“No, sir. She’s terminated.”
The bitterness in the woman’s voice didn’t sound as if the nanny had died, but that his housekeeper might have wanted her dead.
“Do explain, ma’am.”
“The foul harlot is gone.” The woman dropped her gaze as if the tea were the most interesting thing. “I terminated her on your behalf, lordship.”
He adjusted his spectacles and counted to ten before starting again. “You terminated Hope’s nanny. Why? For what reason? She’s been a good employee these last weeks.”
“I don’t want to say in front of the child.”
“Gone, nanny dead, too.”
“No, Hope.” He made eyes at his housekeeper to help. “Please. Out with it, Mrs. G.”
“She was in your bed, naked. Not a stitch of clothes on her. I told her I had to run errands. She must’ve thought I’d be gone for the night.”
“What the . . . naked? Truly, not a stitch?”
“Naked as a bird. I made her fly away.”
He felt his face stretching trying to hold in his laughter. “Why would she do this? I’m not that type of employer.”
“The woman was waiting for you, an attempt at a compromise. She’s an on-the-shelf wallflower with connections. Lady Lavinia Nell stopped by almost at the exact moment. I think they were in on it together. The beastly women were determined to make everyone think that the new Earl of Ashbrook was horrid. Maybe even trying for a harem.”
His mouth surely dropped open and hit the floor, maybe crashed through down to his study. “Was she, were they drunk?”
“Calculating shrews.” Mrs. Gallick rotated the silver tray in her hands. The cup and teakettle wobbled. “I tossed the nanny out as soon as she could lace on her corset. That evil woman won’t be made your countess and break your mother’s heart, God rest her soul.”
“And I dealt with Lady Lavinia.”
That voice. If he wasn’t holding Hope, he’d stand up straight, at attention. “Lady Shrewsbury, I didn’t know you were here.”
Mrs. Gallick passed him and headed deeper into the nursery. “Your tea, ma’am.”
The woman stopped in front of his rocking chair by the window—the one occupied by his aunt.
His heart stopped for a moment, but rage made it beat again. “Mrs. G, you didn’t say we had company.”
“We do, sir. She came to help with the dismissal and to take care of Lady Lavinia.” The housekeeper pivoted back to Lady Shrewsbury. “It’s chamomile like you like with a little bit of spirits.”
She winked, and the two laughed.
But Daniel fumed.
Mrs. Gallick had sent for his aunt to ensure there we no ramifications of a half-naked woman and a gossip scheming at Finchely.
This was his sanctuary with his daughter.
This was a violation. He tightened his hold on Hope. “Aunt,” he said, “take your tea. Wait for me in my study. I’ll get Hope settled, then we’ll talk.”
Lady Shrewsbury, the blond cherub nodded. “Of course, Daniel. There’s much to be said.”
She took her cup and left with Mrs. Gallick.
When the door closed, Daniel moved to the rocking chair. Hope flopped onto his lap and he settled her against his waistcoat.
“Nanny not dead, but no—no come back, Pa-Papa?”
