Page 14 of Grave Expectations
"We'll place advertisements in the morning, one for an experienced housekeeper and another for a butler," Lincoln said. "Once those positions are filled, they will hire other staff as required."
"You're not worried about them learning ministry secrets?" Seth asked.
"All ministry documents will be locked away. Any meetings will be held with the door closed. No one will mention the ministry, our work, or supernaturals except in private."
Gus and Cook exchanged glances. I understood their concern. No matter how careful we were, a nosy maid could discover secrets if she wanted to.
"I will make it clear to the staff that there will be consequences if they are not discreet," Lincoln went on.
"Try not to use your threatening voice," I told him.
"My threatening voice?"
"Or that look."
"What look?"
"The one you use when you're trying to scare people into doing your bidding. I know now that it's just a look, and doesn't mean anything, but newcomers won't. We don't want to frighten the poor maids away before they even start."
Seth bit his lip but it didn't stop his smile. Fortunately Lincoln was too busy staring at me to notice. "I will not use my threatening voice or look." He said it without moving his jaw which made me think he hadn't understood what I meant at all.
"Seth, will you help me word an advertisement later?" I asked. "You must know how these things are done."
"My mother was in charge of the staff," he said. "But I'll do my best. In fact, I know an experienced butler in need of employment. He was our butler for almost two decades, until Mother fired him."
"Before or after she ran off with the second footman?" Gus asked with such an innocent expression that I had to smother my giggle.
Seth stabbed Gus with a pointed glare. "She fired him for drinking his way through my father's cellar. It was after Doyle left that everything fell to pieces. I had no idea how much he kept the other staff in order until the second footman moved into Mother's bedchamber the same day Doyle departed. By the time the new butler arrived, the damage had been done."
"Perhaps that's the real reason your mother fired Doyle," I said. "And not because of the drinking."
"Undoubtedly. Shortly after that, we lost everything to pay my father's gambling debts, and Mother left the country altogether in defiance." He flattened his tie and stretched his neck out of his collar. "Speaking of my mother, I received a letter from her."
"Is this relevant?" Lincoln asked.
"I'm interested," I said.
"The second footman died," Seth went on. "Mother is returning to England on a permanent basis."
"Oh? Her re-entry into society will be…interesting."
Gus snickered.
"That's not why I'm bringing it up." Seth cleared his throat. "She has requested to stay at Lichfield until she can secure herself a more permanent residence."
"Of course," I said at the same time that Lincoln growled a protest. "She's welcome to stay as long as she needs."
"Thank you, Charlie. Her stay will be brief, I'm sure."
"She doesn't have any money or possibility of an income," Lincoln said in the boldest fashion. "How will she secure herself a house?"
"She receives an annuity from her father's estate and still has friends in London. She'll persuade one of them to take her on as a companion. You'll find she's very good at getting her way," he muttered into his cup.
"Hire your butler tomorrow," Lincoln said. "As to your mother, she can stay here as long as she doesn't get in the way."
"Thank you."
"When do you expect her?" I asked.
