“Not yet. This is Lady Theo Vivers. She will be my duchess in two weeks. She has come to inspect the house.”
He appeared panicked. “Mrs. Swisher isn’t here, your grace.”
Theo patted Chandos’s arm. “Is Miss Jaynes here?”
“Yes, my lady.”
“Please have her join us.” The footman took off as if he was glad to leave them.
The butler and a woman in her early thirties strode into the hall.Jaynes. She had a pleasant countenance. Though, again, she appeared confused.
The butler bowed. “Your grace. I was not informed you would be bringing Lady Theo to the house. Nothing is prepared.”
“I didn’t expect it would be.” Chandos motioned to Theo. “My love, I would like to present my butler, Hoover, and I presume this is Miss Jaynes.” They bowed and curtseyed again. “As you know, this is Lady Theo Vivers. We will be married in two weeks.” Chandos apparently wanted to ensure the servants knew the date. “I gather that information has not been given to you.”
“No, your grace.” Hoover appeared grim. “I and the staff wish you congratulations on your pending marriage.”
Theo looked at Jaynes. “I would like to inspect the house. Can you show me around?”
She seemed hesitant. “Usually, Mrs. Swisher would perform that task.”
“We have been told she is not here.” Theo gave her an encouraging smile. “I am sure you are eminently capable to take over for her. Am I correct?”
The servant straightened. “Yes, my lady. You are correct. Would you like to begin at the top and work your way down, or the other way around?”
“Let us start at the top.” She turned to her maid. “This is Payne, she is my maid.” Then she motioned to her footman. “This is Jones. He is my personal footman. Both Payne and Jones answer only to me. Is that understood?”
“Yes, my lady,” the butler and housekeeper said at the same time.
“Very good. Let me see what we have.”
Chandos led the way up four flights of stairs to the schoolroom and nursery. They were filthy. That really did not surprise Theo. Once the children were grown and no young ones were around, these rooms frequently became areas for old furniture to be stored and were not kept up. They also needed to be renovated. “First of all, they must be cleaned.” She turned to him. “I will send a note to the architect and decorator my family uses to remodel these rooms. I would like something akin to what we have at both Stanwood and Worthington Houses.”
“I’ve seen them, and I agree.” All the darkness would depress a child. “The broken furniture will have to go as well.”
He seemed to have the same impression of the rooms as she did. “Indeed.”
Jaynes and Payne were making notes.
“Are you ready to go down to the next level, my lady?” Jaynes asked.
“Is that where the servants’ quarters are?”
“Er, no, my lady. They are on the other side of the house on this floor.”
“I would prefer to see that first.” Theo wanted to ensure that all the servants were comfortable, especially hers. “Where are my maid’s rooms?”
“There is a small apartment that is attached to the mistress’s suite,” Jaynes said.
She glanced up at Chandos. “How often did your parents come to Town?”
“Twice a year until my father’s illness. What I don’t know is when it was last refreshed.”
Theo was not any more impressed by the servants’ quarters. “It all needs to be painted, and they need new soft furnishings.” She looked at the windows. “Since the windows on the other side will be changed, the windows here must be redone as well. Otherwise, the house will seem odd.”
Chandos glanced in the rooms and frowned. “The chambers seem too small.”
That is what was bothering her about the space. “They are smaller than the ones in Worthington House.”
