He focused on the last dozen.None bore the name of the public house, but one stated, “Rutland.”With his luck, he owned half the town.He pulled the volume from the shelf and dropped it on his desk with a thud.
Inside, the list of holdings wasn’t quite half the town but sure enough included the pub.Xander flipped through several months’ reports from Banks.It did quite well.The manager had expanded his offerings of whisky to include an Irish one after taxes on those imports were recently reduced.Well-cooked fare and the resulting competition between that and the Scotches from their northern neighbors drew a regular crowd.
Xander propped his chin on his fists and stared down at the reports.If only he knew how to execute this particular plan.He recalled someone—he wasn’t sure if it had been Lancaster, Hollibrook, or Munroe—mentioning deeds for ownership but had no idea where he’d find such a thing or if it was in Rutland.Lancaster might be the keeper of such things.
He rang the bell for a servant.Too impatient to wait, he stood and stomped toward the door, nearly colliding with Rogers as the man opened the door.
“Rogers, there you are.By the by, what is your first name, man?”
“George, sir, but I prefer Rogers, if it pleases you.”
“Ah, all right.”
“You rang, Your Grace?”the servant asked mildly.
“Is Munroe still here?”
“I don’t believe so.I understood that you dismissed him this morning before your outing.”Rogers’ brows were nearly at his hairline.
“Right, right.But dammit, I need his help.”
“Is there someone else who might help you?”Rogers said and cleared his throat.
“No.Even Munroe cannot half the time.”Xander stomped back to his desk, picked up the portfolio with the pub’s reports, and slammed it down.
Rogers started, took a giant step backwards into the hallway, and closed the door.
Xander hadn’t seen Evie.Usually she was somewhere on the ground floor working until their sessions.He strode back to the door.“Where is Evie?”
Rogers’ eyes were wide as he stuttered, “She-she took a half day.I think she has a-a relative nearby?”
Xander refrained from growling at the footman and said only, “Have her see me when she returns.”
Damnation, another plan on hold until he got help.
Chapter Eighteen
“Aunt Lou,” Evie sang as she knocked a second time on her aunt’s front door before opening it and letting herself in.
“Aunt Lou?Are you awake?Anyone?”Her aunt only had two part-time staff, choosing to lead a simple life.
Evie walked to the kitchen at the rear of the house.Louisa was usually up and about by now, despite it being quite early by London Ton standards.
Seeing a dirty teacup by the sink gave Evie hope she wasn’t waking her aunt.Peeking out the kitchen door, there was no sign of her aunt in the garden.It seemed too early to be out and about, but Evie daren’t look for her around town for fear of exposure of her disguise.
She sat at her aunt’s writing desk in the small parlor and pulled out foolscap and pen and ink.Unable to fathom how to summarize everything that had gone on, she started at random.
Dear Aunt Lou,
Never let it be said I’m lazy.This job is hard work.But it’s honest work, and the duke is more than fair to his staff.I shall pester Mother to give the servants a pay increase when I get home.
I’ve managed to spend some time with X— the duke (how that came about is a story for in person), and he is more than I hoped for.
I need—
Voices and footsteps came from above and Evie started, ink splattering across the page.Damnation!Aunt Lou had a guest.A male guest, no less.
Evie’s muscles loosened, and her mouth curled up in a smile.Nicely done, Auntie.
