Lady Steinhouse stared at the back of the man walking ahead of her, in a daze. What was this feeling? She could not describe it. They had not even made their way back to the sitting room before a servant delivered news to her; that the man in the cell had hung himself. She looked at the calm and straight back of the man who had not paused, even when she was sure he had heard the report. She nodded, waving away the servant. She had noticed she was starting to refer to him as a man.

Little did she know, the 'man' in front of her was not truly calm; he had heard what the servant had said. His hands lost life at the thought. This is obviously the effect he wanted, but he was no killer. The thought of sentencing someone to death did not sit well with him. He suddenly remembered the lady following him, and stopped. His abrupt pause caused Lady Steinhouse to crash into his frame. She was a dainty woman, and he, a much stronger and well-built man. Working in the stables meant, he at least had a firmer build than a lady that had never lifted a finger.

Lady Steinhouse discovered she had crashed into him and her wandering mind returned to her flesh. She turned red as Walter turned to face her.

“I do not guarantee I will help, but I will give you an answer soon,” Walter said, ignoring her red face.

“Mn,” she nodded absent-mindedly. Walter looked at her lost look and sighed.

“What are you distracted about?” he asked.

“You planned to kill him from the beginning, didn't you?” she asked looking up at him. They both seem to have forgotten how close they stood. But being this close, the lady finally realized in her head, 'he's tall.'

Walter frowned at her question.

“What makes you think so?” Walter's face darkened. Does she think he just sits home planning how to kill someone? He had not decided what to do until he arrived. Or else he would have brought his own rope to offer the man. Did she think he just walked into the ministry, hoping they had a rope waiting for him?

“You asked for a rope the moment you arrived. You talked him perfectly into a corner. You even said something about us having his family safe, which I'm very sure, I never instructed the ministry to do so,” she explained. He understood her logic but, it didn't make him feel any better. If not that, is she saying that he has done this before?

If she understood that he was just as clueless as she was, she would not believe him. He had already made up his mind the moment he heard the Mclears were looking for the man. He immediately thought that he must make this man disappear. He had only decided to kill him when he walked in; it was the safest disappearance he knew. What would she think if she knew he had but talked to the man, in hope that the man would not make him do it himself?

“Is that what you really want to ask me?” he changed the topic. She had obviously done all this to get a reaction or help of some sort from Lady Wickshire.

“Oh...will you really consider my problem?” she asked.

“Is it really up to me to consider it? I will see if she has a problem with it. Don't expect help. Instead, pray she does not truly care. That may be your best response. How do I tell you the result?” Walter asked.

Though he had talked to more nobility these days than anyone in his status, he still knew he could not just show up anywhere. He still needed his head. The Mr Jodanham affair was an attempt to gain trust from gentlemen that would not have looked at him twice and believed his wild claims.

He had to show some courage.

His question reminded her of her status. She immediately discovered their proximity and took a step back in embarrassment. She took a token from the small purse hidden in her skirt and handed it to him.

“This is a token of my family name. Present this when you arrive. And you will be let in through the side door,” she said, then winced at the meaning of her words. The side door was the servants' entrance. For some reason, she did not want him to feel as though she was haughty.

“It's just so you don't get noticed-I mean for secrecy-” she rushed to explain. Walter was not offended at all nor did he think it was necessary for her to explain herself. He nodded and left the same way he came, leaving the lady slightly flustered.