Terra Incognita

67

Miss Aemilia was not receiving visitors at the moment. No, she was not unwell and in need of a doctor. If he really had to know, she was getting ready for the caterers’ dinner this evening.

Ruso explained that his visit was extremely important. Ness informed him that nothing was more important than the caterers’ dinner and besides, he was not to go upsetting Miss Aemilia just when she was feeling better.

“How about Tilla? Is she here?”

“No.”

“I need to talk to her urgently too. About something else. Where is she?”

“Out.”

Ruso gritted his teeth. “I want to warn her,” he said, “that the man who caused all the trouble with her family is in town.”

“She knows,” said Ness.

There was a movement behind her and Aemilia appeared. Her face was unnaturally white and one stray curling rag had escaped from the bright green cloth wrapped around her head. Ruso recognized the early stages of female preparation for an evening out. At this point the effect was alarming rather than attractive, and in the days when she was still interested in what he thought of her, Claudia had shooed him out of her bedroom until the job was complete-a task that could take anywhere from several minutes to several hours.

“My cousin is not at home,” Aemilia said as calmly if she had not screamed, Go away! at him last time he was there. “We don’t know where she went. There was somebody she did not want to see.”

He said, “Did she go by herself?”

Aemilia had said Let me just finish getting ready and I’ll come with you, Cousin, but Tilla had said she was in a hurry, picked up a cloak, and run out the door.

“Was Trenus the person she didn’t want to see?”

“He came to visit my father,” said Aemilia. “She heard them arguing and ran away.”

“Did she say where she was going?”

“Somewhere safe,” said Aemilia, unhelpfully.

Ruso took a deep breath. “While I’m here, there’s something very important…” The final words were spoken at rising volume, because Aemilia was retreating from the door. “I need to ask you some questions!” he shouted. “Aemilia, please! It’s about Felix!”

“You can ask the mistress questions at dinner,” said Ness, pushing the door closed in his face. “She has to get ready.”