Worth crossed his arms over his chest and eyed the viscount. “You truly don’t think I could do it?”
“No,” Clayton admitted, looking slightly shamefaced. “Not if you actually have to fill the role of a servant and do real chores. No.”
Worth’s gaze swung to Beau. “You don’t think I can do it either?”
Beau shook his head. If he actually thought his friend would be hurt by the notion, he might have pulled his punch, but Worth’s self-confidence was legendary. Besides, the duke had to know that pretending to be a servant wouldn’t be a particularly strong skill of his. “Not a chance. Apologies, Your Grace, but you’re far too used to being waited upon to wait on anyone else.”
“But that’s how I know how to do it properly,” Worth replied, obviously annoyed by his friends’ lack of support.
Kendall snorted. “I’m afraid seeing one serve and actuallyservingare two entirely different things.”
Worth’s eyes went wide. “You’re a bloody earl for Christ’s sake. Why do you thinkyoucan serve?”
“I may be an earl but I’m no stranger to hard work. I spent years in the Navy doing chores like picking oakum and deworming hardtack. And those two tasks were pleasant compared to some of my other tasks,” Kendall said.
Worth smacked the table with his open palm, causing the mugs to bounce. “Fine. Onethousandpounds says I can make it through the entire fortnight as a servant too. Or at least I can last longer than either of you.”
“Now who is being mad?” Clayton waggled his eyebrows at Worth.
“I’m quite serious.” Worth’s jaw was clenched. He clearly wasn’t about to back down. “One thousand pounds, gentlemen. Who will take the bet?”
“I will,” all three called in unison.
CHAPTER ONE
Getting rid of a valet was a far simpler task than Beau had anticipated. In fact, all it had taken was a few discreet inquiries around the village where Lord Copperpot lived, a well-timed visit to a pub that milord’s valet was known to regularly frequent, and an offer of forty pounds sterling.
The sum was undoubtedly more than the valet made in a year’s time, and the man was only too happy to declare himself extremely ill directly before he was to attend Clayton’s house party with his master.
Beau’s cohorts at the Home Office were no strangers to feigning employment at a popular work agency in London and in the span of twenty-four short hours, Beau arrived on Copperpot’s doorstep ready to fulfill the recently vacated role of valet to his lordship.
Beau had chosen Copperpot for several reasons. First—and most importantly—he was one of three men whom the Crown suspected of being the Bidassoa traitor. Second, Beau had never officiallymetCopperpot before, and that was a hefty requirement given the fact that valet or not, the man might recognize him had they been introduced. Third, and not insignificant, Copperpot was known to have a valet who liked to drink and was often short of coin. Those three reasons combined nicely to make Copperpot the perfect nobleman for Beau to serve for the next fortnight at Clayton’s house party.
Kendall had even named their experiment: The Footmen’s Club. Though Beau had explained to his friends thatheneeded to pretend to be a valet instead of a footman. Kendall had decided to keep the name, however, even after Worth had also begged off being a footman for a spot as a groomsman in the stables at Clayton’s estates.
After taking a great deal of valuable instruction at Clayton’s London home from Mrs. Cotswold, the housekeeper, Beau had spent the next week studiously following his own valet, watching everything the man did and asking scores of questions.
Under Malcolm’s tutelage Beau learned to tend to clothing, coats, and boots, to ensure the washbasin was filled, to verify that the dressing room was cleaned and aired properly, and to sharpen and strop the razors.
He’d even learned how to cut hair, should that task be required of him during his brief “employment” with Copperpot. Though he secretly hoped (for Lord Copperpot’s sake) that the request was never made.
Beau and Malcolm spent an entire two days on how to tie the perfect cravat in a variety of styles. Beau became such a nuisance trailing his own valet around that he was half-worried Malcolm would resign his position.
Beau was soon called to Copperpot’s country estate and given the job of valet based on the recommendation of the Duke of Worthington himself. The duke provided Beau with a reference indicating that one Mr. Nicholas Baxter was a very fine valet who would make any household proud. The marquess-turned-servant was nothing but glad that he’d taken the time to prepare so thoroughly
Less than two days after he’d paid off Copperpot’s current valet, Beau was set to travel with his lordship’s entourage directly to Clayton’s country estate.
* * *
The Copperpot entourageset out to Devon with three carriages: one containing the lord and lady and their eighteen-year-old daughter Lady Wilhelmina, one containing the female servants, and the third containing Beau, two footmen, and a steward.
The ride was long and bumpy, but Beau decided to use the time wisely to subtly probe one of Copperpot’s footmen for information. He waited until the other men were half-asleep, lulled by the rocking of the carriage and the warm afternoon sun beating down on the conveyance.
“How long have you been in his lordship’s employ?” Beau asked as nonchalantly as he could to the footman who sat directly across from him. He’d even disguised his voice by affecting a less proper tone. In addition to following Malcolm around to learn his duties, he’d also spent a considerable amount of time mimicking his speech and mannerisms.
The footman, whose name was Charles, pushed back against the seat, his legs spread wide in front of him as the coach bounced its way along the road. The other footman, whose name was Harry, was fast asleep on the seat next to his friend and snoring to wake the dead.
Charles sat up and scratched his head. “Near on two years now, I reckon.”
