Chapter 8Flora Oaklight’s private sitting room was situated on the first floor in the far west wing. I noted drily that Matthew had taken quarters as far from his sister as was possible. As I knocked, I felt a surge of irritation at the fact that Matthew had not thought to face his sister with me but had left me to deal with the woman without support. A voice called for me to enter. I put the thought aside and entered.
Despite the fire burning in the grate, the room had a slight chill to it. Looking around, I saw one of the curtains billow faintly where a window had been left open. A faint sooty tang to the air told me the fire was smoking slightly and the chimney in need of sweeping.
The room was otherwise furnished as a conventional middle-class sitting room. Its medieval origins were
