112 Chapter 112

She smiled. "Oh, I'm sure this is Catterton and very lovely it is too, although I did think Catterton was the name of your house in London, or I might have said before that-"

"This is Catterton. Don't have me showing you round if you're not planning on staying."

She set off behind him. "Oh, it's not that, Your Grace."

"Then what is it?"

"I just feel it is my duty to remind you of some things you appear to have forgotten."

"And what's that?"

"Firstly, these stairs seem quite dangerous, quite the one-fall-would-break-your-neck type. Perhaps that is what you wish for me, but I can't take my friend down there. I'll never get her up and down, and, pardon me, do, for saying, Mrs. Ferret doesn't look the helpful type. Just an observation, Your Grace."

He rounded the second bend without looking up. "Oh, Ferret looks the type to poison the supper."

"Indeed. In fact, you couldn't have put it better. That's why-"