“Along with an apology for your deceit and an open tab at the inn for the evening,” suggested Jake.
The captain chuckled. “And a half crown for everyone in the house as a wedding present,” he said.
The steward was nodding. “An apology and a gift will go far to soothe any troubled waters, sir. If that is all, sir, my lady, I shall return to my work.”
“Thank you,” said Captain Harraway. “We appreciate your forbearance, your advice, and your service.” And the steward left. If Jakewas any judge of people, he was not dissatisfied with the situation. The rightful owner had come home, albeit in disguise. Furthermore, the steward had been brought into his employer’s confidence, and his advice recognized and taken.
“I must also be about my work, Miss Ellen, sir, unless you need something else from me,” said Mrs. Kirby, rising to her feet. Jake got up, too, in courtesy to his old protector and friend.
“Thank you for your support and your help, Mrs. Kirby,” said Miss Ellen.
“Shall we assemble the servants now and tell them who I am?” the captain asked.
“Yes,” Miss Ellen agreed. “And then let us go into the village and tell the baker, the innkeeper, the vicar, and the postmaster.”
“I shall instruct the servants to come to the hall, captain,” said Mrs. Kirby.
“Shall Jake and I stay on, and escort you into Town for the wedding?” Captain Harraway asked after Mrs. Kirby had left the room. “I have nothing of importance to do in London—I have the marriage license and the church is booked. Staying here at the inn will give us more time together.”
“It would mean a very early start to reach the church on time,” Miss Ellen noted. “Our wedding is booked for eight-thirty in the morning.”
Jake approved of the idea of more time with Kat. He had some serious courting to do. “Perhaps we could travel the night before,” he mused, “and Miss Ellen and Kat could stay at a respectable hotel that caters to ladies. That way, they would not need to spend four hours traveling on the day of the wedding.”
Both Miss Ellen and the captain nodded, and Kat grinned at him.
“It is decided, then,” the captain said. “I hear the servants in the entry hall, my love. Shall we go and tell them why we deceived them?”
He took Miss Ellen’s hand and led her to the door. Jake wouldhave liked to have taken Kat’s, but since she was still thought to be a man, the gesture might not be well received by their audience.
The servants ofCarr Abbas accepted Captain Harraway’s explanation of Miss Ellen’s presence in his house and his own deceptive approach to the village and his estate. Kat was surprised at their mild reaction. No one asked questions. They simply listened, nodded when asked if they understood, and filed out again.
No doubt they would have plenty to say behind their employer’s back.
Captain Harraway and Jacob then left on their own to disclose to the village the captain’s identity as heir to Carr Abbas—the captain had been reluctant to take Miss Ellen, in case the villagers had a more aggressive reaction than the household.
“It is excellent that my betrothed and yours have gone for a short while, Kat, for I wanted to speak with you about an important matter. Fetch a tea tray, would you, and include a cup for yourself, and I shall explain.”
As Kat approached the kitchen, she heard excited conversation. She stopped outside the door to listen.
“It is sneaky,” one of the footmen exclaimed. “That’s all I’m saying. Coming round here pretending to be someone else.”
“Sitting at our table,” pointed out a maid, “and cozening us into thinking what a nice gentleman he was.”
“He was worried about his lady,” said another maid. “He wanted to know we could be trusted to look after her.”
“As if we wouldn’t,” grumbled the footman. “And that’s another thing. Why didn’t she say she was not married to him yet?”
“When was she supposed to tell you these personal details about herself, Billy Fletcher?” Kat asked, as she strode into the kitchen. “While the two of you were sitting down for tea, perhaps? Mrs. Kirby knew who my lady was, and so did the steward. The rest of you only needed to know your jobs.”
“Mr. Fivepence,” said the maid who kept trying to flirt with him, “is it true that Captain Harraway will give us all a present on the day of his wedding?”
“It is,” said Kat. “As he told you, Betty, he wants to apologize for his deception and thank you for the way you cared for his lady. Cook, my lady would like a tea tray now, please.”
“How much will it be, Mr. Fivepence?” That was another of the footmen, but all the servants leaned forward to hear her answer.
“Why would he share that with the likes of me?” Kat shook her head. “And even if he had, I would have to keep it a secret if that was what he ordered. He likes his orders to be obeyed, says Mr. Flynn, his valet. Mr. Flynn is an old friend of mine. We worked in the same house, years ago, before Mr. Flynn went into the army. He says that Captain Harraway is a good master—kind, not too demanding, easy to please. But when he tells you to jump, he’ll expect you to jump.”
“An officer,” said a footman, nodding. “They might seem easy-going, but they won’t tolerate any disrespect.”
