I swallowed hard, feeling Grimes’s eyes on me.
The butler cleared his throat then and addressed the family. “I hadn’t realized that Fournier had been found lacking. I’m sure a replacement can be procured, but if this is a first offense, may I suggest that he was just out of sorts on this one occasion?”
“It’s been a gradual decline,” Henri declared with a regretful sigh.
“Then I can take out an advertisement in the papers for a replacement. You see, we need a Second Man. Dupont was hired specifically for the role, and I’m afraid we can’t leave it vacant for long.”
“That’s why my solution is so ingenious,” Henri beamed. “They will simply trade roles. That way, poor Fournier will still be employed and looked after by the family for his many years of service. I’m sure he could handle the duties of Second Man, just as I’m sure Dupont could meet the challenge of valet with little effort.”
Grimes had gone pale, and his mouth kept opening and closing like a fish, as if completely flabbergasted. I couldn’t blame him. I felt rather the same.
“What do you say, Uncle?” Henri asked Montoni.
“Fine, fine,” Montoni said, and waved his hand as if to dismiss the topic. “See that it’s taken care of, Grimes.”
Grimes bowed stiffly. “Yes, my lord.” When he straightened, he sent me a murderous look, and my eyes widened. He approached me and stopped to stand beside me as we watched the family dine. “Was this your design?” he demanded in a whisper.
“No,” I said in a low voice. “I swear it. I had no idea. I don’t even want to be valet.” Truthfully, I was terrified at the prospect of being valet. My incompetence could reveal my true station. And I already found it difficult to spend time around Henri without getting flustered. To spend many more hours at his side could be downright disastrous.
Grimes sighed. “Well, there’s no way around it. Congratulations on your promotion, Dupont.” He stepped forward to fill Montoni’s wine glass as I met Henri’s level gaze. There seemed to be a promise in his eyes. I wasn’t sure I liked the look. But it was done. I would be spending more time with Count Morano, whether I wanted to or not.
I stood awkwardly in the doorway of Henri’s bedchamber after a timid knock.
Henri smiled up at me from where he’d been lounging on his bed with a book.The Count of Monte Cristo,a book I rather enjoyed. So, we had something in common at least. “Ah. You’re here.”
“I am here,” I agreed, unsure as I stepped inside and closed the door behind me. “I’m not sure what I’m supposed to be doing, to be honest.”
Henri tossed aside his book and sat up, eyes drifting over me, as if wondering what to make of me. “You cut a handsome figure in your new uniform. As I imagined you would.”
“Thank you, my lord,” I said, self-conscious as I looked down at my simple black suit. It was actually a little small and dug into my waist, but it was the best that could be done on such short notice. New clothes had been ordered but wouldn’t likely arrive for a fortnight. Until then, I would have to suffer through it.
“Are you happy with your promotion?”
“I … I was happy in my old position.”
Henri laughed and bounded to his feet, striding over to me quickly. He looked down at me with a mischievous grin. “That wasn’t an answer. See? That’s why I think we’ll get along very well. That, and how you managed to save my sister from catastrophe. She was the talk of the ball, you know, thanks in no small part to your skills.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Henri placed a finger under my chin and lifted my face until I was looking into his fiery green eyes. “If you can manage to make a girl look that stunning, taking care of me should be simple enough. Men are much more straightforward when it comes to dress and hair. You needn’t worry.”
I swallowed hard as he removed his finger but held my gaze. I didn’t know what to say, so I awaited his direction.
“Typically, my valet will choose my outfits for me. You will help me in and out of my clothes. Will that be a problem?”
I felt blood rushing to my face. “I … no, sir. No problem.”
Henri smiled knowingly. “See. The evidence is right on that adorable face.” He leaned forward until our faces were mere inches apart. “But I’ll be polite and disclose my secret first.”
My eyes widened. He … he couldn’t know who I was. Unless Alexander had been in the neighboring town the previous night to flush me out, after all. My nails dug into my palms as I clenched them, trying to come up with something clever to say in my defense, or to refute the claims. But my mind came up blank, and I doubted I would be able to deflect what was coming.
“I like men,” Henri announced, watching me with a level gaze, as if waiting to gauge my reaction.
I blinked. Oh. Did he meanthatsecret? Could he possibly have inferred that I liked men as well? Apparently, I had so many secrets that it was hard to keep track.
“Sir, it’s an honor to have your confidence. I’m not sure what that has to do with me, but I swear I will—”
“Will the fact that I like men get in the way of your duties?” he cut me off.
