Marshall returned fromDorchester two days later and reported to Gideon. The two men sat with their feet on the steward’s desk, sipping brandy.
Gideon lifted his glass. “It has been a pleasure working with you, Curtis Marshall.”
“Does that mean I’m not fired?” Marshall asked.
“Goodness, no. I’d have to stay here and do the damned job myself. My family and I will be leaving now that new staff are on their way,” Gideon said.
“What new staff? From where?”
“London. I wrote to a friend and asked him to hire you a reliable secretary. While he’s at it, I requested an undercook for Demming and a new head housekeeper.”
“I was only gone two days! What happened to Mrs. Morrit?” Marshall asked.
Gideon laughed so hard he had to put all four legs of his chair down flat on the floor. “She left with Felton Tavernash. I don’t think it was an accident they had a master set of keys. She wasn’t waiting for us to find out.”
“Who’s this friend of yours you trust to hire staff?” Marshall asked.
“The Earl of Clarion, my stepmother’s brother. He or his brilliant steward will find you just the person. In the meantime, Mrs. Millbrook has agreed to help. Mia discovered she’s an excellent bookkeeper,” Gideon said. “Does that suit?”
Marshall nodded. “I expect she’ll do. She and the new secretary may just keep each other honest.”
“Wise.”
Marshall sobered. “I’ll miss you. Will you come back?”
“Count on it. My wife will want to visit her uncle. The children will want to visit Bert and the horses. At least once a year. More often if you need me, but I doubt you will,” Gideon said. He glanced down at his feet. “More often if my blasted brother comes back where he belongs,” he said more softly.
He shook off thoughts of his missing brother. “Have that secretary of yours send monthly reports. Not the numbers. Tell me how everyone is getting on. I’ll send you some birds from my pigeon flock. In an emergency, send one of those.”
There seemed little else to say.
“When are you leaving?” Marshall asked.
“You and Clavering can handle the trials, so soon. Tomorrow if Helen has her way. It will take more than that to pack and arrange carriages.”
“Promise me you’re taking that great mass of a dog with you.”
Gideon grinned. “He’s one of the things to arrange. He’ll need his own carriage!”
The two men walked back down the central corridor in amiable silence. Footmen touched their forelocks as they passed, and the tiniest maid dipped a curtsey. The house had always seemed too silent before, an ominous sort of silence. This felt different, more of a sense of expectation. He almost thought contentment.
Before he could dismiss that as a foolish thought, they reached the central stairway hall, and three children, laughing and skipping, hopped down the stairs, shouting greetings to the two men. Their governess followed at a more sedate pace.
“Mother says we’re leaving in three days, Papa. We’re on our way out to hike up to the folly and enjoy it while we can,” Jessica said. Helen had determined that since their mother was always “Mam,” “Mother” would be perfectly acceptable for Mia. The younger two, who barely remembered their mother, had readily agreed.
A disturbance at the front entrance occurred just as Gideon sent the children on their way. He and Marshall turned their attention to the door, where the porter had admitted a travel-stained stranger in a military uniform. Mia came out of the guest wing, where she had been taking stock of the music room to see if changes were needed, and joined them.
“No need to call for Fillmore, John. We can handle this,” Gideon said.
“May we help you?” Mia asked the stranger.
“Is there a Gideon Kendrick here?” the man asked.
“I’m Gideon Kendrick.”
The stranger relaxed a bit as if relieved of a burden. “I’m under orders to put this in your hands and no other. I hoped you would be here because the solicitors in London told me I would have to go to Wales next if not.” He handed Gideon an oilcloth pouch bound with leather thongs.
“You appear to have come a long way. May we offer you refreshments, Lieutenant?” Mia asked.
