“Your aunt will explain. I would rather not,” Grace said.
There was something wrong, Rex was sure, and he finished lunch before the others and left the salon just in time to see Bertha half-way up the second flight of stairs. Bounding up two steps at a time, he soon stood beside her, with his hand on her arm to help her up the next flight.
“I have not seen you this morning. Where have you kept yourself?” he asked, and she replied:
“I have been busy in your aunt’s room.”
“Where is her maid?” was his next question, and Bertha answered:
“She has been gone some time.”
“And you fill her place?”
“I do what Mrs. Hallam wishes me to.”
“Why were you not at lunch?”
“I have been to lunch.”