Alyssa had summoned those who frequently mingled in the parlor, on the off chance that one of them might have caught a glimpse of the curious events of that particular evening.
The words she spoke were draped in courtesy, a veil that masked the gravity of the situation from them.
In truth, they should have been questioned days ago, but when Alyssa had reviewed the security footage, there was no sign of Mara doing anything suspicious outside.
With no cameras in the kitchen, it was a mystery what exactly Mara had been up to with her grandson.
"Really, it's nothing too serious. Just wondering if any of you happened to see what Ms. Lewis was up to that evening. It's just that Balfour had a bit of a spell, and, as his grandmother, I need to get to the bottom of it. Wouldn't want the young couple to have any misunderstandings," she said.
The staff exchanged glances. Sure, the affairs of the Howard household were none of their business, but it was no secret among them that the recently visiting Ms. Lewis had her sights set on Balfour, although Balfour had always remained indifferent.
They had even gossiped in hushed tones, speculating whether Ivy’s moving out was a result of a quarrel with Balfour.
Now it appeared Mara might be at the heart of the matter.
"Ms. Lewis's intentions are clear to us all, but it seems to us that Balfour doesn't share her affections. What exactly would you like us to share, Mrs. Howard?" asked Althea, taking initiative.
Having been with the Howards for many years, Althea had a good grasp of the family's sensitivities.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The Kiss that Sparked it All