The housekeeper almost snorted, managing to keep it to an audible exhale through her nose.
He glanced back.
A smile teased her lips.She made a small curtsy.“If I may, Your Grace, you have much to accomplish here, and more to worry about than this household.We are here to support you in that endeavor, in whatever way you may wish.”
He’d frowned at the formal title again, but understood her point.His time was valuable to managing a much larger staff than the ones there in Rutland.
“I’m accustomed to much more movement in my previous role, but I suppose I can contain that to outdoors.”He sighed.“However, I’d appreciate you reminding the staff that not only is there a new duke, but he’s much less formal, so if I appear in an unlikely place, it is not because I’m checking on them, or need someone to run in response to a summons, or anything else.Indeed, it may well be because I’m lost in this monstrous house.”
A giggle erupted from Mrs.Betters, and she slapped her hand over her mouth, appalled.Her eyes went wide over her hand, and she pulled it away to start, “Your Grace, I apol—”
“No, please.You can laugh if I say something funny.And no more ‘Your Grace.’‘My lord’ will do if you must.I was Xander to my staff in the past.”
She nodded once and asked, “Now, how may I be of assistance, my lord?”
He smiled at her easy acceptance of his preference.“I’d like to get a list of all the servants’ names, a short note regarding their duties, and how long they’ve been here.”
“Certainly.I’ll have that to you later today.Is there something in particular I can help you with?Maybe a specific concern?”
He wondered if she’d have asked his predecessor that, but he couldn’t fault her for asking after he’d just invited informality.His guilty conscience probably had prompted that question, anyway.“Not at all.’Tis yet another aspect of this new world I need to learn.I should learn people’s names if I’m going to ask them to run my errands, don’t you think?”
She grinned.“That would be lovely.Thank you, my lord.”
As she departed, Xander sat back and propped his elbows on the arm of his chair, steepling his fingers.The first step of assuaging his curiosity about the impertinent maid had been made.Perhaps he could track mud into the library to force her to work in his presence.Even better, maybe he could leave paperwork on the table in the far corner and then pepper her with questions if he caught her reading it.Most of all, he was dying to see the color of her hair, hidden under that mobcap she wore, and the shape of her body obscured by the drab shapeless uniform.
He stared into space, picturing a much different maid’s uniform.Perhaps only a shift.Or a shift and a corset so whenever she leaned over…
North’s warning sounded in his head, and he jerked upright, swearing at himself.He’d never do such a thing, but he shouldn’t even be entertaining thoughts of the pretty servant.He needed to find a way to take the edge off other than his hand, but out here in the country, options were limited.No, even with all the options in the world, that woman’s combination of audacity, intelligence, and a delectable figure would intrigue him.If only she were within reach morally as much as she was physically.
Scrubbing a hand through his hair again, he returned to the drudgery of learning and opining on the country’s laws.
Chapter Six
At the servants’ supper in the kitchen, Evie heard about the duke’s appearance and his search for Mrs.Betters.Everyone at the long table was speculating about his reason.
When Harriet entered, the table grew quiet.Standing at the end of the table, she stated matter-of-factly, “I expect you’re all eager to know what his lordship wanted.First, I’d like to remind you what I said after the news of the old duke.Every nob has their own way of doing things.His Grace reinforced that, noting that his are liable to be less formal than others we’ve worked for, due to his circumstances.So if you see him in unexpected places or doing unexpected things, do not worry.Simply do as you always have—ask how you can be of assistance or go about your business.”
She made eye contact with everyone at the table, waiting for a nod of acknowledgement from each person before moving on.Evie agreed eagerly.This gave her a bit more leeway if she slipped up again in respecting the line between servant and lord.
Harriet continued, “Now, as to what he was looking for, ’twas a list of all everyone he employs in this household—”
A buzz started at the table.Every staff member had been nervous about his perspective on their duties and performance.
The housekeeper held up a hand.“Calm down.I asked him the purpose of such a request, and he indicated it is so that he can learn the names of the people who work for him.No one should be concerned at this time.He seems very genuine, approachable even.”
Hmm.Evie would like to approach him, from the front or the back, and climb him like the tree trunk he resembled.When the dinner rolls passed across her, she returned to the present and grabbed one, checking her chin for drool.But of course there was no need to worry, as Cook would take it as a compliment.
The next day, having finished the dusting of her assigned rooms, she was due to start polishing furniture.Once again, she began in the front parlor, the memory of his gaze on her arse fresh.When a troupe of horses sounded on the circular drive, she peered around the curtains.Outriders preceded a carriage which stopped in front of the steps to the large double doors.
Her eyes widened at the crest of the Duke of Cranbrook.There had been no talk of any visitors, much less a duke.Or her great uncle.
She should warn Harriet.But she paused to watch the step being placed after the carriage door opened.The Duke of Cranbrook exited to reveal a second passenger.She gasped when his son, her second cousin, the Marquess of Hollibrook, alighted.Oh my, two dukes and a marquess under a single roof.Back in London, that would be an enormous coup.Ton gossip would thrive for days on just what they might be discussing.Particularly if two of them were family and one was her betrothed.But alas, she was a maid for the moment.
She peered closer at the men and estimated it had been at least eight years since she’d seen her relatives.They’d visited Cranbrook, which meant she’d been around twelve, gangly legged and flat-chested.Hopefully, neither would recognize her after that much time, but her best bet was to stay out of sight.She could not afford to have her identity exposed; she hadn’t yet had the chance to learn anything beyond the duke’s looks and apparent disdain for neckcloths and jackets.Besides, her reputation would be in shreds if anyone knew she’d been sleeping in a single man’s house without a chaperone, no matter what her supposed role was.
She rushed out of the parlor, warned the footman by the door, then trotted straight back to the kitchen.
The housekeeper emerged as she neared.Skidding to a stop, Evie heaved a breath and gushed, “The Duke of Cranbrook and the Marquess of Hollibrook are outside.Did no one know of their visit?”
