There was a long pause before Mrs Fitch turned her face aside. ‘On your head be it.’
‘Good, and I think it would be a wise idea to increase everyone’s wages too.’
‘Everyone’s?’
‘Yes, yourself included, of course. Now, about the fair.’
Mrs Fitch’s head whipped back again. ‘What about the fair? The arrangements are already in place.’
‘And I’m sure they’re all excellent. I’d just like to make a few additions to the programme. Music and dancing, for example.’
‘There’s a maypole.’
‘For the children, yes, but I’m sure a lot of adults would appreciate the chance to—’
‘I must protest!’ The housekeeper sounded appalled. ‘The fair is a sober and dignified occasion, exactly as the former marquess wished. There has never been any dancing, nor has anyone ever complained about it to me.’
‘Perhaps they’ve been worried about how you might react?’ Florence cleared her throat. ‘Just because nobody’s said anything doesn’t mean they wouldn’t enjoy a little music. But if you’re worried, it could be in the evening, once all the picnicking and prize-giving is over.’
‘That would be even worse. Once it gets dark, who knows what depravity it might lead to? Next you’ll be telling me the staff should be allowed to attend.’
‘Well, yes, actually, once the picnic is over, I can’t see why they shouldn’t—’
‘My lady,’ Mrs Fitch rose to her feet, ‘might I have your permission to withdraw?’
‘If you wish.’ Florence sighed. ‘If you need some time to think about it all, I completely understand.’
‘I do not require time to think. You and your ideas areexactlywhat my former master warned me of.’
‘He warned you about me?’
‘This entire situation!’ The housekeeper tossed her head. ‘And I know exactly what he would have expected me to do about it!’
‘Sewell, Mrs Fitch…what is this about?’ Leo set his ledger and quill aside as his steward and housekeeper came to stand infront of his desk. Rimmer had just been in to inform him, with a particularly pointed look, that the pair of them were requesting a meeting, but whatever the matter was he hoped they’d make it quick. The dinner bell would be ringing soon, and he was impatient to see Florence again. After spending two days alone together in a carriage, it had felt strange to spend so much time apart, but he’d had so many practical matters to catch up on, he hadn’t even stopped for lunch. Most of his day had actually been spent with Sewell, a fact that made his steward’s reappearance now even stranger.
‘We’ve come to speak with you about a sensitive matter, my lord.’ Sewell tipped his head so far back, Leo could practically see up his nostrils. ‘In fact, we believe it is our duty to do so.’
‘Indeed?’ He leaned back in his chair, bracing himself. ‘Go on.’
‘Since your return from London, there have been some alarming developments.’
‘You mean, my return from London yesterday? Less than twenty-four hours ago, in fact?’
‘Yes, my lord. Although really, it began before that, with the arrival of the herd.’
‘Sewell, didn’t we discuss that this morning?’ Leo pressed a hand to his forehead. ‘You’ve made your feelings about the new cattle very clear, so if you’re here to denounce them again—’
‘It’s not just about that, my lord. I’ve also recently been told about some new and extremely alarming developments.’
‘Her Ladyship is out of control!’ Mrs Fitch burst out.
Leo lifted an eyebrow in surprise. In one moment, his housekeeper had just demonstrated more emotion than she had in the entire rest of the time he’d known her. ‘That’s quite a charge. What exactly has she done?’
‘It’s more a question of what she hasn’t done. She wants to destroy my entire life’s work!’
‘How so?’
‘She wishes to hire undesirables, to increase the staff’s wages and holidays, and to allow dancing at the fair!’ The housekeeper’s face was turning an alarming shade of puce.
