This made her smile and she forgave him for deliberately startling her. 'My maid hasn't been seen for hours. A footman gave Annabel a message that Mary returned to Bath with a carter but we think that to be untrue.' She briefly explained their reasons. 'Also, where are the footmen? If they'd been here, then I could have asked them to start searching and not bothered you.'
'I'm glad you did. We'll go together to see Foster. He assured me that the house would continue to run smoothly and so far has failed quite spectacularly. Your disappearing maid and the absence of the footmen might seem trivial but just adds to my disquiet.'
He ushered her through a warren of corridors and finally down some steps. She thought they must be in the basement area of this massive house where the servants' offices were housed.
She was about to speak when he touched her arm and shook his head. He'd stopped and was listening. They must be outside the servants' hall and someone was speaking to whoever was in there. From his expression James recognised who it was and didn't like what he was hearing. They stood together listening.
'Mrs Bedford has been dismissed without cause. After running this house for fifteen years this is the thanks she gets. Until that man decided to bring those appalling girls here to this fine house things were running as they ought.' There was a murmur of agreement in the room and Sofia thought that the entire staff might be there.
'The present Earl of Avon isn't the true heir, you only have to look at the portraits hanging in the hall to see he bears no resemblance to any of his ancestors. That's why he was sent away, why he shouldn't be here.'
Again, there was a rumble of assent and she clutched James's arm. He patted her hand to reassure her. The butler continued with his appalling speech.
'His father would never have agreed to this. The old earl held to the true ways. We must see that these intruders are sent packing so that things can return to the way they should be.'
'Is that your butler speaking?'
He nodded and whispered in her ear. The warmth of his breath made her heart race and she scarcely followed what he said.
'I misjudged him. He's not the man I thought he was. Come, I'll not confront him here in his domain.'
They crept away as if they shouldn't have been there whereas James had the right to be anywhere at all in his own house. It was she who was the interloper. He kept his hand in the small of her back and guided her back the way they'd come until they were in the drawing room once more. She'd felt the heat and the weight through the flimsy material of her gown but didn't understand why this made her unsteady. As soon as they were seated he began to speak.
'All these years I thought the staff loyal to me because I'm the rightful heir. Now I discover that they were merely tolerating my presence. God knows where they got the idea that I'm not my father's son. I've drifted along content in my own importance, doing as I please, running the estates, the farms, the villages, not just to increase my personal wealth but for the benefit of those that work for me and live there.'
'Why should you have considered for one moment that your staff here were disloyal? I can scarcely credit what I just heard. What are you going to do?'
'Get rid of them, of course. At least my secretary and man of business have had control of the household finances so that's some small comfort.'
They were sitting side by side on a sofa and without thinking for a second time she reached out and touched his arm. 'We can all live at Hilltop House quite comfortably once our debts are paid and Annabel can join us. There's absolutely no need for us to be here and turn your life upside down.'
He stared at her as if she was talking in tongues and then his smile made her warm inside, as if she was the most important person in the world to him.
'God's teeth! Do you think so little of me that I'd send you away because my butler thinks I should? It is he who will depart along with Bedford in the morning. I'll interview each member of staff and decide whether they too will be dismissed without reference.'
'How will you know if they're loyal or agree with him? We only know his views because you overheard him speaking. I'm sure each one of them will swear allegiance to you, promise to do better as they won't want to be homeless and without work.'
Before she could stop him, he'd reached out, picked up a heavy silver candlestick from the side table and hurled it with great force at the wall. Unfortunately, his aim was poor, and it went straight through the window with a hideous clattering of broken glass.
*
James waited for Sofia to scream, to protest at his disgraceful behaviour. He swivelled to look at her. To his consternation her eyes rounded and her mouth fell open.
She put her hands to her forehead as if feeling dizzy. 'Oh my, I cannot believe you've broken the window. I fear I'm going to faint from shock.'
She then closed her eyes and rolled off the sofa to land in a cloud of blue silk at his feet. For a hideous moment he thought her collapse genuine. Then she opened her eyes and her smile made her appear even more beautiful.
'Now, my lord, you have to eat your best waistcoat.'
'How can you jest when I've just done that,' he pointed at the hole in the window.
'I know, but you did warn me you have the most frightful temper. Will you promise not to throw something else if I ask why you threw the candlestick in the first place?'
The situation was so absurd he laughed. She joined in and soon they couldn't stop. Tears ran down their cheeks. He delved into his pocket and handed her his pristine handkerchief.
'Here, dry your face, my dear, I suppose I'll have to ring for someone to take care of the damage. Thank God my dogs aren't allowed in here.'
'Dogs? Are they, like your staff, invisible? Why haven't I met them as I adore all animals but particularly dogs and horses. Although I own that I'm quite fond of cats too.'
