Page 86 of A Bride for the Duke of Sin

I expect your presence at the opera tonight, husband, it said.

The last word was underlinedthrice, as if she furiously wished to remind him of his role.

He smiled widely and carefully folded the missive and tucked it into his jacket pocket, close to his chest.

“Tell Benson to clear my schedule for the rest of this evening,” he instructed his valet. “I will be heading out tonight.”

Huxley blinked in what appeared to be confusion. “Out, Your Grace?”

“I believe I made myself quite clear,” Ethan told him with a slight frown.

“Well…” Huxley looked visibly discomfited. “Seeing as Your Grace has not gone out at night for more than a week save for?—”

“Save for when?”

“Save for the Harolds’ ball, when you escorted Her Grace…” the valet trailed off, and a faint smile appeared on his face.

Oh, yes.Thatone night.

“Well, what is so unusual about going out at night?” Ethan shrugged. “In fact, you may inform the rest of the staff that I will be occupied for the rest of tonight.”

“Will you be returning to Sinclair Estate, Your Grace?”

Ethan glowered at the man. “I believe,” he said slowly, “that I hired you for the express reason that you do not talk unnecessarily.”

Huxley smiled. “That and the fact that I have managed to do my duties with utmost dedication.”

“As I said, you were not one to talk unnecessarily.”

The valet looked as if he might burst into laughter.

Great. Now, everyone seemed to be regarding him with amusement. When he married Phoebe, he had not signed up to become a spectacle.

And yet, here he was, with hisvaletholding back his laughter.

“As you wish, Your Grace. Will there be anything else?”

Ethan glared at him. “I will require your services for tonight.”

“When you return to Sinclair Estate, Your Grace?”

“No, damn it. For theopera. I am going to the opera tonight,” Ethan seethed.

The laughter on the valet’s face faded and gave way to a look of censure.

Ethan resisted the urge to throw his hands up in frustration. Even the staff was now takingherside.

Have they forgotten who pays their wages?

“The Duchess requested my attendance at the opera tonight,” he enunciated through gritted teeth. “That is what I will be requiring your services for.”

“Oh.” A look of understanding crossed the valet’s face. “In that case, Your Grace can rest assured that I will do an exceptional job.”

Ethan wanted to tell the man that he was very much expected to do an exceptional job—with the wages he was earning—but he was strangely delighted that his stafflikedtheir new mistress.

One might even go so far as to say that they perhaps liked her better than they likedhim.

But he was the one paying them. Shouldn’t their loyalty be led by their purses?

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