Become familiar with the senior staff and employees at the various estates.
Travel with me as required. Travel alone as needed.
“Do you have anything else to add?” Leo watched as Theo read the list.
“I would include whether or not you wish him to take his meals with you. Due to his status, he will not dine with the staff.”
That was a good point. “I will state that it is up to him. If he wishes to dine with me then he can.”
She appeared to think about it for a moment or so. “That will be satisfactory. Do you want to add the discretionary clause? I would advise it.”
It would protect him from his secretary talking about him. Although, he couldn’t imagine the man would. The punishment was quite severe. The loss of the remainder of his salary. “Yes. Just to be on the safe side.” Leo straightened in the chair. “Where is the most efficient place to have this drawn up quickly?”
“We can ask Matt’s secretary to do it. He has a clerk.”
“Very well then.” Leo stood and held out his hand for Theo. “I want to get this done as soon as possible. I really am drowning in correspondence.”
Instead of walking ahead of him, she took his arm. “I hope he is in.”
“When is Stanwood arriving?” It had to be soon. The last letter Chandos had received stated her brother et al. would be in Town for the first Almack’s assembly. That was in less than a week.
Theo glanced up at him and grinned. “Tomorrow. Constance came to tell me just as I was dressing to ride with you.”
“Excellent.” He hoped Mary would be with them. Leo had heard talk that she might remain with Lady Stern to take classes with the lady’s daughter. Not that he would tell Theo that. She was so ambivalent about having a Season it could very well make her decide to leave Town or, at the very least, cause the blue devils.
They arrived at a door next to Worthington’s study, and she knocked.
“Come, please.”
The man behind the desk looked to be in his middle forties.
He had thinning light brown hair and spectacles. “Lady Theo, how may I help you?”
“Do you have time to draft an employment contract for his grace?”
The man glanced over at his clerk, a younger man sitting at a much smaller desk. “Louis?”
He glanced up. “Yes, sir. It should not take long.”
Theo handed him the papers. “Thank you. When should we return?”
“Can you give me an hour? That will be sufficient time to make two originals and a copy.”
Leo inclined his head. “Yes, thank you. I greatly appreciate this.”
“We will return in about an hour.” She took his arm, and they left the room. “What shall we do until then?”
That was the wrong question to ask him. What he wanted to do was find an empty room and kiss her senseless. “I’m not sure.” The sound of horses galloping came from the main staircase. “It is time for dinner?”
Theo opened her brooch watch. “Not yet. Grace pushed back the time until seven.”
They strode to the hall as the children reached the last landing.
Hugh led the charge.
“Carriages!” one of them called as they raced across the hall to the door a footman had fortunately opened.
Theo’s normally smooth forehead wrinkled. “Who could it be?” Leo wanted to know too. “Let’s go see.”
