Page 78 of Impossible
“I’m still not entirely sure I want one, but I probably need one. He must be the right sort of person, however.”
She understood what he wasn’t saying. His valet would hear his nightmares. “It might be best, after we find this person, if you are completely honest about what they ought to expect.”
“You said ‘we.’”
“I did. However, I probably shouldn’t assume you want my help.”
“I do, in fact. It’s only fitting since this is your fault.”
She chuckled again. “I will accept the blame and your request for help. But it may take several days.”
“Are you trying to manipulate me into staying? I’m not sure I can withstand the temptation of sleeping with you every night and trying to keep from touching you.”
“We did a rather poor job of that last night.” Ada had awakened before dawn to find herself entwined with Max. In his defense, it had looked like she’d invaded his side of the bed and basically wrapped herself around him.
“Youdid. I was a model of restraint.”
She loved when he joked with her. He’d come such a long way. “To answer your question, I am not trying to get you to stay, though that would be nice. I can conduct interviews and dispatch a few potential candidates to Stonehill. If you trust me to do that.”
“I trust you implicitly,” he said. “One candidate. You may sendone. Only the man you think I should hire. If you aren’t certain, he isn’t right for the position.”
Ada practically floated along the path. Having his trust meant more to her than anything. She wasn’t sure he even trusted himself. “I can do that.” She was determined to find a valet he could rely upon and feel comfortable with—someone he could trust as he did her.
Damn, could she be his valet? She stifled a giggle.
“What amuses you?” he asked.
“I just wondered if I could be your valet, but I’m in no more position to do that than I was to be your steward.”
“Because of your commitment to the Phoenix Club.” He sounded slightly disdainful.
“It’s more than that. It’s a commitment I made to myself, to find my own way and be happy with where I am and the choices I’ve made.”
“Choosing to work for me wouldn’t have made you happy?” Now he sounded upset.
Ada hesitated as she tried to think of how to answer that. She had an important role at a hugely successful club in London. She met all sorts of people, and the potential to keep learning new things was considerable.
But the real truth was that working for himwouldn’tmake her happy. She’d already worked in a household and fallen in love with its master, much to her detriment. She had to expect it would be similar if not the same with Max. He wasn’t offering to make her his viscountess. Goodness, she couldn’t even imagine that.
In the end, she said, “I think we both know that my working for you would be an irresistible temptation that is best avoided. Now, let’s go look at the cascade. It’s only open a short time.” She pulled him in the direction of the fake waterfall.
“You’re so managing,” he muttered.
“You like me that way.”
“I do.” His response was low and seductive. She ignored the pulse of lust it sent through her.
When they arrived at the waterfall, they met the rest of their party. While Ada was glad, she was also sorry her time alone with Max had come to an end. Until later. When she slept with him.
She really needed to put a stop to that.
They watched the cascade in motion—sheets of tin accompanied by the sound of roaring water. “This is water I can appreciate,” she said with a laugh.
“Shall we visit the hermitage?” Evie suggested.
Ada slid Max a secretive smile. “Yes, let’s. I have it on good authority that Warfield is inordinately fond of hermitages.”
Max rolled his eyes. “She’s exaggerating.”
