Page 36 of From Rakes to Riches

And his boys. His boys despised him.

Of course, they did. Had he expected anything less, after he’d kept away from Hawke’s Run for so long? Hadn’t there been a part of him who’dwantedthis to happen? A secret, shameful part that believed it would be easier for them if they no longer expected anything of him?

Easier for them, or easier for you?

It was Sophie’s voice in his head. He was too much of a coward to ask such an honest question of himself, but she’d never been one to flatter him, or tell him pretty lies. She’d always told the truth, no matter how difficult it was to say, or how painful to hear.

He’d loved that about her, had always admired her honesty and bravery, but somehow in the two agonizing years since her death he’d grown accustomed to lying to himself again.

If she could see what a bloody mess he’d made of things, she’d be raining curses down on him from the heavens even now. Yes, indeed, he’d done a tidy bit of work for one morning, hadn’t he? Shouting, shrieking and tears were just what one wished for their homecoming.

He’d only just arrived, and he’d already tipped the entire house over into chaos. It would have been better for all of them if he’d remained in London and weathered the storm of this latest scandal alone rather than drawing his sons into it with his ill-conceived return this morning.

This was all Lady Pamela’s bloody fault, for tangling him up in her ridiculous schemes. He hadn’t even done anythingwrong this time, for God’s sake. He was perfectly innocent of the crimes the gossips were insisting he’d committed, but it hardly mattered.

He’d been guilty too many times before.

If it wasn’t for Lady Pamela’s antics, he might have gone on as he had been, drinking the memories away and lying to himself, but it was too late now. He was here, for better or worse?—

Worse. Certainly worse. Surely, they could all agree on that?

Mrs. Norris was going to be furious when she discovered he’d dismissed Miss Templeton. She’d be obliged to manage the boys until another governess could be found. Perhaps one of the village girls might be persuaded to take them on until?—

“Lord Hawke!” There was a sharp knock on his study door, and Mrs. Norris’s voice came from the other side. “I beg your pardon, my lord, but might I have a word?”

He tossed back the rest of his brandy and wiped his mouth with his soiled sleeve. He may as well have it out with his housekeeper now. It wasn’t as if this morning could get any worse. “Come in, Mrs. Norris.”

The door opened, and she marched inside. “I understand you’ve dismissed Miss Templeton, my lord.”

Well, that news hadn’t taken long to make its way to his housekeeper. “Yes, that’s correct, Mrs. Norris. Miss Templeton is not a suitable governess for?—”

“You’ve made a dreadful mistake, Lord Hawke, and must rectify it at once.”

He gaped at her. Mrs. Norris had been the housekeeper at Hawke’s Run for more than two decades, and in that time, she’d never ventured to question his judgment, much less presume to issue him a command. “I beg your pardon, but I haven’t the least intention of doing any such thing.”

“You must, my lord. Please, call her back down at once. Tell her you’ve changed your mind, and beg her to stay.”

BegMiss Templeton? It would be a frosty day in hell before he’d beg her for a single thing. “Certainly not. It’s quite out of the ques?—”

“If Miss Templeton leaves this house, Lord Hawke, then I will follow her right out the door.”

“What?” For God’s sake, had Miss Templeton bewitched them all? “You can’t mean that, Mrs. Norris!”

“Indeed, I do, and if I leave, I daresay Abby will be right on my heels.”

“Abby?” Who the devil was Abby?

“Abigail Hurley, my lord. Your kitchen maid.”

“Never heard of her.”

Mrs. Norris huffed. “She’s been with us for nearly a year, my lord. If you recall, last year you gave me leave to hire whatever servants I deemed necessary to efficiently run your household.”

Had he, indeed? He had no memory of that, but then he’d rarely passed a sober day in London since he’d fled Hawke’s Run all those months ago.

“I chose both Abby and Mrs. Templeton after much judicious consideration,” Mrs. Norris went on, “and I have never had cause to regret either?—”

“Did you happen to see the remnants of this morning’s catastrophe at the bottom of the staircase when you passed, Mrs. Norris? I would think that alone was enough cause for regret.”

---