Part 6 (1/2)
He came to the house on Clifford Street but was quite apprehensive. He seemed to think that having never butlered before might be a hindrance to his performance.
”Of course not,” Ava a.s.sured him, in spite of having no practical knowledge of a butler's duties. ”It's all very simple, really. You open and shut doors, mainly.”
That had seemed to appease him somewhat, but nothing could appease Lucille Pennebacker. ”He's not a butler, he's a clerk, and he smells of sulfur and rotten eggs!”
”You must remember that we are doing a good deed, Lucy.”
”A good deed!” she spat. ”You are up to no good, Ava Fairchild. Wait until Egbert hears of it. He'll not have a man smelling of sulfur in his house!”
Ava rather imagined that was true, but she nevertheless made her way to the parish poorhouse to have Mr. Morris's name removed from the rolls and to collect the five pounds the parish would pay her for having removed him from their responsibility. It was not an ideal situation to be sure, but she was hopeful that he could be properly trained.
She was so lost in thought that she didn't notice the three gentlemen emerging from a club on RegentStreet, or that one of them paused to look at her. She didn't notice him at all until he suddenly startedwalking away from his companions in her direction.
”Come on, Middleton!” one of the other men called.
Ava's breath caught in her throat. It was Middleton. She couldn't believe her opportunity after several nights lying sleepless in her bed, wondering how she might insinuate herself into his lofty sphere. But as she had a.s.sumed she would do so after she had come out of mourning, she couldn't think exactly what to do with the opportunity that was presenting itself as Middleton came to a halt before her.
”Lady Ava?” he said, looking at her curiously.
Three years of honing her skills in ballrooms and salons across Mayfair suddenly bubbled up. ”My lordMiddleton!” she said, and curtsied deeply, s.h.i.+fting the empty basket in which she had carried fruit to thepoorhouse.
”Middleton!” one of the companions-whom she recognized as Lord Harrison-shouted laughingly. ”We'll be late!”
He seemed not to hear him. ”You're walking alone?” he asked, peering behind her. ”Rather far fromhome at an odd hour, aren't you?” he asked as his two companions started back toward her, too.
”I, ah...why, no, my lord,” she said as Lords Stanhope and Harrison joined them. Now there were three gentlemen eyeing her curiously.
”Come on, then, Middleton,” Stanhope said with a grin. ”You'll incite a certain friend to jealousy if we are late.”
”Stanhope, do you not see Lady Ava Fairchild and her basket before us?” Middleton asked grandly,gesturing toward Ava. The three of them peered at the empty basket she'd forgotten she was carrying.
”Oh,” she said, glancing at the basket. ”I've just come from the parish poorhouse.”
”Dear G.o.d,” Stanhope muttered.
”All right, then, you've seen the lady's basket,” Harrison said. ”Forgive us, Lady Ava, but we really must go on. We are late for an important engagement.”
Stanhope laughed.
”You must ignore them, Lady Ava,” Middleton said with a charming smile. ”They've had far too much whiskey and have quite forgotten their manners.” He said it with an easy, captivating smile that made Ava begin to feel rather warm in her black c.r.a.pe gown.
”Ach, I cannot wait any longer,” Harrison said, putting a hand on Middleton's shoulder. ”Someone awaits my appearance,” he added with a wink.
”Go, then,” Middleton responded, flicking his wrist at the two of them. ”I shall be along directly, but atpresent I should like to know what Lady Ava Fairchild is about with her big...basket.””As you wish,” Harrison said.”But...but I thought-” Stanhope stammered, but Harrison slung his arm around his shoulder, pulled him aside, and said something low. Whatever he said caused Lord Stanhope to jerk his head up and peer closely at Ava before smiling broadly.
”Good day, Lady Ava,” he said politely, and he and Harrison strode away, laughing at some private jest.Middleton put his hand on his waist, revealing a strong figure in form-fitting dove-gray trousers, a stripedwaistcoat, and a coat of navy superfine. ”Pay them no mind,” he said breezily. ”But you, my lady, you arevery curious.”
”I'm hardly curious, my lord,” she said, trying very hard not to notice his muscular form. ”I am a memberof the Ladies' Beneficent Society. Perhaps you have heard of it?””I can't say that I have,” he said, his smile turning brighter.”We are employed in charitable works.””What sort?””What sort?””What sort of charitable works?” he asked as his gaze casually moved down the length of her.
Really, it was very warm beneath her cloak. ”Ah...the usual sort.”Middleton lifted his gaze from his casual perusal of her and grinned as if that amused him. ”The usual sort...feeding poor foundlings? Tending to the infirm?”
Looking for a butler. ”Ah...reading the Bible,” she said, and focused on smoothing a wrinkle in hersleeve. ”To...to the, ah, poor people.”
”Aha!” he exclaimed. ”A worthy endeavor, to be sure!”Was that laughter she heard in his voice? She glanced up from her sleeve. He was grinning. For the sakeof argument, suppose she were reading the Bible to poor people. What on earth was the matter withthat? ”Are you...are you laughing at me, my lord?”
”Not in the least,” he said instantly. ”I mean to compliment you on your good works.” He inclined his head.
”It's quite true, you know,” she lied indignantly. ”I am in the midst of an important charitable endeavor.” He smiled fully at that, and Ava felt the force of it all the way to her toes. ”Not just a single act, but an entire endeavor. Bravo, Lady Ava. And where are you off to now? To spread more goodness about? You must allow me the honor of seeing you to it.”
”Thank you, but that is not necessary,” she said. ”Your friends are waiting.” Not to mention a certain friend who would be incited to jealousy. What a rogue he was!
”What friends?” he asked, and before she could respond, he said, ”Come, then, let me see you home.”
The very suggestion alarmed her. If she was to lure him to her, the last place she wanted Lord Middleton was at the door of her home when a jeweler's clerk and Lucille were vying for the chance to open it. There would be the usual introductions, and Lucille would wonder aloud who he was, and Middleton would undoubtedly wonder aloud why there was no butler, to which Mr. Morris would correct him and say he was the butler, and the rest was too awful to imagine. ”It's really not necessary, my lord.”
”Perhaps it is not necessary, but it is my pleasure and my duty. It is dusk, madam. I cannot think of letting you walk alone after dark. Don't you know that wicked men roam these streets at night?” he asked with a wink.
She had a sense of that, yes, and eyed him suspiciously. His soft chuckle made the hair on the back of her neck stand-not from fright, she realized, but from the expectation of something pleasurable.
”Please do allow me, Lady Ava. It is not often I am in the company of such goodness,” he said, crossing one arm over his heart.
He was flirting with her. The Marquis of Middleton was actually flirting with her. Ava suddenly smiled. ” Well, then, I suppose one might consider this as doing a small bit of the Lord's work, mightn't one?”
He laughed, a deliciously deep laugh that put crinkles at the corners of his eyes, and held out his hand toher. ”I am in your debt,” he said, and gestured for her basket. ”To your home, then?””Ah, no,” she said quickly. ”To the, ah...the church.””The church?”
”It's just over there,” she said, gesturing down the road as she handed him her empty basket.”Thank you, but I can at least claim to know where St. George's church is located. It just seems ratherlate to find anyone there.”
”Au contraire,” she said pertly. ”Charity can be performed at all hours, my lord.” She put her hand on the arm that he offered her.
”Then you are to be commended on your devotion, Lady Ava.”She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. ”You seem surprised,” she remarked as they began towalk.
”It is a bit surprising, for I had not noticed you at church services, and one would think a pious person
would attend services regularly.”