***Walter had kept his head down as instructed by Her Ladyship. Yet more than ever, he wanted to contact her and tell her about his findings, but orders were orders so, he made no attempt to contact the lady. If something came up, he would just have to handle it well.
He slowly ate his breakfast in a dispirited manner. The sound of his mother instructing his brother to eat and the conversations on the table swept past him without care. His ears perked to one sentence.
"Madame, Sir, there be two lords outside." a little servant girl informed them.
"Let them in." Walter instructed.
The little servant girl glanced at the Madame and the Sir who continued to eat as though they had not heard her and back at the young master.
The new owners were here only three days, but the servants all understood them well. All they knew about Master Walter was that no one was allowed in his study, and they were not allowed to clean his room without madame"s supervision.
Little did the servant know that the only reason Walter"s mother ordered that they not clean his room in her absence was because she was afraid they would find something that would end all this fortune that her son had managed to ama.s.s.
The servant only hesitated for a moment before leaving to carry out her instruction. She soon returned, leading in two lords Walter knew well. The sight of these two made his father unsure of how to address or welcome them. He was almost visible fl.u.s.tered. But Walter"s mother was raised a lady. She knew exactly how to entertain in that circle and she immediately had the kitchens prepare more food, and more chairs brought and invited them to sit and join them in breaking fast.
The two lords were taken aback by how natural she was in this role. If they did not know better, they would have a.s.sumed that she was a lady of n.o.ble upbringing. Walter saw the look in their eyes and ignored it. He wasn"t always quick to tell others that his mother was of n.o.ble birth.
"Did something happen?" he asked after they had settled in comfortably.
"Are you acquainted with Lady Steinhouse?" Lord of Merve asked.
"Mn" Walter answered. "Why?"
"She mentioned you. Even though she tried to make it seem like a random inquiry." Lord of Merve answered.
Walter visible sighed. If only that woman could be patient. He has not even had the chance to see the Lady Wickshire, talk more of presenting her request.
"Is it possible to look into the past activities of the finance minister? If he at all has a shady past?" he could hear his mother suck in a breathe.
"Personal issue?" Lord Morge asked.
"I have this feeling that something big is about to happen. Lady Steinhouse wanted me to look into it. She knew who you worked for and in extension, me. In truth, she did not ask as though she wanted help, but as if she wanted to know where I stood. And by me, you know of whom she refers." Walter explained.
"Something big?" Lord Morge asked.
"She knew to ask you because she knew of us." Lord of Merve said as though in thought.
"The last thing we worked on, I had left a loose end and she found out about it, taking the man away before the Mclears could get their hands on him. It has all been handled, of course." Walter expatiated.
"You think she wants to meet her?" Lord Morge asked.
"What ever we find on the minister, I guarantee it will be big. After all, she already knows what ever the Mclears have done." Walter said.
"This may be connected to our last job is what you are thinking?" Lord of Merve frowned.
"Probably, we will know who the extra gold belongs to." Walter speculated. "In truth, I am not sure.
But Lady Steinhouse was very relaxed despite her knowing the money was gone. Though I was not expecting her to be on the side of the Mclears, I still did not think she would help make sure they don"t find it. She did not seem to hate that family either so, it could only mean her interest was in the money. She did not ask for it or mention it. As though she wanted it to still be missing." Walter said as he sighed inwardly. Maybe he is just over thinking too much of this.
"I see, but what has this got to do with the minister?" Lord of Merve asked.
"It"s either I am over a.n.a.lysing or I"m right. We know a few things; she knows the money is with us. She wants it to remain missing. Then she requests dirt on the minister. As if she is planning something big. I"m just saying if we know what she wants on the minister, it may explain why she would rather it stay missing and most of all who owns the money." Walter explained.
"Al right. I know the perfect person to handle this. It will take no time at all." Lord Morge accepted the job.