Petal groaned theatrically to try to hide her delight.
“Crickey, Petal,” Aggy replied in astonishment. “I don’t know why you don’t just take up position outside of his door.”
“That’ll do,” Mrs Kempton scolded.
Petal sighed and studied the pie longingly. It smelled divine. She realised then she hadn’t eaten for the better part of the day. With her stomach rumbling, she hurried off to answer the summons. It was only when she was upstairs that she realised Aidan probably wanted her to read to him still. With a sigh, she let herself into the room.
“I thought I told you to deliver my food,” Aidan announced as soon as she entered.
Petal hesitated and glanced at Rollo. “I was busy clearing up a mess in the hallway. Edwards appeared with the tray and brought it in before I could stop her. Why? What’s wrong?”
She studied the untouched tray of food but couldn’t see anything wrong with it.
“I am not eating anything that blasted woman brings up here. She isn’t to touch any of my meals, Petal,” Aidan reported.
“I am sorry,” she replied.
“I told you not to say sorry,” Aidan retorted.
Petal sighed and wondered what had happened to put him in such an irritable mood. Rather than speak out of place she remained quiet and picked the tray up.
“I will fe
tch you a new one.”
“The master wants you to read to him. I will fetch him some more food,” Rollo announced in his usual no-nonsense manner, and relieved her of the tray.
When Aidan remained quiet, Petal sat in the chair beside the bed.
“Where is Edwards?” Aidan asked.
Petal shrugged. “I don’t know. The last time I saw her, she was coming in here.”
“Keep her out of this room.”
“It is not my place to tell the woman what to do,” Petal countered, fully aware of Edwards’ reaction should Petal try to issue her orders.
Aidan eyed the worry hidden in the depths of her eyes and suspected there was something she wasn’t telling him.
“What is it?” He said, keeping his voice soft and non-threatening in an attempt to get her to confide in him.
“Nothing. You just need to get Rollo to do things like that. I am just a maid around here, and Edwards knows it.”
Aidan suspected that there had been some kind of altercation between the women again. He rather suspected that if he pushed, Petal would just deny it.
Making a mental note to ask Rollo about it later, he lay back against the pillows and listened to her read.
The following morning, Aidan eyed the tray full of breakfast waiting beside his bed hungrily. It was the first time he had ever felt the need to eat and eagerly sat up. He didn’t know why Petal hadn’t seen fit to wake him but, thankfully, the meal was still warm. Helping himself, he dug in.
At first, he was focused on assuaging his hunger. But then the strange taste began to filter through the delicious flavour of the bacon, ham, and eggs. The meal didn’t quite taste as it should do, and certainly wasn’t up to Mrs Kempton’s usual standards. It wasn’t that the meat was off or anything. He knew instinctively that his trustworthy housekeeper would be horrified to serve an old piece of meat. That’s what it tasted like.
Or did it?
He frowned absently at the fire while he chewed.
No, the food was just heavily peppered that was all.
Or was it?