Page 28 of Redemption of a Marquess

“Baldwin,” Valan said, “pay the gentleman and see him safely out the door.”

The deliveryman kept his glare fixed on Mrs. McPhee, who deigned to cast only a cursory glance at him as he passed. Valan looked at his game table and sighed before returning to his seat. Miss Stone, he noted, sat primly in her seat, hands clasped on her lap.

“Mrs. McPhee,” Jeanine said a little breathless, “I have never seen anything so courageous. How did you manage to hit him so hard? Doesn’t your hand hurt? I once punched Willy, my oldest cousin, and my hand hurt for days.”

“I use my right hand to pound bread dough,” the housekeeper replied with pride. “My right hand is stronger than the left.”

“Perhaps I should start pounding bread dough,” Jeanine said.

“Not if you intend to punch someone,” Valan said.

Mrs. McPhee drew herself up. “The man deserved everything I gave him.”

“A man almost always deserves what a woman gives him,” Valan said. “However—” He broke off when a maid came skidding into the room.

“Where is Mr. Baldwin?” the girl cried.

“He just left with the deliveryman,” Mrs. McPhee said. “What is wrong, Dora?”

The girl cast a nervous glance Valan’s way. He raised a brow. “M-Mr. Baldwin will w-want to see what is going on in the ballroom,” she stammered.

“Dare I ask what is going on in the ballroom?” Valan asked.

“They are bringing in chairs and tables for the party, but a leg has broken off one chair, an arm off another, and a table is sitting crooked,” the girl answered.

“I am surrounded by people who intend to destroy all I own,” Valan muttered.

The maid nodded vigorously. “I think you’re right, my lord. But that is no’ all.”

“God help me,” he said.

“They’re bringing in candles. Too many, I think.”

“A broken table or chair I will forgive, but I cannot allow my house to be burnt down,” he said. “I am startled to realize how incompetent is my staff.”

“We are not incompetent,” Mrs. McPhee said. “I saved you from being bilked by that deliveryman. As for the chairs and tables, they are old.”

“Old?” Valan repeated. “I had no idea I owned ‘old’ furniture.”

“Ye havenae had a party in fifteen years,” the housekeeper said. “We don’t keep all those chairs and tables out. They are being brought down from the attic. Those in the ballroom, well, some of them are probably rotted.”

“Has it really been fifteen years since you’ve thrown a party?” Jeanine asked.

He nodded slowly. “So it would seem.”

Footsteps sounded in the hallway. An instant later, Baldwin entered. “The deliveryman has departed,” he announced.

“Is there a reason for this announcement?” Valan asked.

“There is another delivery,” Baldwin replied.

“I’ll see to it.” Mrs. McPhee started to turn.

“Mrs. McPhee,” Valan said, “I beg you, do not beat this deliveryman. I would rather not have goods shipped in from England because all of Edinburgh’s merchants are afraid of my housekeeper. Baldwin, please have my carriage brought round. I must fetch help before it is too late.”