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Chapter Six
Cam barely slept.
He had known it was going to be a rough night. He had even stayed up until he could see the brightening in the sky indicating dawn’s arrival. He had hoped working on his review of the estate accounts would have done the job of putting him to sleep. But even though he could barely keep his eyes open when he had finally settled into bed, it had taken quite some time to finally drift off. Now, what felt like thirty seconds later, but was really at least a couple hours, his valet was gently shaking him. He had left a note for his butler to pass on to his personal servant to ensure that he was woken at the right time, so Cam tried not to growl at the man, but it was a challenge when it felt as though gravel were gouging his eyes and everything ached slightly.
“Trouble sleeping again, my lord?”
Cam sighed and nodded without saying anything as he swung his legs over the side of the bed.
“I suspected as much and brought you some coffee. I know you prefer not to break your fast in bed, but a few sips might get things moving for you.”
“You are the very best, Albert, thank you.” Cam gulped rather than sipped and felt slightly less dead within a couple minutes while his man scraped the stubble off his face for him.
“What was so urgent that you needed the butler to ensure I got you up in time? You usually just try to stay abed until you’ve slept through your losses.”
Cam almost nodded but, mindful of the blade being wielded by the other man, merely drawled a protracted yes. He thought through his answer for a while before finally settling on one that made at least a little bit of sense.
“I have too many things to take care of and too many things on my mind, which is part of why I couldn’t sleep, but also why I couldn’t stay abed.”
“Is that not what you have clerks for, my lord?”
“Some things you cannot entrust to others.”
“But you trust your secretary.”
“I do, but it would be foolish not to stay on top of things myself. And there is also something afoot that cannot be left to anyone. I’m meeting someone.”
The valet looked thrilled. “Is it the same lady as last night, my lord? Ought I to become excited?”
Cam grinned. His valet was the biggest romantic he had ever met.
“Nothing to get excited about, I’m afraid. But it is the same lady. I am to run into her and her sister in the park this morning.”
“Ah, thus it had to still be morning when you arose,” the valet chuckled. “But might the ladies not remain abed after their late night?”
“They might. But they didn’t have estate books calling them when they arrived home last night.”
“I’m most certain your books were silent, my lord. It was no doubt you calling to them.”
“You know me too well,” Cam agreed.
“What is amiss? Is it your lady mother?”
Camden’s valet knew all about his challenges with his mother. Cam suspected all his servants knew. Some of them, of course, were loyal to the viscountess, but most were on his side of any issues. Not that they could do anything for him, of course. Except perhaps listen, as his valet was clearly offering.
“Not exactly. I’ve just gotten myself into a situation that is a touch more complicated than I had originally thought. The revolutions of it in my mind kept me from my bed last night.”
“Were you able to concentrate on your numbers with other things chasing around your mind?”
Cam grinned again. Albert had a way with words.
“I was. I hoped the numbers would shove the other things out of the way. It worked until I lay down.”
“Of course.” The valet nodded in understanding as he began pulling out the viscount’s clothes for him.
“Going to the Park, you said, my lord? Would the blue superfine be best?”
Most of what Cam knew about fashion came from his valet, so it was generous of the other man to defer to him in any such matters. Cam didn’t even bother answering. The question was no doubt rhetorical.
