The housekeeper and two footmen last week. Today, the nanny.
No one stayed for long.
As a former military officer, he found the lack of order in his own household appalling. It distressed him on a deeply personal level.
But unfortunately, unlike soldiers in a garrison, he couldn’t simply order servants to stay.
Instead, he would have to write yet another letter to his solicitor in Aberdeen, requesting more staff to be sent. Staff who knew well the importance ofsilenceanddiscretion.
“I don’t want a new nurse,” Madeline continued, squishing Fox’s cheeks between her small palms and giggling at his distorted face.
“Madeline,” Fox sighed through his scrunched lips.
“I want a new mamma,” his ward announced. Loudly. With all the naive sincerity of a small child who hadn’t a clue what she was truly asking.
The pummeled remains of Fox’s heart crumbled to dust.
A mother for her? Or was it more like a wife for hi—
“Eh-hum,” a man said behind him.
Fox whirled his head to find his only remaining footman, William, standing in the main doorway, not the small service door in the corner that Madeline had used. The man wore no livery, only a simple dark coat, because Fox hadn’t the wherewithal to sort something as complex as livery for his male servants.
“Lord Hadley to see you, Captain.” The man shot the maid—Bethany?—a censorious look before bowing to Fox.
Fox barely suppressed a grimace. Of course Hadley would appear when his household was shambolic.
“Show him up, and have Cook prepare some tea and biscuits.”
Fox declined to ask if he stillhada cook. Surely someone in the kitchen could produce something for his guest.
William nodded and left, but not before giving the maid another weighted glare. The workings of Fox’s staff were a mystery. All their interactions pulsed with undercurrents of unspoken words and weighty looks. Having spent most of his adult life with only one servant, his batman Thompson, it was odd to house an entire household of them now.
“I’ll just be taking Madeline back down tae the kitchens, Captain,” the maid said, edging closer, her freckles standing out on her face.
Madeline shook her head and wrapped her arms around Fox’s neck, clinging tight as she pressed kisses to his cheek. “No! I stay!”
“You’re taking her to the kitchens?” Fox pressed his lips to Madeline’s curls before prying her hands from his neck.
“Well, aye. Mrs. Addison is gone, and we cannae spare someone to tend tae Miss Madeline in the nursery. We’re already short-handed, as is.” Taking the squirming Madeline from Fox’s arms, the maid led her charge toward the corner door and the spiral staircase to the servant’s domain.
“Noooooo!” Madeline protested, leaning all her weight out, stretching a hand toward the feline now sitting on the rug grooming his right paw with an air of unconcern. “I want to pet Mr. Dandy. He let me hold him yesterday.”
Mr. Dandy flicked his tail—tauntingly deliberate, Fox was sure of it—and sauntered over to a window, jumping onto the sill.
“Mr. Dandy!!” Madeline yowled, clutching the door jamb.
“Lord Hadley, Captain,” William announced.
The maid finally pulled the little girl into the stairwell and shut the door with acrack.
Fox turned to face Hadley’s bemused expression. Clearly, the earl had heard much of Madeline’s ruckus.
“Please . . . don’t.” Fox held up a staying hand to his friend.
Hadley’s lips twitched. “Ye ken what I’m going tae say, don’t ye?”
“Hadley,” Fox warned, turning for the whisky decanter. He needed it now more than ever.
