His hair was dripping onto his collar. Instead of summoning his housekeeper immediately he decided to return to his apartment and restore his appearance.
His valet, Jenkins, behaved as if there was nothing untoward about his dishevelled and damp appearance. Freshly garbed in dark blue topcoat, snowy white shirt and grey waistcoat James was ready to do battle.
The two footmen that had vanished earlier from their positions in the hall must have heard him coming for they were standing to attention as if they were soldiers waiting to be inspected by their captain.
'Have Bedford attend me in my study directly,' he barked at the nearest.
There was no necessity for him to repeat his orders. They were always obeyed instantly and to the letter. He wasn't a demanding master, preferred not to see any of them. As long as the house was kept immaculate, his meals were served on time, he'd no complaints.
He left the door open and remained standing. What he intended to say to his housekeeper would be brief and to the point. Scarcely a minute or two after issuing his order she arrived in a rustle of bombazine. She curtsied but didn't seem nervous.
'You wish to see me, my lord?'
His expression was arctic. He left her standing for a few moments before speaking.
'If you ever treat members of my family with such disrespect again you will be dismissed without reference. Do I make myself quite clear?'
Something flashed in his housekeeper's eyes that gave him pause. She wasn't cowed by his reprimand and that was odd. She had been in situ when he'd inherited the title, as had the butler and most of the staff. As they were efficient, he'd seen no need to make changes.
'Well? I'm waiting for your response.'
'I wasn't aware that I had treated the young ladies with disrespect. I beg your pardon, my lord, but what is it they've complained about?'
'Why did you not provide them with refreshments when they arrived? Why did you not greet them and personally escort them to their rooms?'
'They did not ask for any, my lord. I was busy about my duties and did not feel it necessary to abandon them for so slight a reason.'
This was the outside of enough. The woman was being deliberately obstructive and her days as housekeeper here were over.
'You are impertinent. You are dismissed from Avon Court. You will leave here first thing tomorrow.'
Finally, the wretched woman showed some emotion. 'You cannot dismiss me for so flimsy a reason, my lord. I've been employed here for a decade and a half, have given my life to this family and have had no complaints until today.'
'I can dismiss you for no reason at all. The fact that you think it wise to argue in so insolent a way just reinforces my decision.' He turned his back on her and waited until he heard her footsteps clattering back the way she'd come.
He walked to the door and yelled for one of the footmen who came running. 'Fetch Foster.'
He paced his study not exactly regretting his hasty action but wondering if his house could function efficiently without a housekeeper to keep things in order.
Foster had also been butler here in his father's time so might well be outraged at his summary dismissal of the woman he'd been working alongside for possibly fifteen years or more.
His butler, despite having been running the house for so long, wasn't an old man. He was of middle age, upright, his grey hair thick and healthy, his eyes sharp with intelligence.
'My lord, might I be admitted to speak first?'
James nodded.
'Mrs Bedford is not popular with the staff; they live in perpetual terror of being dismissed for no reason. As you appeared happy with her performance it wasn't my part to inform you.'
'Was it not? I'm disappointed, Foster, that you have chosen to ignore what you knew to be wrong rather than speak to me about it. Things are going to be different here now and if you wish to stay in my employ you won't disappoint me a second time. I hope you understand.'
Foster smiled which was unexpected. 'I'm just relieved, my lord, that you haven't dismissed me too. I give you my word that this house will continue to run efficiently with or without a housekeeper. I'll take charge of Mrs Bedford's duties. I can assure you that the female staff will be overjoyed that she's gone and rather than being in disarray without her, I believe you'll find that this house will be calmer and happier.'
This was the longest speech he'd ever heard the man make. 'Good, it appears that we understand each other. There will be another housekeeper eventually but if you can keep things running smoothly until then there's no urgency.'
He'd no intention of telling his butler that he hoped his sister and her family would be joining him. If Charlotte came then it would be her task to take over the running of the house and appoint or dismiss staff.
Satisfied he'd dealt with one problem he now had to deal with another which was going to be far more difficult. He couldn't allow Sofia to escape without punishment, but he'd no notion what this should be.
