The Apothecary's Poison (Glass and Steele #3)(31)

We arrived home and Matt retired to his rooms once Duke reassured him that the bottle had been returned to the hospital without anyone getting caught. They'd paid a nurse to say she'd come across it among the linen. Matt left it to me to tell them how our interviews had gone and to field their questions. All discussion came to an abrupt end when Miss Glass entered the sitting room. Bristow and the footman, a blond youth named Peter, followed her, carrying trays.

"A light luncheon," Miss Glass announced. "I don't wish to spoil my appetite for this evening."

"This evening?" we all echoed.

"My dinner party." She looked to me. "Did I not mention it?"

"No," Willie grumbled. "You did not. Does that mean we got to be prisoners in our own rooms so your guests don't see us?"

Miss Glass plucked a sandwich off the platter. "Thank you, Bristow, that will be all. Be sure and see that the Spode is ready for tonight."

"Mr. Glass doesn't have Spode, ma'am," the butler intoned.

"No Spode?" She clicked her tongue. "That will have to change. India, make a note to purchase a set of Spode for Matthew."

I blinked slowly. "I'll add it to my list of tasks for when this investigation is complete." What more could I say? I supposed, as his assistant, it was my job to buy him a set of Spode. Or was I a partner now? And what did that even mean?

"Do your best, Bristow. No Spode," Miss Glass said on a sigh as the butler and footman left. "What is the world coming to?"

Willie picked up a sandwich and pulled the layers of bread apart to inspect the filling. "What in God's name is so special about Spode?"

"You wouldn't understand the need for fine china, Willie."

Willie pulled out the slice of cucumber in her sandwich, opened her mouth, and dropped the slice in. "You're right there," she said, munching. "China breaks too easy. Tin, now, that'll last an age. It even looks better with a few dents."

Miss Glass wrinkled her nose. "You'd better not ruin dinner for Matthew," she warned. "I worked tirelessly to insure Lady Abbington could come tonight. There have been a flurry of letters back and forth."

"Lady Abbington," I echoed dully. "But she was just here for tea only yesterday."

"Matthew didn't speak to her much, thanks to Mrs. Haviland's excessive chatter. I haven't invited the Havilands this time, so he can talk to Lady Abbington as much as he likes."

"You're inviting Lady Abbington on her own?"

"Nonsense. That would be odd. I've invited Richard, Beatrice and their daughters."

"Lord and Lady Rycroft! But I thought you didn't want Matt to marry any of their girls."

"Matt ain't going to like it," Willie sang.

Either Miss Glass didn't hear her or she chose to ignore her. "Lady Abbington is an elegant, serene woman and full of spirit. Next to her, my nieces will seem plain and witless."

"They don't need to be in the same room for that," Willie said.

"Not to you and me, Willemina, but Matthew is different. He's a man."

Duke and Cyclops exchanged glances. They looked as if they'd rather be elsewhere.

"Matt ain't interested in the Glass girls." Willie glanced at me, her mouth stretched into a thin line. "And you know it, Letty."

"It's best to be safe rather than sorry. I have a theory." Miss Glass glanced at the door and leaned forward. "The more Matthew sees them, the sooner he'll reach the same conclusion that we all have. They're horrid girls without a brain between them."

"Hope seems smart," Duke chimed in. "And nice."

Miss Glass and Willie glared at him. I may have, too. He appealed to Cyclops. Cyclops bit into his sandwich and studied the floor.

"Is that all?" I asked. "Or will there be other guests?"

"Four more," Miss Glass muttered into her sandwich.

"More eligible girls?" Willie asked with a laugh. "Poor Matt. He's under siege."

"Two women and two men. The women are not eligible as far as Matthew's concerned."

Willie rolled her eyes at me and smiled. "They beneath him?"

"One is not suitable, no." Miss Glass's gaze flicked to me then back to the platter of sandwiches. My chest tightened. "The other is his cousin."

"More goddamned cousins!" Willie shook her head. "This one been kept in the attic, eh?" She laughed so hard she snorted and choked on her sandwich. She coughed and wiped her sleeve over her mouth only to stop. Her laughter ceased. She stared at Miss Glass. "Oh, no, you don't, Letty. I ain't going to sit through some hoity toity dinner."

"I don't particularly like the idea either, but I've decided it's necessary."

"Why me?"

"It's not just you, Willie," I said. "Miss Glass mentioned four guests." I nodded at Duke and Cyclops.

Duke groaned. Willie burst out laughing. "Well, that's all good then. If I have to suffer then so do all of you."

"But I haven't got a dinner suit," Duke whined.

"Borrow one of Matthew's," Miss Glass said. "Cyclops?"