“His lordship requested some of his personal effects,” the valet said.
Two trunks worth?Tom scowled, but let them strap the infernal things to the old coach.He climbed up to his seat as Meg hurried forward with more boxes.
“Meg, is your daughter still looking for a seamstress position?”the valet asked.
“Yes, Mr.Badcock, indeed she is,” the woman said, all smiles.
“Then we shall endeavor to take her with us.”
“Oh, thank you, Mr.Badcock!Bless you and his lordship,” she said, before trotting back into the town house.
Tom nearly fell off his box.“What’s all this?”he shouted down at the valet.
The manservant looked up at him with a bored expression that made Tom want to throttle him.”We shall go directly to Mrs.Leeds’s lodgings in Little Man Row.She is one of Meg’s daughters, a seamstress by trade, and can advise us in our purchases.”
“What purchases?”
“The bolts of cloth that the marquess requested.”
Tom gaped, growing more confused by the minute.“Don’t Wroth have enough clothes in those trunks?”he asked.“Are you telling me that the woman is supposed to sew some more for him?”
“Certainly not,” the valet said.“His lordship’s garments are made by the finest of tailors.”
Tom’s hands itched to close around the fellow’s stiff neck.“Then what the devil are we doing with bolts of cloth?”
“The material we are to purchase is for two young ladies it has not been my pleasure yet to meet.Mrs.Leeds will be in charge of dressmaking for them.”
“Now just wait a minute there, Noddycock!”Tom shouted.
“Badcock.”
“I don’t care what your name is, I don’t have any orders to take a female back with me!”
“But you do,” Badcock replied, tapping a finger on Wroth’s letter.“His lordship specifically requested that I bring a seamstress with me.”
“Withyou?And just where are you going?”
“To attend the marquess, my good man,” the valet answered.
Before Tom could protest, Meg returned, wearing a battered hat and carrying a large satchel.At first, Tom thought she had brought out some food for the journey, but Badcock helped her into the coach.
“Now, let us be off!”the valet called as he joined her inside.
Tom listened to the door close and ground his teeth.He didn’t take orders from Wroth or his manservant.He was his own man, and he and the girls had done just fine for years without his high-and-mighty lordship’s interference.
Why, he ought to climb down from his box and toss that fancy-pants out into the street!The more Tom considered it, the more he liked that notion.The only thing that stopped him was the thought of Kate in her old, worn-out trousers and Lucy in made-over gowns.
And then there was Meg.Tom could still taste the large woman’s excellent cooking.There was no doubt that she would be an asset to the household, even if just for a while.As long as Tom kept an eye on Wroth, what harm could come from a few extra servants?
Snorting at his misgivings, Tom snapped the reins, but he had the uneasy suspicion that his regrets concerning the marquess were only beginning.
Grayson rose to meet the returning coach, smiling at Badcock’s shocked assessment of his person and the irrepressible Meg’s squeal of greeting.Both the cook and the valet had been with him for years, and Grayson knew he could count upon their loyal service.Once Badcock had recovered from the sight of his master in less-than-perfect attire, he introduced a young woman as Meg’s daughter, Mrs.Leeds.
“Oh, my lord, call me Ellen, please.I am so grateful for the work.It’s been hard since Jimmy died.Me mum is always singing your praises, so I’m thrilled to be doing whatever I can for you.And wait until you see the lovely things we brought,” she said, turning to drag a bolt of cloth from the coach.
It was a violet silk that would set off Kate’s eyes to perfection, and Grayson reached out to finger the texture.Oh, yes.It would do nicely.He pictured the poppet draped in nothing except the smooth material, and his pulse quickened.
“Thank you,” he said, taking the bolt in hand.“I’ll let Tom show you to your quarters.”
