Within ten minutes, Greene had the entire staff assembled in the blue parlor.
Rising, Colin paced before them.Let them stew in their own poor conduct.Of course, not all of them had committed such egregious behavior. Certainly not Miss Hart, and he would speak to her privately later.
“I would like to introduce you all to mywife. Lady Manning.” He held out his hand to Anne and softened his tone. “Would you join me, my dear.”
Anne blinked, remnants of tears still in her blue eyes, but she rose and took his hand.
He wrapped an arm around Anne’s waist and tugged her close for good measure. Then, he donned the mask that he had worn when he and Anne first met. “Unless you wish to seek a new position, I expect each of you to treatLady Manningwith respect. There is to be no reference to my former wife unless Lady Manningasks a direct question. I’m sure we all want Lady Manning to feel comfortable and welcome in her new home. Is that understood?”
Mumbled answers of “yes, sir” rose from the staff. From the corner of his eye, he caught a sly smile forming on Miss Hart’s lips. Greene and Mrs. Campbell, however, had paled under his reprimand.
He dismissed them with a wave of his hand. “That will be all. Except, Miss Hart, I would like a word later.”
She gave a nod and exited with the rest of the staff.
When he turned back toward Anne, she gazed at him with wide eyes. “I never thought I’d say this, but I like Lord Grump when he’s being grumpy toward someone other than me.”
He laughed and touched the tip of her nose with his finger. “Good. Be sure and let me know if any of the servants disobey my orders.”
Left to his own wishes, he would have suggested they retire to their rooms for arest, but he didn’t want to give the servants any more fodder for gossip. Waiting would give him something to look forward to later that night.
And look forward to it, he did.
CHAPTER 25
After sharing tea with her, Colin excused himself, stating he had more business to attend to. Anne wasn’t sure what to do with herself. Colin’s suggestion to make herself at home seemed futile considering how the servants had responded to her.
At least he had delivered a setdown which, as she told him, was a delightful surprise. She found she likedthatColin very much.
His support meant the world to her. “He may not love me, but at least he defends me,” she muttered, grateful she was alone. Hope rose that perhaps he would grow to love her, and she would be more than simply a vessel to produce an heir.
Determined to win over the staff, Anne wandered through the halls and did her best to offer words of praise to each servant she encountered. One of the maids—Hattie, Anne believed, she was terrible with names and there were so many new ones to remember—blushed at Anne’s compliment of how well the woman kept everything dust-free. One of the footmen—Murray? Monroe?—grinned when she told him he had the whitest teeth she had ever seen, then hoped she wouldn’t go to Hades for her lie.
However, Mrs. Campbell and Greene would be her biggest challenges. As Anne strolled through the house, she noticed Mrs.Campbell trailing about twenty paces behind. At the end of a hallway that branched off into two wings, Anne darted to the right, then waited.
When Mrs. Campbell turned the corner, nearly colliding with Anne, she jumped back and grabbed her chest. “My lady, I didn’t see you there.”
“Really? Because it appeared you were following me. Is there something you want?”
Flustered, the woman’s gaze darted everywhere but Anne’s face. “I-I didn’t want you to get lost or go somewhere you shouldn’t.”
“Somewhere I shouldn’t?” The last both enraged Anne and piqued her curiosity. “I didn’t realize there were areas forbidden to the mistress of the house.” Not quite true. Colin did mention that the secret passageway was off limits to the girls. And although he advised Anne not to discover it, he hadn’t expresslyforbiddenher. Had he?
However, Mrs. Campbell would not be the person to enquire as to its whereabouts. For that, Anne would need an ally. She forced a sugary-sweet smile. “If you would be so kind as to let me know where those areas are so I may avoid them, I would be most appreciative. I certainly don’t want to keep you from your important duties. Running this large house must take enormous effort and incredible skill. You shouldn’t have to worry about me.”
Mrs. Campbell’s eyes narrowed as if considering Anne’s sincerity. Perhaps her smile wasn’t as convincing as she’d hoped. “Lord Manning does not like to be interrupted when he’s in his study. Nor does Cook like to be bothered by small details. You may provide any menu suggestions or requests to me, and I shall pass them along.”
“Anywhere else? Anywhere dangerous?”
The woman wasn’t much taller than Anne, but her back stiffened when she straightened her shoulders. “Dangerous? I will have you know I am quite conscientious about maintaining a safe home for the girls.”
Perhaps she didn’t know about the secret passageway. Or did she, and she was simply refusing to acknowledgeit to Anne?
“Of course you are. I only meant that for a house with such a long legacy, there can be loose runners on the stairs, or cracked floorboards that go unnoticed.”
Mrs. Campbell gave a defiant jerk of her chin. “Not by me. I assure you.”
Anne needed to get rid of the woman, at least while she explored the house. “I have no doubt. I will avoid disturbingmy husband, and I will leave instructions for the cook in your capable hands. You may be excused.”
