Clayton pressed his lips together. He looked as if he were struggling to keep from laughing. “I understand perfectly, Mrs. Cotswold. They’ve all agreed to do the best they can. Haven’t you, gentlemen?”
All three dutifully nodded.
Lucas stepped forward. “I’d like to thank you for taking time from your busy schedule to help us, Mrs. Cotswold. I promise to take the instruction quite seriously. I will be as fine a footman as I possibly can.”
Mrs. Cotswold inclined her head to him. “Thank you, my lord. I appreciate that.”
“And I’ve already begun my study of the tasks of a valet,” Bell said. “I spoke at length with my man over the last few days. He’s informed me that watching over the candles is a large part of his work. I never knew.”
“The candles are only a portion of it, my lord,” Mrs. Cotswold said, shaking her head slowly. She still looked highly dubious.
“I’m ready to learn,” Bell replied, bowing to the austere woman.
Mrs. Cotswold turned to Worth next. He looked as if he were trying to squelch a smile. “What about you, Your Grace?” Her brow was arched, and she looked nothing but skeptical.
“All I can say in defense of myself is that I have quite a large sum of money riding on this and I hate to lose bets,” Worth replied, staring directly over her head toward the mantelpiece.
“You’ve bet on this?” Mrs. Cotswold asked, her eyebrow inching even higher.
“Yes.” Worth remained as still as a statue.
Mrs. Cotswold’s shoulders relaxed the slightest bit. “Well, then, why didn’t you say so? I’ve little doubt you’ll be the best footman of the lot, Your Grace.”
Worth cleared his throat. “Groomsman.”
“Oh, so you won’t be in the house?” the housekeeper clarified.
“No.” Still standing at attention, Worth lifted his chin.
“That’s probably for the best,” Mrs. Cotswold replied. She turned away from them and all four of the men exchanged laughing glances. None of them dared to utter a sound, however, as the housekeeper turned toward them once more, her hands folded behind her back and said, “We shall begin with the basics.”
“Which are?” Lucas asked.
“How to clean silver,” Mrs. Cotswold replied, eyeing each of them in turn as if looking for any objections to that particular task.
The three future servants nodded in unison.
“What else?” Bell asked.
“For you?” Mrs. Cotswold replied. “How to welcome guests and valet them properly including how to see to a gentlemen’s clothing and boots.”
Bell nodded. “Of course.”
“And?” Lucas prompted.
“For a footman? How to trim the lamps and properly wait upon the dinner table,” Mrs. Cotswold replied.
“I suppose I should just totter off to the mews then,” Worth said, already heading for the door.
“Not so quickly,Rhys,” Mrs. Cotswold said.
Worth froze, a look of utter surprise stalled on his features.
The barest hint of a smile tugged at the corner of the housekeeper’s lips. “Youdorealize servants are often called by their Christian names?”
Worth cleared his throat and shook off his astonishment. If a housekeeper calling him by his first name wasn’t enough to stop him, apparently her admonishment was. “Of course,” he replied, turning back to face her and inclining his head. “But why wouldn’t I be trained in the mews?”
“In due time,” Mrs. Cotswold replied, “but first there are things you’ll need to learn from me.”
