Viola squinted at her lady's maid as she managed to answer Viola's straight-forward question with a riddle. Ava was acting as if she were a double-agent trying to think of a good way to deliver information without incriminating herself.
Viola took a deep, fortifying breath, and a gulp of fortifying coffee and tried to think it through. When you leave could have been a vague reference to her theoretical nuptials to Linden, but it could just as easily been wishful thinking on Ava's part, considering that the girl was convinced Viola's leaving would be imminent. Not that she was necessarily wrong.
But then a picture seemed to click into place. A gentleman an interesting conversation. "Has Courtenay Auster been fresh with you?" Viola demanded anger flashing in her eyes at the very idea.