Page 17 of The Butler and the Bluestocking
“Has he offered you insult, Lady Bess?”
“No, no. Nothing more than the deception he practiced on me and my family.”
“You deserve an explanation.” The earl regarded her with kind eyes.
“Quite possibly, but it is my stepmama, Lady Patience Seahaven who most deserves the apology. Since she is unavailable right now, perhaps you could persuade your brother to write to her. We are a family of ten women in this household, my lord. Your brother has been the only male living in this house during our time in York. Whatever motive he may have for his behavior cannot excuse the potential damage done to our reputations.
“I will endeavor to make certain that no harm is done,” the earl assured her.
“I doubt even you could stop every wagging tongue in York. We have had visitors to this house who would easily recognize your brother. On many occasions, he has, in his guise as a servant, escorted me and several of my sisters as well as my stepmother on various expeditions about the city. It is no secret that he has lived in this house.”
“Nonetheless, please allow me to do what I can to mitigate any problems Malcolm’s charade may have caused.”
She shrugged. “Do what you must, but I’ll not count on anything. However, removing your brother from this house is my primary wish.”
“Agreed. I will take Malcolm with me when I leave. Have you considered what you will tell your family about his disappearance? What will you do for a butler? I would like to help with that if I may.”
“I would prefer not to be beholden to anyone. We are not without resources.” It wasn’t exactly a lie. All of the Bigglesworth ladies were resourceful. What did it matter if the Earl of Strathnaver imagined she meant financial resources? If God were kind, she’d never encounter the man or his brother again.
“As you wish. Please know that my brother and I are in your debt, and if you or any of your family are ever in need it would be my honor to assist you.”
“Thank you,” she choked the words out around a lump forming in her throat and blinked back the tears that threatened to spill. “I doubt we will require your assistance. Now, if you will excuse me. I regret that we have no butler to see you and your brother out when you have finished speaking.” She turned to leave.
“Seeing ourselves out is no hardship, Lady Bess. I thank you for talking with me and understand your quite justified anger with my brother. However, you should know that this sort of thing is very unlike Malcolm. He has ever been a proponent of truth and holds deceivers in contempt.”
Her hand on the doorlatch, she looked back at the Earl of Strathnaver. It was almost like looking at Kentigern, no Professor Marr.I should be glad to see the last of both men. Why then am I so cast down? “It seems he is not as strict in his attitude toward deception as you believe.” Lifting her head, she swept from the room.
Chapter Nine
“Mal, what maggot gotinto your very educated brain? Breaking into our godmother’s house is bad enough but masquerading as butler to a houseful of marriageable women in the middle of York’s social Season? Have you lost your mind?”
Mal stared glumly into the fire. “Undoubtedly, I have lost any and all good sense God gave me.”
The brothers sat ensconced before the fireplace of the earl’s private sitting room at the Bull and Horn. Mal had arrived at the townhouse parlor with the tea tray to find Bess gone. James had related the conversation he’d had with that lady and her wish to never set eyes on Mal again. James had wanted to leave immediately. Mal had insisted on staying long enough to make arrangements for a new butler. His brother had insisted on accompanying Mal and being included in all arrangements.
Mrs. Crewe had been able to assure Mal that her own brother—who had just returned from the former colonies—would happily come on as butler for the household. The other servants were sworn to secrecy on pain of losing the very generous salaries Mal had been paying them. Receiving assurances of discretion and Mrs. Crewe’s promise to contact him if the Bigglesworth ladies encountered the least difficulty, Mal and his brother had taken leave of them all.
