“I—well, no.”
“And that is why I am offering my services. So that all will look well. That is until you hire a new nurse.”
“Or a new housekeeper?” he said pointedly.
“Or that,” she agreed pleasantly.
“Gibson will not be happy.” Lord Marsden’s butler was famous throughout the country for the efficiency he brought to his employer’s household.
“Change is always difficult,” Mrs. Summerall offered helpfully.
Lord Marsden shifted his weight. “I’m not going to win this, am I?”
“Not if you wish to hire Miss Taylor,” Mrs. Warbler said.
“Mrs. Warbler, please, I—” Clarissa started, but Lord Marsden cut her off.
“Very well. It will be an opportunity, Mrs. Warbler, to see if you can do something constructive instead of meddling. How much will I have to payyou?”
“Oh, whatever you are paying Miss Taylor is fine.”
Lord Marsden groaned... and then his gaze fell on his daughter. “Very well.”
“Oh, and my maid Jane must come with me,” Mrs. Warbler said.
“Why does a housekeeper need a maid?” he demanded.
“I have always had a maid. Jane must come. Have no worries, I will pay her wages.”
“That makes me feel better,” he drawled, meaning the opposite. He looked to Mrs. Summerall and Mrs. Burnham. “Would you other two ladies like to enter my employ?”
Mrs. Burnham giggled. “Oh, no, my John likes keeping me close to home. Although it would be quite a thing to be chased around the dining table.” She laughed and laughed.
“Unfortunately, I’m too busy with parish activities. I’m certain you understand,” Mrs. Summerall said as if seriously entertaining such a suggestion.
Lord Marsden frowned his suspicions. “Why do I have the feeling I am being hoodwinked?”
“We are just watching out for Miss Taylor’s reputation, my lord,” Mrs. Warbler said in the most innocent tone possible.
He grunted his response.
Clarissa tried to apologize. “My lord, you do not have to hire her. Not on my account.”
“Actually, Mrs. Warbler may have a good point especially once word of Dora’s presence starts being bandied about.” He still did not sound pleased. “I will return within the hour. You have a lot of work to do, Miss Taylor. You’d best be on it.”
On those words, he strode out the door, a far different man from the one who had arrived.
Clarissa waited for the front door to shut before she confronted Mrs. Warbler. “Housekeeper? Do you have any idea what you are doing?”
“Shush,” her friend warned. “You don’t want to wake the baby.” Then, with a shrewd twist to her smile, she admitted, “I am creating opportunity, my girl. Just for you. Come, Jane, we must pack. And you’d best be busy, Clarissa. Lord Marsden sounds as if he will be a hard taskmaster. We must do what we can to please him.” She went out the door.
Clarissa looked to Mrs. Burnham and Mrs. Summerall. They stood like two silly magpies. “Don’t ask us what is afoot,” Mrs. Burnham said. “You know Elizabeth has her whims.”
“Well, this is a strange whim. I’d never imagine she would wish to be a servant.”
“She wants to see you safe,” Mrs. Summerall soothed. “Although, she does have her ways.”
“Yes,” Mrs. Burnham confirmed. “She does.”
