Page 56 of The Gentleman Was Right
“Mrs. Swanson. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m sorry that I’m so out of sorts. I’m afraid I’m hardly myself before I’ve broken my fast.”
“We have more than enough food to satisfy you. If you’ll follow me, you can remedy your hunger,” she responded pointedly.
He was positively famished, but he wanted to chase after his wife as soon as possible. “Perhaps you could supply me with something I could take with me? I was meant to accompany Violet, and I probably ought to be with her when she fetches her sister.”
“Were you?” She sniffed. “And where exactly is Miss Isabelle?”
“She stayed with my family overnight. My brother, Lord Greydon, and the rest of my siblings are thrilled to welcome Violet and Isabelle into our family, and my sisters were eager for Isabelle’s company, so she remained with them while we spent the night here.”
“Your brother is a lord?” she asked, her left eyebrow arching so high it almost disappeared under her cap.
“Sebastian is the Earl of Greydon.”
She nodded once, not appearing particularly impressed.
“He inherited over a decade ago.”
Still no response.
“I also have three younger sisters. And a sister-in-law,” he added, for no discernible reason other than that he wanted the housekeeper to know that Isabelle had been in good hands.
She nodded again. “There are scones. I suppose they could be wrapped up for you.”
“How delicious.” He inclined his head. “If you could spare two or three, I’d be much obliged.”
She nodded and hustled out of the room while he waited impatiently, drumming his fingers against his thigh.
After what felt like an eternity but was only a handful of minutes, she returned with a small basket. He couldn’t see what was inside, but the aroma was mouthwatering. “Smells wonderful.”
Her lips turned up at the edges, and her expression softened for the first time. “It’s a family recipe, passed down from my mother.”
“How lovely,” he said with a smile. “I greatly appreciate your assistance this morning.” He held up the basket. “I cannot wait to dig into these. Thank you.”
He turned toward the hallway that would lead to the foyer where he would collect his overcoat and hat before braving the rainy, damp weather, but her voice stopped him in his tracks. “Would you like your jacket and waistcoat before you go?”
He froze. Where was his brain?
It was obviously preferable for him to arrive at his brother’s townhousenota disheveled mess, so he pivoted and said, “I would be much obliged.”
“I’ll fetch them now and press them as quickly as I can.”
She disappeared again.
This time, he left the sitting room and lingered in the foyer, waiting for her return and sneaking bites of the rich buttery scones. They were as delicious as they smelled.
A thump at the door startled him.
And then a moment later, there was a clicking sound as if someone was unlocking it. Expecting to see Violet and Isabelle, Edward lurched forward, pulled it partway open, and froze.
“Basil,” he said in shock. The slightly shorter man stepped forward like he intended to enter, but Edward held onto the door firmly, not allowing him to. “What are you doing here?”
Basil sidestepped on the stairs to avoid the steady stream of water that was running off the roof onto his shoulder and looked pointedly at the door as if Edward was blocking it accidentally.
“I forgot a ledger when I left yesterday. I thought I took everything, but this morning, I realized the one I was working on when Violet announced her news is still in the study.”
“You cannot take the ledgers with you,” Edward responded, his grip on the door remaining tight.
Basil crossed his arms over his chest and glared. “I must have all of them. How else will I keep track of the accounts?”
