“No, sir.I’m sorry.I won’t do that again.”
“I want written apologies sent up to the house for those maids.”
“I don’t write very well.”
“Do you know how?”
“Yes, sir.But it’s not very neat.”
Trent shrugged.“Do your best.If you want to continue to work here, Lucas, you’re going to have to change that attitude.Womenwillbe respected on this estate.Is that clear?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Come with me.”
Gareth was right around the corner.“Whatever it was you had Anthony doing today, Lucas will be doing that every day for the next month.”
“Yes, sir,” Gareth responded with a nod.“I’ll see to it.”
Lucas groaned.
“If he gives you any trouble, or if he shows any disrespect for the women around here again, I want to know about it immediately.This is his final warning.”
Anthony was waiting for him, his hand on top of the post, just as he’d been told, but still fuming.Trent shook his head.He wasn’t sure what to do with the boy.His heart had definitely been in the right place.What would Ash do?
Trent pulled a coin out of his pocket and held it up.“For all your hard work today.”
“Really?”His eyes were wide.He held out his left hand, still keeping his right on top of the post.A wide grin grew on his face as Trent placed the coin in his palm.
“From now on, if someone you’re working with here is disrespectful, I want you to come to me with it.Don’t try to handle it yourself.”
“Does that mean I have to come back again tomorrow?”
“No.You did good work today, and although I don’t like that you got into a fight, your heart was in the right place.I want to offer you paid work.There are plenty of odd jobs that need to be done around here, and I know I can trust you to be respectful to the women in the house.Right?”
“Yes, sir!”He nodded excitedly.
“Good lad.Now go home and see if your mother needs any help.”
An hour later, Trent stood in the doorway of the dining room, simply watching.Samantha and Maggie were already seated at the table, and Maggie was eating… without him.He should be pleased by that.He was pleased.But there was a selfish little piece of him that hated the idea that she might grow out of needing him.
“Good evening, ladies.”
Both of their faces brightened as they looked up at him.
“Trent!”Maggie’s mouth was full, and she clapped a hand over it to keep her food from falling out.
“I’m glad to see you’re eating your dinner, Little Mouse.”
She swallowed before speaking this time.“I tried to wait for you, but Mantha said I shouldn’t let it grow cold.”
“Well, she was right.”
“I missed you at breakfast,” she said with a pout.
“I’m sorry.I promise I’ll be here to eat with you tomorrow.”
Samantha’s eyes never left him.She was a whole other problem.He was in danger of crossing boundaries he shouldn’t with her.
