“Do not concern yourself.” She forced out the words. “Mistakes happen, my lord.”
He might regret kissing her, a lowly servant, but she would hold her head high.
His eyes hooded. “It was a mistake. Right.”
“We’ll forget this happened,” she said as briskly as she could.
“Is that what you want?”
“It is the sensible option, sir.”
A crease appeared between his brows. “And you will stay? Be my housekeeper?”
Of course that is his priority. Having someone to manage his blooming house.
Even if she had somewhere to go, the fact was that she likedher current situation…except for the humiliating incident that had just taken place with the lummox across from her. An ember smoked beneath her breastbone. While she might not be good enough to be his lover, she hadearnedthe right to keep his house.
She lifted her chin. “I am not going anywhere.”
“I am glad to hear it,” he said softly.
Needing to get away, she hopped off the table. Unfortunately, she’d used up her starch, and her knees wobbled. He caught her, and the contact with his hard length did not help her equilibriumat all.
“Have a care, Mrs. Wood.”
“I’m fine.” She pushed him away. “If you’ll excuse me, I have duties to attend to.”
She exited the servants’ hall, feeling the burn of his gaze.
ChapterTwelve
“I’m sorry for running, Mary. I panicked.”
Sitting at the scarred dressing table, Xenia met Alice’s pleading gaze in the mirror. She had been putting on the last touches of her nun’s costume when Alice found her. Resentment at the other’s betrayal smoldered, and Ethan’s words snuck into her head.
No good deed goes unpunished.
Not that she wanted to think about him. After their kiss, he’d left for London, accompanied by Mr. Valentine. He’d been gone a week, and Brunswick had no idea when he would be back. He hadn’t left her any message…which was no surprise. He’d made it crystal clear that he regretted kissing her. That he saw her as his servant and nothing more.
Two could play at that game.
Henceforth, she would only think of him in professional terms. She concentrated on her duties, determined to prove how capable she was. Luckily, Daisy and Berta, the maids she’d hired at the mop fair, were there to help. Daisy, a robust brunette, was a bit domineering, but timid blonde Berta had an easygoing nature that balanced things out. They’d cleaned the manor from top to bottom and helped Xenia replace the moth-eaten curtains with new ones purchased from the village draper.
William and Fred, the new footmen, were young but progressing under Brunswick’s guidance. William was shy, perhaps due to his unfortunate case of the spots. Xenia had given him one of her creams, which contained calendula to soothe his skin, and his complexion was on the mend. Fred was also a bit reticent, unless he was around animals. He was the only one who could manage the rooster Xenia had bought at the mop fair.
Dubbed “Brutus” by the staff, the bird strutted around the coop, his bright-red comb resembling an ancient Spartan helmet. Vigilant and bloodthirsty, Brutus attacked anyone he perceived as a threat to the hens. He made an exception for Fred, whom he graciously allowed into his domain to collect eggs.
In addition to the new household staff, Xenia had managed to retain the services of carpenters. Mr. Bailey had introduced her to his cousins twice removed, Thomas and Reggie Hirschfield. Expert woodworkers, the Hirschfield brothers had restored the double staircase and were fixing up the rest of Bottoms House. Day by day, Xenia could see her vision for the manor unfolding. As she knew from her experience living in dumps, a little care went a long way.
Give a house some care and attention, and it gives you what you need.
By the time Lord Ethan returned—if he returned—he would be in for a surprise. Xenia was going to stun him with her household management skills. She would prove to him that she was a consummate professional…and that she hadn’t given their stupid kiss another thought.
She told herself that things had worked out for the best. She needed her independence, not some grumpy and uppity lover. Thus, when the Abbess had left word of this evening’s masquerade, Xenia had jumped at the opportunity to resurrect Sister Sirena. The event was at a tucked-away manor several miles from Chuddums. Until the bawd could secure a permanent location, the masquerades had to be impromptu affairs, but news had spread, and the crowd downstairs surpassed even that of the old venue.
It was the perfect opportunity for Xenia to add to her savings. But first she had to deal with her colleague.
“Forget about it,” she said coolly as she adjusted her wimple.
