Free Far From Home by Valerie Wood

him. But as coal workers, not as owners. ‘And so you decided to take a chance in America? Did you come alone?’ she asked pertinently.
    Could this be true? But why is Allen using Edward Newmarch’s name? I must find out before I challenge him.
    ‘No.’ He appeared to hesitate. ‘I came with a – friend, but we went our separate ways. He – we were staying in New Orleans, then he moved to California.’
    One of the staff came up to Wilhelm Dreumel. ‘Beg your pardon, Mr Dreumel, but your table is ready.’
    Wilhelm Dreumel turned to Georgiana and asked if she would care to join them for supper.
    ‘Thank you, no,’ she said. ‘I’m sure you and Mr
Newmarch
,’ she emphasized the name, ‘have much to discuss. Miss Kelly and I have a table in the corner.’ She indicated a table already set for two. ‘And we need to make plans.’
    ‘Of course.’ Dreumel bowed and Allen backed away, a grim expression on his face. ‘I trust that we will meet again soon.’
    He’s such a nice man, Georgiana mused, thinking of Wilhelm Dreumel. I can’t let him be taken in by that impostor. And what has happened to Edward? She thought of her cousin May, totally without means of her own and dependent on her father. I must write and tell her. If Edward is dead, for that blackguard could have disposed of him, then she might be able to get her dowry back. If there’s anything left of it.
    ‘Miss Gregory!’ Kitty whispered. Her blue eyes were wide as they sat down at the table and waited to be served. ‘That’s Robert Allen! Mr Newmarch’s valet! I met him once when I went with you to see Mrs Newmarch. He was cleaning his shoes! Mr Newmarch’s shoes, I mean!’
    ‘I know,’ Georgiana answered in a low voice. ‘And he knows that we know. But what to do? That’s the question.’
    Kitty’s eyes grew even wider and her red hair seemed to stand on end. ‘Suppose – do you suppose that he’s done something dreadful to Mr Newmarch?’
    ‘I do hope not,’ Georgiana said, then as their food was brought to the table, murmured, ‘Kitty, get on with your supper. We must act as if there is nothing untoward until I have had time to think.’ She began her soup. ‘I don’t think he’s wearing his own clothes: they don’t seem to fit well.’
    ‘He’s mebbe had to buy more,’ Kitty whispered hoarsely. ‘Mebbe the others got bloodstained and he had to get rid of them!’
    ‘Kitty!’ she admonished, though the same thought had crossed her own mind. ‘We must remain calm until we find out the truth.’
    The truth, or what was deemed to be the truth, came later that evening. They finished their supper, took a short walk into one of the nearby gardens and then returned to the Marius. Robert Allen was sitting by himself in the hotel lounge with a glass of ale on the table in front of him. He rose from his seat when he saw them enter, obviously intending to speak.
    ‘Go on up, Kitty. I mean to have a few words with Robert Allen,’ Georgiana said in a tight voice.
    ‘Are you sure, miss?’ Kitty was alarmed. ‘He might be dangerous.’
    ‘He’s hardly likely to attack me in full view of the hotel staff!’ Georgiana asserted. ‘Off you go. I shall be perfectly all right.’
    With several backward glances Kitty mounted the stairs and Georgiana moved towards Allen, whose expression was pinched and nervous.
    ‘So, Allen.’ She refused to afford him the dignity of a prefix to his name and saw him flinch. ‘You have assumed another name, and one which does not rightly belong to you!’
    ‘Miss Gregory! It is not what it might seem. Won’t you sit down and I will try to explain?’
    ‘It is not what it might seem!’ she said coldly. ‘
What
is not as it might seem? It appears to me that you are masquerading as someone else. That is perfectly obvious from where I am standing, no matter what it might
seem
to be!’ She didn’t sit down as he had requested but remained standing firmly in front of him. ‘What has happened