“Any others I should know about?” he asked Evan, referencing the other elitist Ton members who had shunned him as a child and whom he now avoided.
His friend shook his head.
Half of them now weighed more than he and had likely forgotten the childhood pranks, but seeing the bully turned earl in attendance put Robert off from further thoughts of the delicious curves of Miss Jenkins, and he moved on to other topics with Evan. He’d play with her if he had an opportunity, but odds were that she’d try for Evan like the rest of them.
****
Beth meandered through the halls of the main floor in the sprawling country home. She was restless, her needlework abandoned in the room where many of the ladies had gathered to gossip and stitch.
She’d been so excited to attend the most infamous house party in England, but this first day dragged interminably.
Lingering in the main hallway to watch servants’ activities as they readied rooms for the evening’s entertainment, Beth contemplated the gossip she’d heard about earlier parties at Cheltie’s. The whispers had covered everything from naughty versions of parlor games to orgies. But even her exceptional network and ability to ferret out information on all sorts of subjects had not unearthed more details.
Although…Cheltie hires from the school. She had recognized more than one housemaid.Oh. I hope the footmen are like-minded. That one is magnificent.
She scanned the particularly muscular footman’s form. The Cheltenham livery strained across his shoulders and was tight around his biceps. His rear made her mouth water, bulging in his knee breeches as he lifted and carried furniture to accommodate the night’s games. And his calves in those white hose.
I would love to test their firmness, then see if he is hard elsewhere. And why not, at this party of all places?
First, she must do her best to gain a meeting for Althea with Cheltie. Then she could play. But there was nothing stopping her from asking questions.
“Pardon me.” She tapped his arm as he returned from moving another chair into the ballroom.
“Yes, miss?” Even the tenor of his voice warmed her.
“Can you tell me what games will be offered tonight?”
He grinned. “’Fraid not. His lordship insists on secrecy until after dinner.”
“Is there nothing I could offer to convince you to share?” Beth licked her lips and trailed her hand over the neckline of her day gown, drawing his gaze.
He wiggled his eyebrows. “You are welcome to try.”
Well, I guess that answers my question about the footmen’s availability—and their loyalty.
She tried one more question. “I’d heard that Cheltie’s friend designs and makes leather goods that might be demonstrated for custom orders. Is that true?” She was partially seeking confirmation, as she’d heard about his skills from a contact rather than Penelope.
He seemed to debate whether he could answer her safely before nodding. “Yes.”
“Have you seen them? What are they like?” She was dying of curiosity, given the nature of the fête.
Penelope had mentioned Robert Orford, who she called Ford, as the other friend in Michael and Cheltie’s closest circle. Beth could not remember him. She’d likely met him at one or more of the London events they’d all attended, but the earl’s star burned bright, and it was difficult to see past him. Cheltie’s reputation matched hers, albeit with more acceptance than the Ton gave hers.
“I’m afraid I cannot share that information either, miss.” The footman shook his head. “I must return to work now, but I’ll be free later and I’ll look for you, shall I?”
“That sounds lovely.” Right, then. Learning about Robert and his leather work would have to wait. Between that delicious calfman—er, footman—and the prospect of new toys, she was excited. She’d do her best to garner Althea a meeting with Cheltie, and of course, she was always gathering information on people’s needs and skills to match them. But mostly, this trip was all about fun.
If only the fun would start. This must be how Cheltie builds suspense. Who needs that when we’ve all been looking forward to this since we were invited? Or invited ourselves, as the case may be.
She looked outside. Raining again. Beth had never sat still well, and with the more circumspect daytime activities being indoors and sedentary, she could not feign interest. She wondered what the male guests were doing.
“Beth.” Althea’s voice startled her. “I wondered if you were lost. Your needlework is here. Are you coming back?” Althea hovered in the doorway to the sitting room where the ladies had congregated.
“Cuz, I can’t sit still another minute.” Beth decided then and there. “I’m going to take a walk, rain or no rain. I’ll try not to dampen our room with wet clothing afterward.”
“Take a servant with you.”
Oh, good idea. Where did Calfman go?
