“Most pleasant,” said Piers.“Lovely day for it!Excuse me while I change.”
On the way, he glanced into the library where he found Hubb and Mal, each engrossed in their own silent reading.Piers grinned, because it was so reminiscent of the old days, and went on up to his room.
He was tying his cravat in the dark-panelled bedchamber he was using as his dressing room, when April whisked in, looking conspiratorial.
“Good news,” she said cheerfully.“Mrs.Riley has pressed two village girls into service, as well as a large if slightly simple man called Harold for heavy lifting duties.My hope is, the new people will break up the ill-feeling below stairs which I thinkislargely Edward’s fault.”
“I’ll speak to him after luncheon.”He met her gaze in the glass.“What else?”
“The candlesticks in the upstairs hall have vanished.And we still haven’t found Mrs.Hubble’s reticule.She is making rather a fuss about it.”
“Why?Does it hold some special significance for her?Or was there something valuable in it?What do you put in yours?”
“Depends where I’m going.To dinner with friends, with my bedchamber close by, I wouldn’t take much more than a handkerchief.But then, I’m not a lady.”She stated it as fact, acknowledging her ignorance of such women’s customs.She was more likely than most to stuff her reticule with a notebook and pencil and a set of lock-picks.Which had certainly proved useful at times.
“It’s an odd house,” she said abruptly.“Everything is...off-kilter.Unless I am.”
He turned and put his arms around her.“Are you?”
“A little,” she confessed, resting her cheek against his chest for a moment.
“Would you like to go home?”he asked gently.
She shook her head, drawing back.“Oh, no.I regard it as useful practise in hostess duties.I can learn from my mistakes here.”
Piers wanted her toenjoythese people, to be comfortable with them as he was.Notwork.But it was inevitably harder for her.
“Do you like them?”he asked, keeping his voice light.
“I like your professor.And Meg.I’m not sure I know the others well enough yet tolikethem, but I can see why you do.Mrs.Riley is preparing a luncheon.Oh, and do you think I should write to Lady Temperley about the lack of servants?”
“Yes,” said Piers.He almost offered to do it for her but stopped himself in time.She was spreading her wings, gaining in confidence, and he was proud of her.“I was thinking I might send for Stewart, too.”
Stewart, his valet, was not too proud to turn his hand to other duties.At the same time, he had a sort of commanding presence that dealt with disruptive underlings like Edward.
***
AFTER LUNCHEON, WHICHwas a light but delicious meal efficiently served by the three regular servants, Piers ensconced himself in the otherwise empty morning room and summoned Edward.
The footman swaggered in a few moments later and kept one hand on the doorknob as though he had only a moment to spare the temporary master of the house.“You wanted to see my, my lord?”
“Indeed.”Piers was leaning his hip against the windowsill.“Come in and close the door.”
With exaggerated patience, Edward closed the door and walked to the middle of the floor.“My lord.”
“What is your position in Sir Dominic’s household?”
“Footman, my lord.”
“First footman?Third?”
“Second,” Edward said, his expression betraying the first sign of resentment.
Piers raised one brow.“Really?By your performance since my arrival, I had not imagined you to have achieved any preferment at all.Of necessity, you are now our first and only footman.”
Edward inclined his head, but insolence still lurked in his bold eyes.
“Sir Dominic obviously did not feel you were necessary to his comfort in London.If I find you continue todiscomfort the household here, he will not retain you.”
