Down the Rabbit Hole

“But hardly appropriate for 1805. Nor is my presence alone with you. I must leave this room at once.” She smoothed her hair and looked at the door as if someone would burst in at any moment.

Did she learn nothing in the twenty-first century? he wondered. “Very well, preserve your name for now. But I know you love me, and with that magic coin Arbuckle insists anything is possible, even having you agree to marry me.”

She would have argued, but he took her by the shoulders and turned her around. “If you take that door, it will lead you into a room that is almost never used and you can come out into the passage. Tell the footman you are newly arrived and have lost your way to Lady Anne’s chambers. You will have the day with my sister, and then I will see you at dinner.” He twirled her back around and pressed a kiss to her mouth; a kiss that left no doubt of his intent.

Alice merely shook her head, though Weston thought he saw the ghost of a smile before she gave him her back and hurried to the connecting door.

He watched her leave, the future firm in his mind, then folded his arms across his chest and waited for the magic coin to find him.

In the meantime he decided he would circle the room and try to recall if anything else was missing. He didn’t think anything was.

It was not long before there was a scratch at the door. The butler came in at his “Enter.”

“My lord, I have been trying to find you for the past hour.”

“Really, Stepp, I thought you knew my every move.”

“Yes, sir, but you have been so unpredictable lately.”

“I have?” And he could just guess why. Simon West had had no Arbuckle to help him adjust to 1805.

“I’m sorry, my lord, but yes.”

Weston nodded and moved to sit behind his desk. Not that he was tired, but he had a feeling that it would be a while before life returned to normal, if it ever did. Sitting at his desk reminded him that he was the final arbiter of all that happened at Westmoreland. And something must have happened, besides the disappearance of the Guardi, or Stepp would not be looking so, um, tense. Yes, tense. He usually never betrayed his sensibilities.

“You have found me now, Stepp, and you have my full attention. What is it that you need?”

“Thank you, my lord.” The man bowed with some formality, which was hardly the norm. “I would never bother you with a domestic issue, but this involves money. A coin, to be precise. And, oh, my lord, Lady Anne has dismissed her maid.” As Stepp spoke he placed a coin, the magic coin, on Weston’s desk.

Weston did his best not to grab the coin and shout for joy. He barely contained his smile. “What a relief,” he thought, aloud, unfortunately.

Stepp looked shocked, and Weston hurried to assure him. “The coin, Stepp. The coin is mine. I brought it from London and somehow it disappeared. I am so relieved that someone found it.” Now he did pick it up and tuck it in his pocket. Please God, it would stay there until he had addressed the other, and to Stepp, far more important issue.

“As for Lady Anne and her maid. Am I right that my sister’s maid is your daughter Martha?”

“Yes, my lord,” Stepp acknowledged without any emotion.

“Did Lady Anne give any explanation for Martha’s dismissal?”

“Not much, my lord.” The butler spoke with asperity, then seemed to recall to whom he was speaking. “I do not mean to sound rude, sir. It was something to do with the coin. One of the maids found it, Martha took it, and it went awry from there.”

“I am sorry it has come to that,” Weston said as he felt the beginnings of a headache. “I will talk with Lady Anne and Martha and see what I can do to help.”

“Thank you, my lord. But you had best know right away that both Lady Anne and her maid are adamant about never working together again.”

“I understand, Stepp. Two strong-minded women.”

“Yes, sir. I do think you understand.” Stepp drew a deep breath, which did not seem to ease the rigidness of his posture. “There are one or two other issues that would benefit from your attention. If you do not think it too impertinent.”