Page 19 of The Heiress in Disguise
“Has she seen you yet?”
“She hasn’t, why?”
Antoine hesitated. A wild idea had just come into his mind. “You should go and greet her as Lord Cambridge,” he said.
George’s eyes went wide. “You want me to pretend to be you?”
“That’s exactly what I want, yes. I can’t think of anyone who could do a better job of it, George. You can put on some of my clothes, go out there, and accept the basket as Lord Cambridge.”
“But is this really necessary?” George asked. “After all, wouldn’t it do just as well to send me down as the valet?”
“Eventually, I think they are going to insist on seeing the earl,” Antoine said. “If you make an appearance and greet her today, perhaps she’ll forget her desire to meet me. Maybe one meeting will be enough.”
“Or maybe she’ll insist on a dozen more! You can’t know what will happen.”
“I think this is the best way to satisfy her and convince her that she’s gotten what she came for,” Antoine said. “Will you do it, George?”
“Of course,” George said at once. “You know that I’d do anything for you. But I hope you’re right about it being a good idea!”
“I believe I am,” Antoine said. “Quickly! Let’s get you some things to change into so that you’ll look like you could be the earl.”
George changed quickly. Antoine was glad that he hadn’t bothered to get out of his Philip attire, so he had no need of a change of clothes. Very soon, the two of them were ready to go back down.
Lady Gwyneth was waiting for them in the sitting room. Someone had brought her a cup of tea, and she set it down and rose to her feet when she saw them. “You must be Lord Cambridge,” she said to George.
“And you must be Lady Gwyneth form Darlington Manor.”
“Indeed!” She giggled slightly. “And my lady’s maid, Caroline.” She gestured to the girl without looking her way. “My family was ever so grateful for the basket you sent us, Lord Cambridge.”
“Oh, well—of course,” George stammered. “Anything for a neighbor.”
Antoine tried not to frown. His valet was clearly ill at ease in the company of Lady Gwyneth and in the guise of Lord Cambridge. He was doing his best, but he didn’t know how to present himself as a lord. Perhaps Gwyneth noticed as well, for she glanced at Antoine for the first time, and then looked back at George. “I was very impressed by your valet,” she said. “He carries himself like a gentleman.”
Antoine cursed inwardly. He hadn’t thought. She was right. He had gone next door walking with his usual bearing, and he had treated everyone with his usual manners. He didn’t regret being mannerly, of course, but a sharp eye such as hers could spot his true nature.
She didn’t seem suspicious, exactly, but she did seem to have noticed that there was something about him—and perhaps about George, too—that didn’t quite add up. Antoine knew that he was going to have to proceed with caution if he wanted this scheme to work.
“He’s very impressive,” George agreed. “I’m lucky to have him, I’ve always said that, haven’t I, Philip?”
“Yes, My Lord,” Antoine agreed. “And I’m lucky to serve in your house.”
Now he was probably overdoing it, but he was unused to being in this role, and so was George. The two of them were just going to have to keep doing their best here.
Now Lady Gwyneth picked up a basket that had been sitting on the floor beside her. Antoine recognized it as the one he had seen Ella—no, Angelique, not Ella—packing in the kitchen. “My family and I picked out a few items as gifts for you,” she said.
Of course, Lady Gwyneth had had nothing to do with packing that basket, and Antoine felt a bit annoyed at her for trying to claim credit for it, but he said nothing. He couldn’t. He was only a valet, after all.
“Thank you very much,” George said, accepting the basket. “This is most kind of you, Lady Gwyneth. It really wasn’t necessary.”
“Well, it’s as you say… anything for a neighbor,” Lady Gwyneth said with a smile. “We just wanted you to know how eager we are to have someone living in this house at last! It’s been empty as long as I can remember.”
“It certainly is a find for me,” George said. “This house is exactly what I pictured when I decided to move to London.”
Antoine smiled inwardly at the private joke—of course, the house had literally beenexactlywhat he was picturing, because he had lived in it before and had known what to expect. He appreciated George’s moment of levity and took it as a way of George signaling to him that even though things were going a bit unevenly, he was still willing to proceed with their charade.
“There are such lovely houses in this part of the city,” Lady Gwyneth enthused. “My family doesn’t spend very much of our time here, but I’m always so delighted when we do. I think I like our house here more than our home in the country, even though it’s smaller, because it’s right in the center of all the action.Don’t you love being where all the parties and social events are happening?”
“Oh, yes,” George agreed.
