I looked up after another moment to find myself gazing after Morano’s naked backside as he crossed the room to wash his face with the water basin. I was mesmerized by the knots of muscles along his back, and the mounds of flesh that led to his legs. I flushed a deep crimson and found myself unable to form coherent thoughts for a moment as Morano ran a damp towel over his broad shoulders.
“I’ll be wanting a bath tomorrow night,” Morano announced.
“Of course, my Lord,” Fournier replied, glancing back at me. He gestured to the discarded clothing on the floor and I blinked, remembering myself. I scrambled to gather the garments and with another look from Fournier, hurried from the room and down to the servants’ hall, where the rest of Morano’s travel attire had ended up for washing.
I was still burning from what I’d seen, but I busied myself with cleaning Morano’s boots until Fournier returned.
Being a valet was so … intimate. I’d had my own valet at La Vallée, but he’d been my grandfather’s age and I’d known him all my life. It was nothing to disrobe in front of him. But seeing Morano in such a way, I wasn’t sure I would be able to meet his eyes without blushing from the memory of his beautiful body.
“I hope you’re free to help tomorrow night,” Fournier said, stalking into the room with the air of someone who was busy. “It’s a two-person job to haul the bath into his lordship’s chamber, and keeping the water warm can be a challenge.”
I blinked, trying to push away thoughts of that body sprawled out in a bathtub. “But I have my duties.”
“Can’t be helped. His lordship requested you specifically. I’ll clear your evening with Grimes.”
“Of course,” I agreed, although my mind was racing. Whenever I’d taken a bath, it had been behind a screen, and my valet had merely handed me my clothing, although I knew that some men preferred their valets to be more attentive. For my sake, I hoped that Morano was modest. I wasn’t sure I would get through such an experience without blushing furiously, and perhaps giving myself away. Liking men had completely ruined my old way of life. I couldn’t afford for it to happen again, or where else would I go?
As the hour of apprehension approached the next evening, I braced myself to help serve the family dinner. I hadn’t had much to do when it had only been Count Montoni, standing at attention and filling his wine every so often. Now that his nephew and niece were back, and some neighbors had been invited over, I couldn’t coast by as a wallflower.
Donning white gloves and willing myself to be steady, I followed Grimes through the hall to the dining room. A row of suits of armor led to intimidating, oversized doors boasting metal rings as door handles. Very medieval. It made me feel as if I were going to face the Inquisition in a dark dungeon. I swallowed hard as the sun lowered in the sky through the windows, the weak light reflecting off the metal armor once worn by honored knights, clawlike gauntlets holding on to swords and morning stars as if ready to fight from beyond the grave. The helmets were closed, but even without seeing that empty darkness within, they felt ominous, the protruding faceplate giving them the appearance of birds of prey, watchful and waiting.
I’d been served meals all my life, so I knew what was expected of me at supper, but it was still easier said than done. Leaning over with a serving dish at just the right angle and height, ensuring the utensils were facing who I was serving, were little things to many, but to a servant, they were what lay between employment and begging on the streets. I noted Grimes watching me with an extra careful eye as I offered the first dish to Montoni, who took a good portion of onion sauce with his broiled duck.
I managed not to drop the tray on him, so I counted that as a point in my favor.
I made sure the serving spoon was secure, my finger lingering on it for a moment. Another noteworthy quirk of the Montoni household was that all of the cutlery was gold. And I believed it to berealgold. It was a bold way to brag about one’s wealth. After all, any visitors would be a captive audience to the splendor at mealtimes.
As I approached Lady Morano, I noted her lustrous blonde hair, a contrast to her brother and uncle’s dark hair. She was very pretty, and when she smiled, her whole face lit up, features lightening in a way that put those around her at ease. Just now, she seemed dreadfully bored of the conversation coming from Count de Villeforte to her right. As I drew nearer, I heard him speaking about parliament and sympathized with her. Upon seeing me, she brightened. “Oh. A new face in the château?”
I bowed courteously as Grimes straightened and answered for me. “He is the new Second Man, my ladyship. He was hired last week.”
“Ah. And does he speak? And have a name?”
I suppressed a smile. “Yes, my lady. I am Dupont.”
“Wonderful,” Lady Morano tilted her head to look me over. “It’s good to have someone so young and handsome to ring for.”
“He will not be replying to any of your calls, Blanche,” Count Montoni said, his nasally voice haughty. “You know better. No corrupting or cavorting with the servants.”
“I was merely making an observation.” Blanche winked at me. “I wouldn’t dream of corrupting him. But he is handsome. Wouldn’t you agree, Henri?”
I looked up to find Count Morano watching me. “As you say, sister.”
“And where are you from … Dupont, was it?”
Montoni cleared his throat. “Enough chatting with the help, Blanche. You have perfectly good conversationalists on either side of you with much more fascinating things to say, I’m sure.”
I bit back a retort and had to fight to school my features into indifference as I carried on with my duties, offering the serving tray to Blanche. To her credit, she offered me an apologetic smile on behalf of her uncle but said no more to me.
“Oh, I claim the bath tonight,” Blanche said as I strode over to Henri with the duck course.
Henri,I thought, taking in the count’s handsome face once more. It somehow suited him. And unlike his sister, who seemed rather carefree, he seemed to be performing for the company, eyes watching everyone around him, calculating, as if waiting to strike.
“Oh, no, sister,” Henri teased, his voice surprising me with its levity, given what I’d just been thinking. “I am far dirtier than you. It’ll be a right scandal if I don’t scrub out what’s caked beneath my nails.”
“Really, Henri?” Montoni scowled, shaking his head. “That is hardly proper talk for supper.” He paused. “And ladies first. If your sister is to find a good match, she must always be ready to receive company.”
Henri scooped a good portion of duck out of my tray and smirked up at me as he replaced the spoon. “It seems that you get a reprieve, Dupont.”
