Page 5 of A Lady's Christmas
Jane sits. “The pleasure is mine.”
May brings the tea tray and places it on the table.
Jane pours while silence fills the room. Once she’s handed each of them a cup, she says, “I couldn’t help overhearing that you wish for Miss Carter to return to your estate.”
“Yes, my lady. She belongs at Treadmore. I fail to understand what drove her to seek another life.” Theo places the cup and saucer on the table without drinking a single drop.
ChapterThree
Gwen thought Theo would be happy to have her out from underfoot. She never dreamed he’d bother to come and find her. Well, maybe she thought he might be curious and that’s why she asked the staff to keep her whereabouts from him. She sips her tea and works up a fine rage, but holds her tongue because Lady Jane is present.
“Miss Carter, I gather from your loud reaction that you don’t wish to return with the duke?” Jane’s expression never wavers from calm assurance.
“I have no intention of leaving The Everton Domestic Society. Now that I have a few clients who need my help, I have purpose.” Gwen puts her cup down and picks a biscuit from the tray.
“What kind of work are you doing?” Theo takes a biscuit as well and eats it in one bite.
Nibbling on a corner, she frowns. He has some nerve to come here asking questions about her life. He didn’t come home but once or twice a year, even after his uncle became ill. “I’m helping the Earl of Baskin with his accounts, and a widow with some financial issues. I’m doing just fine here.”
Fire flashes in his eyes. “I assume you have a chaperone when visiting Lord Baskin.”
Jane speaks before Gwen can formulate a good snipe back at him. “All Everton Ladies are accompanied by a suitable chaperone when the situation warrants. Mrs. Chervil accompanies Miss Carter to her appointments and if a client needs her to stay at their estate, Mrs. Chervil will go along to keep everything very proper.”
“Stay at Baskin’s estate. No. I forbid it. Phillip Baskin is a rake. He is not suitable company for a young lady.”
Jumping up, Gwen says, “You can’t forbid anything. I’m not your sister and I’m not your ward. I’m nothing to you. Just because your uncle was like a father to me does not make you my keeper.” She dashes away the aggravating tears that force their way out.
Theo stands, but he doesn’t raise his voice. He stares at his feet for a moment before his calm tone cuts the silence. “I am not your keeper or your brother, Gwen. I have behaved badly over the years, and I can offer no good explanation for that.” He looks her in the eyes. “However, I’d like to think having grown up together, we are a bit more than nothing to each other.” He closes his eyes, and when he opens them, the blue irises seem brighter than before. “I haven’t found anyone to take on the job of steward. I need you to come home. The estate in Derbyshire has had several livestock issues, which I can’t explain. I have to go there this week and need you to come with me. I tried taking care of the situation via correspondence, but Mr. Green didn’t respond.”
“Mr. Green is an excellent farmer, but he can’t read.” Her stomach flutters at the soft tones of Theo’s voice and his use of the name she prefers. “You need to speak to him and find out what happened.” The idea that there may have been a blight on the Derbyshire farms increases Gwen’s anxiety. Those poor people can’t afford to lose the farms.
Leaning back to gaze up at the two of them standing around the table, Jane says, “I have a thought.”
They both turn toward her. Gwen wishes she could run up to her room and cry until the feeling of loneliness goes away. Why does Theo’s presence and inevitable departure make her feel so alone?
Jane waits for them to sit, and she returns to her upright posture. “Perhaps Miss Carter can remain an Everton Lady and she can still assist you, Your Grace. You could hire her to go to Derbyshire and sort out your farming issues. Perhaps she’d be willing to stay on and handle the estates. She’s quite capable of finding you a permanent steward to replace her for the long term.”
Theo blinks several times. “I would pay her to do what she’s been doing for the past six years.”
“I did that for your uncle, not money.” The idea of going home isn’t terrible. Still, all Theo ever does is find fault in her.
Seeming to ignore her statement, he says, “I also need help with the Christmas Ball.”
Shock rockets through her. Why would he hold the ball? “You’re having the ball?”
“It’s tradition. One you started, if memory serves.” His voice has that tone that sends shivers through her belly once again.
“You never cared about the ball in the past.” She must stand her ground. Just because he can say and do decent things from time to time doesn’t make him a nice person. Almost twenty years of knowing him has shown he can be impossible and demanding.
“I care. In the past, my focus was elsewhere, I’ll admit.”
Is that regret in his voice?
No. Impossible. He’s too arrogant to regret anything.
If she says no, she’ll look spiteful in front of Lady Jane.The Everton Companionsays she has to be kind and thoughtful at all times, even if Theo Dandridge deserves none of it. “If his grace agrees to my taking control of things, finding a replacement, and allowing Mrs. Chervil to accompany me, I’ll agree to the contract.”
“Will Miss Carter agree to teach me how she keeps the books and help with the preparations for the Christmas Ball?” A smile lights his eyes even though his expression stays serious and businesslike.
