“It means, dear, dear Jane, do not believe all the gossip you hear,” Lady Elsbeth said, shutting the door firmly behind her.
CHAPTER 10
The generously greased hinges of the heavy oak door that closed off the ground floor family quarters from the remainder of the house opened silently. Jane crossed the threshold soundlessly and turned to pull the door closed behind her. Suddenly she stopped, one hand on the ornate brass latch. A frown pulled at the corners of her mouth. There, not twenty feet away, stood Jeremy—or rather,crouchedJeremy. The young footman was bent down to the keyhole, listening to the conversation in the parlor!
“Jeremy!” she called in a strident whisper. She pulled the door closed behind her with a snap.
Jeremy jumped and fell backward. His face flushed bright red. He unfolded his long legs and scrambled to his feet.
“Oh, Miss Jane!” he said excitedly as he hobbled toward her while brushing his backside. He paused to twist the tails of his coat forward, checking for telltale signs of dirt. Satisfied, he dropped them and hurried forward, skittering awkwardly to a stop before her.
Jane stood with arms akimbo, glaring at the footman.
“Miss Jane! I heard them! I heard Lord and Lady Willoughby and Lady Tipton.”
“I’m certain you did. Haven’t you been warned against eavesdropping? You shall never get a full butler’s position if you continue in your present manner!” she remonstrated him.
"Yes, ma’am, but?—”
“I don’t want to hear any excuses! If I catch you once more, I shall be forced to demote you and put David in your place until Mr. Nagel is well enough to resume his duties."
“I’m sorry, ma’am, but?—”
Jane’s patience fled. "Enough! All I want to know is if you understand me?”
“Yes,” the young man said miserably. He shifted from foot to foot, one hand clasping the fingers of the other, stroking them like worry beads.
“Now, I was coming to tell you I wished you to accompany us on this picnic today. It shall be your responsibility to lay out the blankets, set out the food, and serve everyone. You may choose one assistant. It shall also be your responsibility to watch over my nephews and keep them from mischief.”
“But who’ll be in charge here?” he blurted out.
Jane smiled thinly. "I think I shall appoint David. It will be good experience should he need to replace you in your duties.”
Jeremy blanched. "Yes, Miss Jane.”
“Go see that Cook has everything ready and arrange for its transport. Then I want you to check on the boys, see that they’re ready. Bertram will be riding a horse Lord Royce has provided. See that he is properly attired. You may go.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, bowing carefully. He turned to go, then stopped. "About Lady Tipton—” he began.
“Jeremy, I do not want to hear gossip! Particularly any garnered by an eavesdropping footman! Look at the trouble Henry Culpepper caused! Gossip only causes pain. You’d do well to remember that.”
He compressed his lips and hung his head. "Yes, ma’am,” he muttered and went off to finalize arrangements for the picnic.
Jane shook her head as she watched him walk toward the nether regions of the house. If she could only break him of the habit of eavesdropping, he’d make a fine butler. It would hurt her as much as him to see him demoted and demeaned. She sighed and walked toward the parlor.
When she opened the door, the conversation abruptly stopped.
Seated close together were her aunt and the Willoughbys. Millicent, a bored expression on her face, was making a circuit of the room, touching this object, then that. She looked expectantly toward the door, rolled her eyes, then resumed her aimless walk. The Willoughbys leaned back in their seats. Lady Willoughby picked up her workbag and began rummaging through it. Lady Serena rose to her feet swiftly.
“Jane, dear! There you are. We were just having a comfortable coze while we waited for you and Elsbeth. Lord Willoughby was telling me how much you remind him of a young niece of his. He says she has the same eyes and manner. Isn’t that quaint?”
“Quaint?" Jane asked with a laugh. "If you insist, Aunt.”
Lady Serena grimaced. "Please, Jane, do not call me Aunt. It makes me feel positively ancient! Just call me by my Christian name, as you do Elsbeth.”
Jane inclined her head in silent acquiescence. She walked over to the settee near the Willoughbys and sat down. "Everyone should be gathering shortly.” She turned toward Lady Willoughby. "I’m sorry, ma’am, you must think me a terrible hostess, for we haven’t had much opportunity to talk. Lady Serena wrote you were from the north. What part?"
"Yorkshire.”
