey up the brick pathway and then adds, "Do they know you were coming?"
Colin shakes his head and continues in step with her, "No. I didn't want them to have any more time to strategize a story."
"They've had a year, darling. If they do have a story it is already well rehearsed," Eliza replies with a smirk and Colin tickles Eliza's side causing her to laugh.
"I thought you said you were going to be Watson, leaving me to do the actual detecting."
"I am. You can weed through whatever story they are about to give us and use your infamous deduction skills." Eliza grins at a smirking Colin and they arrive at the double doors with her hand still draped over his arm. She then looks down and realizes she does not have her reticule and frowns. "I don't have my calling cards on me. How terribly crass we are."
"I always have my cards on me, Watson. They do, however, say detective." Colin slides one from his inner jacket pocket and then pushes the bell. They glance nervously at each other and it's only a couple of worrying moments before the butler opens the wooden door.
"My lord," the surprised butler says with a quick bow of his head before glancing at Eliza, "My lady."
Colin produces his card and says, "We were hoping to speak with Lady Dupree. If she'll see us." He hands the card over as a polite gesture but the butler's eyes remain on Colin as he says, "She's just taking her breakfast. I will see if she'll mind the company. Do come in." He steps aside and they both glide over the threshold and into the dimly lit foyer. Eliza notices the flowers on the wooden foyer table have been changed out since their last time here from tall elegant blooms to weedy things probably picked from around the yard. Lady Dupree must have been trying to impress the night of the seance.
Eliza is about to sneak a peek into the drawing room when the butler rounds the corner and announces, "Lady Dupree says if you do not mind the simple spread, you're more than welcome to join her in the dining hall."
"We won't mind at all," Colin replies and they follow the butler through the wooden hallways and into the dining room they all sat in for dinner a week ago. Eliza knows in London this unannounced arrival would be a great pain to the lady of the house and she is reminded how much she enjoys the comfort of the country. Lady Dupree stands when they spill into the room and waves a flustered hand around, "I was not expecting such esteemed company or I would have prepared something more appropriate."
Colin waves a hand and says, "We were simply on our morning stroll when Eliza here suggested we check in on you. We did not mean to interrupt nor intrude."
"Please sit," Lady Dupree says and Colin and Eliza glide over to the end of the long table, and polished serving ware is dropped down before them by an anxious footman.
