“You’re both truly mad, you know that?” Kendall replied.
“I dunno.” Clayton tugged at his cravat. “But it sounds like quite a lark to me. I’m perfectly willing to offer my upcoming house party as a venue for such an experiment.”
Excellent. This was one of the advantages of his friends drinking. Ideas that might normally sound ludicrous were much easier to convince them of.
“You’ve gone mad too, then,” Kendall replied to Clayton.
“Think about it,” Beau said, turning his attention to Kendall, who still obviously required a bit more convincing. “It has the potential to give you precisely what you want. An unencumbered look at the latest crop of debutantes behaving precisely how they would when they don’t know you are watching.”
Kendall narrowed his eyes on Beau. “It’s positively alarming that you don’t see the problem with this plan.”
Beau shrugged. The more nonchalant he appeared, the better. “What problem? The risk is not too great. If anyone recognizes you, we’ll simply ask that person to play along. No doubt they’ll enjoy the game too.”
“What if I find a lady I fancy?” Kendall replied. “Am I supposed to simply rip off my livery and declare myself an earl and expect she’ll fall madly in love with me?”
“Not at all,” Beau said. “I’m merely suggesting that you get toknowthese young ladies on the basis of how they treat servants. I’ve no doubt the best-natured ones will be kind and pleasant. Once you have a few candidates, you will know who to court next Season.”
Kendall shook his head slowly. He pulled his mug back toward his chest. Perhaps he’d decided to drink a bit more after all. “You’re suggesting that I choose a future bride on the basis of how she treats a footman?”
Beau’s brow shot up. Enunciating each word slowly for emphasis, he asked, “How did Lady Emily treat servants?”
“I see by the look on your face that you recognize my point,” Beau drawled as Kendall clenched his jaw.
Beau could tell he was winning the argument. Kendall’s face took on a thoughtful look and he bit his lip as if weighing the possibilities. It was time to introduce the most ludicrous of notions.
“I’m willing to do it with you,” Beau tossed out as casually as possible with another shrug.
“What?” A frown appeared on Worth’s face. “Why wouldyoudo it?”
Beau straightened his shoulders and settled back into his chair. “Because I’ve narrowed down my hunt for the Bidassoa traitor to one of three possibilities.”
“The man you’ve been hunting for the Home Office?” Thank Christ Worth lowered his voice as he said it.
“Precisely the one,” Beau replied. “And if Clayton here will invite those three men to the house party, I will also pretend to be a servant to watch them.”
Worth tossed back his head and laughed. “I should have known you had another motive all along, Bell. His Majesty’s work is never far from your mind. Even when we’re drinking.”
Beau allowed his grin to widen. He could never fool Worth, but then again, he wasn’t trying to fool his friends. He merely wanted their assistance. “Why shouldn’t we use the opportunity for two useful pursuits instead of one? I’ll admit, I was already thinking about this plan before Kendall informed us of his search for a wife, but if it helps both of us, all the better, I say. We will truly have to behave as servants, however. We’ll have to wait on the guests and do all the tasks servants must do.”
“Hmm. I do quite like the idea of spying going on under my roof.” Clayton took another draught of ale. “Gives the whole affair a bit of intrigue. And since I haven’t been a soldier or served His Majesty otherwise, I feel it’s my duty to say yes to this ruse. Not to mention my love of an experiment. Will you do it, Kendall?”
Kendall drained his mug and wiped the back of his hand across his mouth. “Now that Bell’s doing it with me, how can I refuse?”
Beau pressed his lips together to keep from displaying a victorious smile. He still needed to ensure they were all willing to play along with this plan. Not just tonight, but in the harsh light of sobriety tomorrow morning and beyond.
The barmaid returned with another mug of ale for Worth. The duke tossed her a coin and gave her a flirtatious grin before turning back to his friends. “I, for one, am so interested in seeing such a situation play out, not only will I attend to watch the spectacle, I will also settle a large sum on the outcome as to whether you two can pull this off. Care to bet me?”
Beau rolled his eyes. “Everything’s a bet with you, Worth.”
“Perhaps, but you must admit, this is a particularly tempting bet.” Worth lifted his chin. “Five hundred pounds say you are both outed by a keen-eyed mama within a sennight.”
“I’ll take that bet!” Clayton declared, pointing a finger in the air. “You’ll be attending as a guest, I presume, Worthington.”
Kendall’s snort of laughter interrupted Worth’s reply. “Of course he’s attending as a guest. Our mate Worth here couldneverpass for a footman.” Kendall shook his head sympathetically toward the duke. “You couldn’t last one night serving others, I’m afraid.”
Worth flared his nostrils and straightened his shoulders. “I take offense to that. If you two sops can do it, surely I can.”
Clayton puffed up his cheeks and shook his head. He didn’t meet Worth’s gaze. “Hmm. I’m not exactly certain I agree with that, old chap.”
