Page 13 of The Butler and the Bluestocking
He waited a moment until she paused in her work before he tapped her on the shoulder.
“Ooh.” Startled she leapt around to face him. “You nearly scared the life from me, Mr. Kentigern. You shouldn’t sneak up on a body that way.”
Is there another way? “I’m sorry to have surprised you, Mrs. Crewe. I was looking for that piece. Where did you have it hidden?”
Her gaze sharpened. “Where we always store the silver, in the butler’s pantry. How is it you do not know that?” She stuck out her chin daring him to claim he’d known.
He’d told too many lies and half-truths to those in the Seahaven household. It might be a relief to tell the someone the truth. “May I trust you, Mrs. Crewe?”
“Depends on your intentions. If you plan to hurt her ladyship or any of my girls, I’ll have you before the magistrate this day.”
“My intentions are far from harm. I hope to be able to help the dowager countess to launch her daughters successfully. I admit having some assistance with that would be appreciated.”
Her eyes narrowed with suspicion. “What kind of help? And why?”
Could he tell her he’d fallen instantly in love, more likely lust, with celestial, bossy, Bess? No, he couldn’t do that. “The owner of this house, is my godmother. I came to York hoping to visit and not knowing she was traveling or had offered the house to her cousin, the dowager, and her family. Please understand, I would aid the ladies out of sheer kindness, but I also stand in place of my godmother and feel responsible for them.”
“That is mighty kind of you, but why pretend to be a butler—especially when you’re not very good at it? Why not tell Lady Seahaven the truth?”
Because I still haven’t determined precisely what that truth is.
He hedged for time. “I’m sure you’ve noticed that the entire family is proud to a fault and wish to make their own way.”
“Aye, it takes little effort to see pride in the Bigglesworths, and they’ve no fear of working to achieve their aims. They are good folk and don’t deserve to be treated with lies and falsehoods.”
He nodded. He’d seen every member of the family working at one thing or another in pursuit of launching the three beauties.
Mrs. Crewe was looking at him as if he’d grown three heads.
Had he spoken his thoughts aloud?
“I apologize for my distraction. I agree that the family deserves better than they’ve received, but how else am I to help? If I told the countess I’m no butler but an ordinary gentleman, she’d send me on my way, and I’d have no excuse to give assistance for which she would surely never ask.”
“Hmmm. I see your point. Since I, too, wish this family to have great success, I’ll help you be a better butler. If you don’t understand how to do something, Ask me.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Crewe. You’ll not regret this.”
“I pray I don’t. If you hurt the dowager and her family, the wrath of God will seem nothing to what I’ll do to you.” They talked for several minutes more while Mrs. Crewe finished polishing the huge decorative centerpiece and muttered something about having to prepare the stew the dowager had requested for luncheon. As they spoke, he asked for her help in finding additional servants beginning with a cook, a maid of all work, and perhaps a lady’s maid. He would undertake to pay their salaries, if she could find suitable employees willing to keep their employer’s confidence. She could explain to her ladyship that the new hires needed shelter and work more than salary. That way, the countess and her family need never feel beholden to him for his assistance.
Two days later, he had to search out the housekeeper for help once more. Shawls, spencers, wraps and hats. Lady Bess and the younger girls needed outer wear for an outing on this breezy April day.Where in the world do butlers find all these things? Mrs. Crewe showed him where the cupboard was and which items belonged to which family member. He thanked her then hurried to cart two armfuls of clothing up to the foyer. He was busy arranging all in a neat and orderly manner when he heard Bess on the stairs. He’d been in the house little more than a day before he learned to discern her steps from all the others. Now he did not even need to hear her. The very air changed when she came near.
“Oh, Kentigern, thank you. The children will be down presently, but we’ll need Lady Susana’s pelisse as well. She’s put aside her sewing to help with the children.”
“I could save her the trouble, Lady Bess.
Her brows went up. “Thank you for the offer, Kentigern, but herding children on an educational tour of York is not among your duties.”
“As you wish, Lady Bess. As for escorting you and the children, your ladyship, I respectfully disagree. My duty is to assist the countess and all her family in every way possible.”
“But surely you have other tasks that must be done.”
“Nothing that cannot be delayed.”And thank heaven for that. I was not looking forward to polishing my godmother’s antique silver table settings.
She eyed him thoughtfully. “Have you any experience with children, Kentigern?”
He smiled. “I was a child once.”
She grinned back. “That’s not the sort of experience I meant.”
