“It does sound so.”
“Lastly, the tea is fired, blended, and ready to be consumed—or in our case, shipped.”
“Fascinating. I usually drink—”
Belle held up a hand. It was probably rude to do this to a baroness, but she was curious to know if she had guessed the woman’s preferences. “You prefer Irish Breakfast in the morning.”
Lady Keating’s eyes widened. “How do you know that?”
Belle felt her cheeks heat with pleasure and a little awkwardness. “It’s a guess.”
“A very good one. Do you know what I drink in the afternoon and evening?”
Belle tapped her forehead. “In the afternoon, I imagine it’s an Earl Grey Cream. I think you like the vanilla.”
Lady Keating’s mouth dropped open.
“In the evening, you would drink a white tea.” White tea was composed of only the tips of the leaves. This made it expensive and considered a delicacy, so naturally only members of the upper class consumed it with any regularity. “A Mutan White?”
“Sometimes.”
She was close. She studied Lady Keating. “You want something slightly sweet,” she said slowly. “A Yin Chen,” she decided, smiling with victory.
“You are amazing,” Lady Keating said.
“It’s my profession.” She shrugged.
“You are very good at it. Will I like the Curled Dragon Silver Tips?”
Belle peered at the tea and decided it had steeped long enough. “Shall we try it?”
She lifted the delicate china cups from the tray, silently admiring the craftsmanship. This was the sort of vessel meant for the Pan Long Yin Hao.
She handed one cup to Lady Keating and took the other, taking time to let the aroma of the tea bathe her senses before she tasted it. Lady Keating merely gave the tea time to cool then took a small sip. “Hmm,” she said. “It’s very smooth.”
“Do you like the flavor? It’s not for everyone.”
“It’s not what I am used to, but it’s very good. I feel quite special, knowing I am drinking the same tea as the Chinese Emperor.” She took another sip. “You sell this in your shop?”
“This blend? No. I had been saving it in my safe for the right customer. I’m afraid I may drink it all before I ever sell it.”
“I’m sure that’s a hazard of your work.” She set down her teacup, and Belle knew the pleasantries were at an end. “I imagine having your shop attacked and a wounded man to care for is a hazard to which you are not accustomed. How is it Mr. Arundel came to be in your care?”
Belle told Lady Keating the events of the past twenty-four hours. The baroness did not interrupt, just nodded encouragement. Finally, she sat back in her chair. “I’m surprised he told you about his work for the Royal Saboteurs.”
“He did not tell me very much. Perhaps I shouldn’t have mentioned them to you. I assumed you knew of them, which was why he wrote to you.”
“That is an astute assumption. I am quite familiar with the Royal Saboteurs. My husband is their leader.”
Belle set down her empty teacup. “Then Mr. Arundel is exactly where he needs to be. Your husband can take custody of him. When you said you were leaving, I worried I would have to stay here with Arundel.”
“No one can make you stay,” Lady Keating said, “but you were not mistaken.”
“I don’t understand. If your husband—”
“My husband is not in London. He’s at the Saboteurs’ training camp. He’s been training new agents and won’t be returning to London for several more months.”
“And what of Mr. Arundel?”
“I will send the baron word, of course, but even if he were here, there would be little he could do. Lord Keating is awful at a sick bed. He always likes to be doing something, you see. He does not like to be idle.”
Belle thought that tending an injured man left little time for idleness. Perhaps the baron had been tending the sickbed incorrectly.
“I would stay with Mr. Arundel, of course, but I’m afraid I have another emergency. I mentioned before that I planned to leave? My granddaughter suffered a fall recently. She broke her wrist, which would be unfortunate enough, but she has two small children to care for. Her mother is on the Continent as her husband is the ambassador for Portugal, so she has asked me to come and help for a few weeks.”
“I see.”
“Yes. I hate to leave you with Mr. Arundel. I would take him with me, but I fear moving him.”
“He should not be moved.”
“You certainly do not have to stay with him. I can pay Mr.—er...What did I say his name was?”
“Smith.”
“Right. I can pay Mr. Smith to tend him, and of course I will leave staff here. You can return to your shop, but I would advise you against that.”
“Why?”
Lady Keating leaned toward her, seeming to impart a piece of wisdom. “The men after Arundel found you there once. It’s unlikely they tracked us here, but even if they did, they cannot get onto the grounds or in the house. We have excellent security. Your shop is a different matter. These men can and will hurt you if they think they can use you or your father to get to Arundel.”
“I need to write to my father immediately.”
“I agree. You should both stay away from the shop and in hiding until Mr. Arundel recovers and can sort this out.”
Belle didn’t want to ask what would happen if Arundel didn’t recover. Instead, she said, “All of this over a sabotaged railway.”
“It’s not about the railway. It’s never about the obvious. In my experience it’s almost always about money or power. Mr. Arundel discovered something that will cost someone dearly in money or power. Arundel may not even know what it is he’s learned that’s so dangerous. But he’s a good agent. He will settle this matter.”
“You seem to have a lot of faith in a man you’ve never met before.”
“My husband chose him for the Royal Saboteurs. That means he’s the best.” Lady Keating rose. “Now, if you don’t mind my saying so, you look exhausted. I asked my housekeeper to prepare another chamber. May I show you to it so you can rest?”
“What about Mr. Arundel?”
“He will be my concern tonight. And Mr. Smith will care for him as well. You need only sleep. You can make a decision about whether to stay here or return to your shop in the morning.”
Once in the chamber she’d been given, Belle slumped against the door. She’d refused the offer of a maid but was relieved to find hot water and clean linens waiting for her. She stripped out of her bed clothes and resisted the urge to toss them all in the fire. Instead, she scrubbed her skin clean of the smell of smoke and the flecks of ash then put on a clean nightrail provided for her. If she hadn’t been so weary, she might have explored the room. It was not as large as the one where they’d put Arundel, but it was still more luxurious than any room she’d ever slept in. Even Maggie’s home didn’t have rugs so plush or curtains so heavy. Belle climbed into the bed and pulled the mound of covers over her until she was buried under them.
She wondered where her father was sleeping right now. She wondered if Arundel was still alive. She wondered how her life had been turned so topsy-turvy.