Enola POV, Autumn 1889

The rest of the journey to Cawdor castle was unremarkable. Julia had given Enola a lecture on the dangers of impropriety as they got ready for bed in the inn in Edinburgh, which Enola grumbled about. Especially since she was sure Tewkey would be left alone to read or sip brandy before sleeping if he wished. They arrived in Nairn just after luncheon, where a carriage pulled by two clydesdales stood awaiting them.

When they finally got to the castle, Enola and Tewkesbury were introduced to the Earl and Countess of Cawdor, as well as their family and the various guests who were visiting. Enola decided that this wasn't the best time for asking questions, as the group was too involved in the conversation and they wouldn't stop commenting on how lovely the weather was for October. Instead, she asked Tewkesbury to set up a meeting with the Earl and Countess after breakfast the next day.

Not a half hour after they had arrived, Julia suggested that Enola go upstairs to nap until it was time to get ready for dinner. This, Enola knew was Julia's way of saying 'I am tired and I cannot leave you without supervision.' She thought about fighting the idea, but she needed to be in Julia's good books if the case necessitated dangerous or improprietess actions to investigate. So she lay quietly on the bed, going over the case in her brain until a maid came in to wake her for dinner.

After dinner, Enola and Julia were asked to follow the Countess of Cawdor and the other female guests to the drawing room where they sipped tea daintily and exchanged gossip. One after another they asked Enola questions about her family, her relationship with Tewkesbury, even the gown she was wearing.

"So why did Viscount Tewkesbury bring you to Cawdor?" A lady in her 30s with shocking blue eyes and an English accent asked curiously, "It is a very long way to go for a man you are not yet married to."

"I believe Tewkesbury said that he was due for a visit and wanted a companion so he was not lumped in with the rowdy bachelors." Enola explained in her most refined voice, trying to come up with a reasonable lie.

The ladies all looked shocked for a minute before a girl who looked like she had just moved out of the nursery – the Earl's oldest daughter if Enola recalled correctly – started giggling. The Countess looked at the girl reproachfully before laughing herself. Soon a chain of ladylike laughs whirled around the room, making Enola feel a lot more comfortable.

Even Julia was laughing but whispered in Enola's ear, "A more polite way to say that would be 'to keep the numbers even.'"

Sometime later – while the girl Enola had correctly identified as Lady Isla Cawdor was playing the piano – the gentleman joined them in the drawing room. Enola could faintly smell brandy and cigars on them as she searched for Tewkey among the crowd. He was at the back talking animatedly with a man who looked twice his age. The playing stopped and the young girl blushed as Tewkey told her she had improved before taking his seat beside Enola.

"Lady Isla has had a crush on me for years," he teased quietly, eyes ablaze with mischief and tipsiness, "But you have nothing to worry about, she's only fifteen and still plays with dolls."

"How much have you had to drink?" Enola smiled, rolling her eyes.

Tewkey pouted slightly, "I may have overindulged, but not enough to leave me with a headache tomorrow."

"You're as bad as Sherlock." Enola sighed, wondering if he would be proven wrong in the morning.

Not discouraged, Tewkey handed her a small silver flask, "Try some, it's soothing," he suggested, "But just a sip or two, it is stronger than you think."

Enola considered for a moment before taking the flask and discreetly pouring a tiny bit into her tea. As she sipped she noted that it certainly was as strong as she thought and almost hurt to swallow, but then decided that the warmth it left behind was indeed soothing. She nodded her approval before once again getting caught in conversation with the woman who had asked her why she had come.

Half an hour or so later one of the ladies, who seemed days away from entering her confinement, announced that she was going to bed and slowly the group dissipated as they all decided that was a good idea. Enola, knowing she had to have her wits about her tomorrow as they further investigated Adelaide's disappearance, joined them.

She was slowly wandering back to the room she was sharing with Julia - admiring the paintings as she walked - when a hand grabbed hers and pulled her into an unlit corridor. Enola was a second away from punching the figure when her eyes adjusted to lack of light and saw Tewkey smirking down at her.

"Tewkesbury, you really should give me more warn..." She protested, but was once again interrupted by his lips on hers.

Not the worst interruption ever. She thought as she happily joined the kiss, snaking her hands around to the back of Tewkesbury's neck.

Suddenly she stepped back and shushed him, not that he was really making that much noise. Two seconds later a couple walked past, talking about someone's ailing mother, not at all noticing that Enola and Tewkesbury were five feet away, looking slightly dishevelled.

When they were out of earshot, Enola whacked him on the chest and whispered sharply, "They could have caught us, and then we would be on the next train back to London."

Tewkesbury looked less alarmed and more mock hurt by her violence, so Enola added, "And thus we would have to go back to the Duke of Montagu empty-handed."

That did the trick. Tewkesbury nodded sombrely for a moment before the mischief returned to his eyes, "Meet me here in an hour, everyone will be asleep by then so we won't be caught."