Page 4 of As the Earl Likes
“Come away now,” Jo said, holding her arm out. “You can go to my chamber downstairs and get cleaned up while his lordship manages the duke.”
“Wait,” Sheff said. “Agnes, it’s imperative you say nothing of this to anyone. Can you promise me that? This is vital.” Rumors of the duke’s transgressions were numerous and sometimes obscene, but Sheff did his best to quiet them.
Agnes nodded.
Jo gave her a pointed look. “Do listen to his lordship. If you manage to retain your position here, it will be in jeopardy if you gossip.”
“I understand. I am terribly sorry. I didn’t mean to cause trouble.” Agnes’s voice hitched, and she began to cry again. She quickly dashed from the chamber.
“Poor girl.” Sheff frowned at his father’s snoring form. “I can’t comprehend how she—and others like her are—are swept away by him.”
“As you pointed out a few minutes ago, he’s a duke,” Jo said sardonically. “That is enough to turn many heads. And he’s not unattractive. Speaking objectively,” she added.
Yes, he was a not-unattractive duke with more charm than he deserved. “Can you bring coffee? I’ll need that to rouse him from his stupor, at least long enough for me to get him dressed and into a hack. Once he’s home, the footmen can carry him upstairs.”
“I take it that is not an unusual occurrence. How unfortunate that you must involve members of your household.”
“They are discreet. If they aren’t, they are soon dismissed.”
She looked at Sheff with sympathy. “I didn’t realize the situation was that bad. I mean, I knew he had a reputation for debauchery, but it sounds as though you manage regular misbehavior.”
“Honestly, tonight’s situation is far from the worst I’ve dealt with.” Why was he telling her this? “Never mind. Forget I said that.” He wiped a hand over his brow.
“What the devil is going on in here?” Jo’s mother, Jewel Harker, stepped into the small chamber, one hand on her hip. She possessed the same wide, expressive mouth as her daughter, but her hair was a lighter brown and now lined with gray. Her eyes were smaller and her chin broader. She was a striking woman, her figure curved and enticing in all the right places. Noticing such things about any woman he encountered was one of many reasons Sheff knew he was a scoundrel at his core.
Jewel looked down at Sheff’s father and scoffed. “Is that bloody Henlow? He’s not allowed here.” Her gaze snapped to Sheff. “Given your presence, it must be him.” Finally, she fixed her attention on her daughter. “Explain.”
Exhaling, Jo detailed what they knew or had deduced—that Agnes had been persuaded by the duke to bring him here, that they had not engaged in intercourse, that he’d been ill. Then he’d lost consciousness.
“Make sure she’s gone tomorrow,” Jewel said. She glowered at the duke. “And toss him out now.”
Before Sheff could advocate for Agnes, Jo spoke. “Mama, Agnes knows she made a mistake. Henlow took advantage.” She glanced toward Sheff.
“Yes,” Sheff quickly agreed. “He preys on impressionable young women.”
Jewel snorted. “I bloody well know that. I was once an impressionable young woman.” She moved closer to Sheff’s father and sneered down at him. For a moment, Sheff thought she might spit on him. And Sheff wasn’t sure if he’d care.
Then he realized what she’d said. He saw that Jo was staring at her mother.
“Mama, you and the duke…?”
“Me and half of London.” Jewel shifted her attention to Sheff. “Honestly, I’m surprised he doesn’t have the pox. Or does he by now?”
If he did, Sheff was not aware of it. God, what would Sheff even do if that were the case? The man was unstoppable.
“To my knowledge, he does not,” Sheff said tightly. “I will remove him from the premises as quickly as possible.” How he wished he had his coach and driver. Or at least the driver.
“Good.” Jewel pinned him with a dark stare. “And make sure he doesn’t return, else I will make sure all of London knows he couldn’t fornicate with a pretty, young maid and then tossed up his accounts all over her.”
The duke wouldn’t like that, nor would Sheff because of how it would reflect on the rest of them. Protecting his mother and Min was the reason Sheff worked so hard to keep the duke out of serious trouble. “I will do my best,” Sheff promised. Though, trying to control the duke’s actions was akin to trying to stop a waterfall.
Jewel started to turn, but Jo touched her arm. “Mama, please give Agnes another chance. I’ll make sure she follows the rules.”
Blowing out a breath, Jewel narrowed her eyes at Jo. “You’re going to have to harden that heart of yours, my girl, if you’re going to run this place someday. Fine, Agnes is your responsibility. If she blunders again, it’s on you. And she’s working in the kitchen and cleaning up after we close every night for a fortnight.”
“Thank you, Mama.” After Jewel left, Jo faced Sheff. “How can I help?”
“I appreciate you advocating for Agnes. My father has ruined situations for enough young women,” he added quietly. Moving toward the duke, Sheff wrinkled his nose as the scent of vomit grew stronger. “You don’t have to help me, though if you want to bring me cleaning supplies, I’ll wash the floor.” Sheff could see there was sick on the wood pooling from underneath his father’s midsection.
