His butler finally opened it.
“May I help you?” he asked, his eyes opening wide in obvious surprise.
The man looked a little dusty, no doubt from all the construction swirling around him. He probably served as butler, caretaker, and night watchman while the entire back of Mr. Knight’s house was being torn out to expand what had once been Fiona’s music room.
This explained why he was not wearing proper livery. His uniform would be ruined while he worked amid this mess. Obviously, no decent staff could be kept here just yet.
“You must be Bonham. Yes, I came to deliver this invitation for Mr. Knight.”
The man cast her a blank stare.
Honestly, why hire this man who appeared slow and was obviously deaf, as that Gideon fellow had mentioned in passing? Not to mention, she had resorted to pounding on the door with the full force of her fist to get him to hear her. Thieves could break in and steal whatever they wanted, and this man would never know it.
Well, few outsiders ever walked onto Duchess Square, but they might if they realized how poorly watched this house truly was. She hoped having a warm body seen patrolling would be enough to keep most bounders away.
“An invitation!” she said louder, trying not to show her frustration as the man continued to gaze at her with a look of utter bewilderment.
Hopefully, the work would end soon and Mr. Knight would move in with a full complement of sharp-witted servants.
She craned her head to peek inside, just out of curiosity.
Ugh, what a mess.The place was simply not livable yet.
“It is nice to meet you, Bonham,” she shouted again.
Good gracious. That fellow, Gideon, had mentioned Mr. Knight’s butler was deaf as a post, but this was beyond description.
“I am Mr. Knight’s neighbor, Lady Berengaria!” She smiled, pointed to herself, and then to her house, which looked quite lovely as the fading sunlight shimmered upon the lintels and roof coping, and warmed the stonework. “I have an invitation for him,” she shouted again as she shoved the sealed card into his hand, hoping Bonham knew to forward it to his employer withall due haste. “For a Saturday party. It is important he receives it today. In time for Sa-tur-day!”
When the man did not appear to understand—goodness, he had such a confused look about him—she shouted the instruction again. “Important! Mr. Knight! Today!”
“Yes, m’lady,” he said with a smile. “I’ll see that he gets this invitation at once.”
Berry breathed a sigh of relief and smiled back at him. “Very good.”
She turned and walked away, hoping this had not been a wasted excursion. When she glanced back to reassure herself, she saw the man still standing at the door, watching her with that utterly bemused look again.
Oh dear.
Deaf and possibly senile.
Should she say something to Mr. Knight when they finally met?
After all, he could place Bonham in another position within his household. And was it wise to use Bonham as his watchman when thieves could throw a party in this place and he would not hear a thing? She resolved to alert Melton and her staff to keep an eye out for strangers lurking about Duchess Square.
Having addressed this concern, she hurried home and scooted up to her bedchamber, where her lady’s maid, Harriet, was waiting for her. “Oh, m’lady! There you are. Hurry up. Lord Berwick will be along at any moment to escort you to the theater.”
“Yes, yes. It won’t take me but a trice.” Berry hastily slipped out of her tea gown and undergarments with Harriet’s assistance, wet the cloth by her basin and ewer on her night table, soaped it with a fruity-scented soap—because she was Lady Berry, after all—then quickly scrubbed her body.
She dried herself off and donned her robe while Harriet fashioned her hair in a more ornate, upswept style suitable for the evening. Once done, Harriet held up the gown she was to wear, a lemon silk that she now put on. To complete the outfit, she had gloves and silk slippers in the same yellow hue.
“Diamonds or pearls this evening?” Harriet asked, pulling out Berry’s jewelry box.
“Pearls, I think.”
Harriet arched an eyebrow. “Are you sure? Diamonds are quite the thing and will go better with this gown. Pearls are fine for quiet dinner parties or afternoon wear.”
Berry laughed. “All right, we shall go with the sparkly gems.”
