Page 58 of The Moonstone Governess
In all, Dairehad been away three days, but when he and Jax walked into the Kestrel Inn, one would think he had been gone for years. The young attendant on duty at the registration desk uttered a cry of surprise and hurried off to wake Thaddius.
Jax arched an eyebrow. “Trouble?”
Daire shrugged. “I cannot imagine what it might be. He could not have given my room away, since I paid for it and left all my belongings there.” Not to mention he had left Brenna sleeping there for at least one more night.
Thaddius, his ginger hair sticking out from his nightcap and obviously having thrown on his clothes in haste, rushed forward. “Your Grace, thank goodness you have returned.”
Daire frowned. “Why? Has something happened to Brenna?”
Thaddius shook his head. “No, my cousin is fine. In fact, she has been tutoring your nephew for the past two days.”
Daire shook his head, certain there had to be a mistake. “What?”
Thaddius, realizing he was still wearing his cap, tugged it off and tossed it on the registration table. “Your mother and nephew arrived with their entourage the same day you left. They drew up in front of the inn around suppertime. I sent word to Brenna, who was still up at the house supervising repairs, and told her to come here straight away because I was not certain what to do.”
“Where are my mother and nephew now?”
“They are settled at Stoningham Manor.”
Daire’s jaw dropped open. “In the house? But it isn’t ready for them yet. In fact, that house is completely upside down.”
“That’s what Brenna, Felicity, and I tried to tell them, but your mother would not hear of staying anywhere but there. Her rooms and your nephew’s rooms are in fairly good shape because Brenna had the foresight to insist they be completed first. All they are lacking are elegant beddings and new curtains, but your mother did not seem to care about those. Her kitchen staff put the kitchen in order and have already started preparing meals there. The quarters for your butler, footmen, maids, and cook are livable, although Brenna insisted they were not quite ready yet.”
Daire nodded. “They only needed to be swept clean and have a fresh coat of paint applied to the walls.”
“Brenna had Uncle Simon’s crew attend to that yesterday. The kitchen is up and running, and your staff is slowly unpacking all your mother’s belongings.”
Daire raked a hand through his hair. “They weren’t supposed to be here for another ten days.”
“Brenna has it all in hand, Your Grace. She got Duchess Henley to invite your mother and nephew to St. Austell Grange for cream tea yesterday, so they were out of the way during the dustiest parts of the work. This morning,” Thaddius said, glancing at the clock and noting it was after midnight, “she intends to take Matthew on a nature walk around Stoningham Manor. Then Lady Phoebe and the marquess have invited them to Westgate Hall for the afternoon. His nieces, Ella and Imogen, are visiting again. She thought your nephew might enjoy their company. They are a bit older than him, but I don’t think they’ll mind building sandcastles on the beach together. Does anyone ever grow out of that fun?”
Daire wouldn’t know, since his father had never allowed him any idle pleasures. But he liked that Brenna was already on task with Matthew. “And what has she arranged for the following day?” he asked with a grin, knowing she was quite efficient.
“Brenna got the fort’s commander, Major Brennan,” Thaddius said, “to give your mother and nephew a tour of Fort Arundel, after which Lady Chloe will take them for tea and cakes at Mrs. Halsey’s tea shop. You needn’t worry for their comfort. Everyone is helping out so that Brenna can keep the work going at Stoningham Manor.”
“She appears to be handling this most efficiently,” Jax remarked.
Thaddius nodded. “She’s good that way. Quite organized. Always has been.”
“Seems I have nothing to worry about,” Daire muttered, amazed but also quite pleased by Brenna’s handling of things. Of course, he knew she was wonderful in every way. Was this not precisely the reason he’d felt the need to put distance between them? “Well, it is late, and I am sure Lord Bradford would like to get to his room and retire to bed.”
“He’ll have the guest chamber across the hall from your suite, Your Grace. Do either of you need anything more? Refreshments? A bath brought in?”
Daire shook his head. “Yes to refreshments. Send a bath to each of us tomorrow morning. The ewer and basin will do for tonight.” He turned to his friend. “Jax, do you wish to sleep in or ride up to Stoningham Manor with me in the morning?”
His friend cast him a lazy smile. “I’ll ride over with you to pay my respects to Duchess Juliana, but mostly I need to see this paragon of efficiency, Brenna.”
Thaddius immediately frowned.
So did Daire. “You are not to interfere with her work, or treat her as anything less than a lady. Have I made myself clear?”
Jax held up his hands. “Don’t bite my head off. Of course I will be a gentleman. I was merely curious about her, since I’ve never seen you so concerned about a lady before. She must be something special.”
“She is,” Daire and Thaddius said at the same time.
Jax shook his head and laughed. “Dear heaven, I cannot wait until tomorrow.”
Daire walked down the hall with his friend, and they parted ways as they each got to their door and entered. Daire lit a taper and glanced around the sitting room. None of Duchess Henley’s fabric books were here. No doubt Brenna had made certain to return them as soon as possible. Nor was there any sign that Brenna had been here except for the lightest hint of lavender in the air. She had sat in here while working on the drapery designs. She had slept in his bed when napping after taking that lump to her head. She had been at his writing desk to write her letters to her beau and the headmistress.
