"Yes," said Amberley. "At the moment she's staying here. My aunt fetched her last night."
"What a good soul Lady Matthews is!" said Fountain. "I call that being a real Samaritan. I suppose she'll have to stay till after the inquest, will she?"
"She can't go back to London till then. My aunt would like to keep her here, but unfortunately she won't stay. An independent female. We shall see you all at dinner tonight, shan't we?"
"Yes, rather. Looking forward to it very much," said Fountain, and took his leave.
Chapter Ten
It was Mr. Amberley who booked a room for Shirley at the Boar's Head, and it was Mr. Amberley who volunteered to transport her there. She was fighting very shy of him and would have preferred the services of Ludlow, but in the presence of Lady Matthews and Felicity she could hardly say so outright. She had arrived at a very fair estimate of Mr. Amberley's character, and she felt that a delicate hint would have no effect on him at all.
She was persuaded to lunch at Greythorne and left immediately afterwards. When she thanked Lady Matthews for her kindness she seemed to Amberley like a transformed creature. He heard warmth in her voice for the first time, and saw her fine eyes bright with unshed tears.
But when she got into the car beside him up went her barriers again, and she answered him in her usual monosyllabic style.
It pleased him to make idle conversation, such conversation as he might make to a casual acquaintance. She was rather at a loss, but suspicious, which amused him.
He drove her first to the cottage, so that she could collect her belongings. Mark's possessions would have to be packed up later; at present she shrank from the task.