Manella had only just got back to the kitchen when one of the footmen came in to say,
“The Comte wishes to speak to you, miss. He be in the writin’ room.”
“And where is that?” Manella enquired.
“I’ll show you right away,” the footman replied.
He was a rather good-looking young man and he smiled at her before he went ahead.
They passed by the pantry and then going towards the hall there was a door on the right hand side of the corridor.
The footman opened it and Manella saw that it was a small well-furnished writing room with two desks.
One wall was covered with what seemed an avalanche of books and there were plenty of comfortable chairs and sofas scattered over the room.
Standing waiting for her was one of the Frenchmen who she had heard speaking in the Chapel.
As the footman clo
