Page 51 of The Return of the Rake

“You did nothing, I hope?” King asked, narrowing his eyes in concern.

“What do you take me for?” Repton replied indignantly, some of his top lofty valet role reappearing for a moment. “I know better than that.”

King sighed with relief. “There’s a good fellow. I’m sorry I worried you, but there was no help for it.”

“A spot of bother?” Repton asked anxiously.

King sat down on the edge of his bed and returned a weary smile. “You might say that, so listen closely. After dinner last night, I had a drink in the parlour and then took Captain Dearborn up on his offer of a game of cards. I drank rather too much and came back here this morning, now, with a sore head, for which you mixed me one of your special concoctions. You’d best go down to the kitchens and ask for the ingredients. Got that?”

“Certainly, sir,” Repton said, for he was never slow on the uptake, thank the lord. “You may rely upon me.”

“I do, Repton, you know I do,” King said with a smile, touched when he saw the man swell with pride at this encomium.

Before he went, Repton divested King of his boots and coat and ensured his comfort before going to find the ingredients for his hangover cure. He returned twenty minutes later and woke an indignant King, who glowered at the vile creation the man held out to him.

“I don’t actually want to drink the filthy brew,” he said, glaring at it.

“Well, what ought I to do with it? I can’t throw it out the window, and there’s no other way save drinking it.”

“You drink it, then.” “Sir!” Repton exclaimed reproachfully.

“I’ll give you a sovereign to drink it yourself!” King exclaimed, impatient to catch up on some sleep.

“Done!” Repton’s hand shot out, and King grunted with amusement, shaking it.

“Now go away and leave me in peace,” he added. “You may wake me at midday.”

“Very good, sir,” Repton said, and left his master to sleep.

Anne went to the front desk upon hearing the bell ring and smiled warmly as she saw who awaited attention.

“Reverend, how good to see you,” she said, hurrying forward to take his hands.

“Ah, Anne, what a vision of loveliness you are as always. It does an old man’s heart good to see you. It does indeed,” he said, giving her a toothy grin and raising her hand to his lips.

Anne laughed. “You are a shocking flirt, Reverend, and lucky that I am so fond of you, for what a stir I could cause, shocking all the old tabbies with tales of your gallantry.”

The reverend chuckled, rather pleased with this description of himself, but turned and gestured to the front door, which had been left slightly ajar. A young man Anne recognised, though barely, peered around it before coming inside.

“Is Mr King in, do you know, Anne? I believe he is expecting us,” Honeywell asked her. “Young Tommy here is going to work for him.”

“So I understand,” Anne said, smiling at the boy, who looked as though he’d been scrubbed so thoroughly his skin was still pink. His hair had been cut close too, and looked shiny and clean, and he wore a suit of clothes that, whilst a shade too big for him, were the neatest and most complete articles she had ever seen him wear. “You look very well, Tommy. I’m sure you’ll be happy working for Mr King, for he’s a kind fellow, I think.”

“Indeed, he is,” the reverend replied, regarding Anne thoughtfully. “Though there’s few people who have the wit to realise it.”

Anne turned away before the reverend could see how her cheeks glowed at his words.

“You say he is expecting you?”

“He is, though we did not arrange a time.”

Anne nodded. “Well, follow me, if you please.” She led them up the stairs and along to King’s room, aware that Tommy’s eyes grew wider with every step they took.

“Cor…” he murmured, glancing into an unoccupied room where Martha was hard at work cleaning and had left the door ajar. “I never saw nothing so pretty,” he said in a rather loud whisper to the reverend.

“Mrs Adamson’s hotel is most elegant,” Honeywell agreed, smiling at Anne.

Feeling a ridiculous surge of anticipation, Anne knocked on the door of number six. King’s remarkably supercilious valet opened the door but unbent enough to smile upon her.