Ida rose even earlier than usual the following morning, and crept about the house performing as many of both her and Prudence's daily tasks as she could manage. It looked as though her efforts to make amends might have paid off a little when, just before 7, as she knelt scrubbing the front step, she heard Prudence behind her, saying

'I've made the tea. Come in the kitchen and have a cup…'

Ida smiled

'Thanks, I'll be right there…'

She returned to the scrubbing with renewed vigour...

…just as a pair of brown leather boots appeared in front of her.

Ida raised her head slowly, observing dark blue trousers, a jacket trimmed with silver brocade, some highly polished silver buttons and…

…the face of Eddie, the footman from the Fortescue house.

Ida fought to keep recognition out of her eyes, but he was already staring at her in blatant curiousity...

'Hello,' he said, 'Do I…'

The confusion in his eyes vanished, only to be replaced seconds later with a more troubled expression of puzzlement…

'Prudence?' he asked

Ida struggled to think how to respond, but the silence was broken by another voice

'I'm Prudence,' came the disapproving tones of the woman herself, still standing in the hallway, 'and who might you be?'

'You're called Prudence?' exclaimed Eddie, 'Oh, sorry, I was talking to Prudence here,'

He gestured towards Ida, who was still kneeling on the doorstep, oblivious to the water that was now soaking into her skirt from the scrubbing brush she held uselessly

'That is Miss Ida Greene,' said Prudence, advancing on the doorway, 'and you still have not introduced yourself…'

'Pru,' Eddie addressed Ida, 'I really don't understand… But I can tell you that the housekeeper back at the Fortescues…'

'Look, boy, we haven't the time for your babbling,' said Prudence, 'I've never seen you before in my life, and nor has Ida.' She shot Ida a stern look, and said questioningly 'have you, Ida?'

'I…' Ida stammered, 'No, of course not…'

Eddie's eyes narrowed. Ida knew that hers conveyed desperation, and hoped he would be sympathetic…

'…well…' he said, slowly, 'I suppose I must have been mistaken. Sorry, miss.'

Prudence snorted. Ida quickly cut in to say

'So why did you come here, E…' she stopped herself from saying his name just in time, but the suspicion in his eyes grew even deeper. She cursed her own stupidity. Perhaps Holmes had been right, and she was a complete liability.

'I was sent to deliver a note.'

'A note,' said Prudence, 'well, hand it over.'

Eddie brought a folded piece of cream coloured paper out of his pocket and laboriously read the copperplate script on the front

'It says it's for a Miss Greene…' his eyes slid over to Ida, 'And my master was most specific that it was to be delivered to her hands only.'

Ida stood up quickly, accidentally kicking over the bucket she had been using as she cleaned the step. Soapy water cascaded down the street. Eddie hopped out of the way, exclaiming

'Watch out!'

'I am Miss Greene,' said Ida, extending her hand, 'Please?'

'I am the head servant here,' said Prudence, 'all correspondence is to be handed to me.'

'What?' cried Ida, 'since when? You never…'

'…it's the rules, Ida, you know that…'

Eddie stared from one to the other in bemusement

'He did say it was rather urgent,' he offered

'Prudence, please!' said Ida, 'I have to see what that note says!'

'So you shall,' came the reply, 'but only after I have…' and splashing through the puddle that had formed around the wooden bucket, Prudence plucked the note from the footman's surprised fingers. Ida made a grab for it, but Prudence raised her hand above her head. Eddie wisely backed away to a safer distance.

'Prudence, give it to me,' hissed Ida through clenched teeth, but to no avail.

'I have to know what's going on, Ida.'

'Don't you trust me, Pru? Don't you trust that I wouldn't be doing anything bad?'

'I used to trust you, Ida.'

The sorrowful, betrayed expression in Prudence's eyes shocked Ida as much as if she had been physically struck. She took a step backwards, and stared at the dirty water swirling round the toes of her shoes, fighting back tears.

Satisfied that no one was going to snatch it from her, Prudence unfolded the note. She appeared to give it the merest cursory glance before saying quietly,

'Ida. Explain this, please.'

Ida looked up, sniffing, to see Prudence extending the note towards her. Gulping with trepidation, she took the paper, and read

'Miss Greene,

You were correct!

I must see you.

Please come to where we met last night as soon as you can. I shall be there until noon.

C'

Ida met Prudence's sad gaze

'You know the rules about seeing men,' she said,

'I know! And this is not what you think!' exclaimed Ida,

'Don't lie to me, Ida, it's not like you…'

'I'm not lying!'

'Ida…this must be very hard for you, but unless this ends right now then I will be forced to tell Mrs Beech…'

Ida closed her eyes tightly, her mind in turmoil, trying to think of a way to escape…

…'Excuse me?' came Dr Watson's voice

All 3 servants standing in the road turned to see the doctor, resplendent in a navy blue towelling dressing gown, standing in the doorway,

'Um…I don't want to be any trouble, but last night I did ask for morning coffee at 7, and it's gone ten past…'

'Oh,' cried Prudence, 'I am sorry doctor!'

Prudence's attention momentarily distracted, Ida saw her chance. She had to know what Clarence had discovered. Turning on her heel, she sprinted off in the direction of Derwentwater.

'Ida!' what do you think you're doing?' came a shout from behind her, 'get back here!'

'Sorry!' Ida threw back over her shoulder, 'But believe me, I will explain…'

'Fine!' yelled Prudence, 'Go! But you won't have a job here to return to!'

………

Prudence's words had stung. But, as Ida ran, she became more and more convinced that it was mere posturing. She and Prudence had run the boarding house side by side for 3 years now, during which time they had become firm friends. A little misunderstanding couldn't undo all that, could it? Prudence wouldn't actually go and tell Mrs Beech, any more than she herself would have done if their places were reversed… With comforting thoughts like these, Ida's pace slowed. Her heart, which had been hammering fit to burst, calmed down, and her breathing came more easily. When she finally reached the lakeside, it was at a composed yet brisk walking pace.

Clarence was nowhere to be seen. Ida scrambled onto a wooden crate that was lying near to the jetty, and scanned around her. Still no sign. She wandered over to the rowing boats that were lined up at the water's edge, awaiting tourists to hire them out as the day progressed. One of them seemed much smarter than the rest, gleaming with fresh paint. She stood for a moment or so, looking vaguely in its direction, her mind elsewhere.

It was already warm, even at this early hour. This time, before hordes of holidaymakers descended on the lake, yet still with sunlight glimmering off the reflected mountains in its depths was truly her favourite…

…running footsteps on the gravel behind her shattered the early morning peace. Ida's head snapped round to see the source of the commotion, but before her brain even had time to recognise the figure, it cannoned into her, pushing her over the edge of the painted rowing boat. Winded by the impact on the wooden surface, she lay helpless as the boat was shoved off from the gravely shore. She closed her eyes, as someone clambered aboard, making the boat sway drunkenly from side to side. Fighting for breath, she struggled to sit up, but was shoved back down

'Please keep down, for goodness sake!'

'What's…' she managed to wheeze out, 'happening?'

A face swam into view above hers,

'Are you injured, Miss Greene?'

'Clarence?'

Thanks loads for all the reviews! And apologies for such a long delay with this chapter...

About Jeremy Brett, afraid I haven't seen him in My Fair Lady...though I have of course seen him as Holmes... Which raises an interesting question - what's the best Holmes dramatisation on TV, film, radio etc. My absolute favourite has to be the BBC radio version with Clive Merrison and Michael Williams(available on internet radio BBC7 for anyone who hasn't had the pleasure!)