Page 65 of A Housekeeper for the Earl of Drinkwater
“Dear, I could have told you weeks ago that Lord Drinkwater has taken a fancy to you,” she said matter-of-factly.
Serena gasped.
“How do you know?” she asked. “He is so kind to all the staff.”
Mrs. Chantry shook her head.
“But he only looks at one of us as though she hung the moon in the sky,” she said.
***
Serena left the housekeeper’s apartment half an hour later floating on air. Nothing could put a damper on her happy mood, not even those insufferable aunts of the earl. She allowed herself to feel every bit of the joy and thrill she had experienced the evening before as she twirled around in the earl’s arms. Mrs. Chantry was wise, and she would never mislead anyone, especially people she cared about. Besides, the housekeeper only confirmed what she had already suspected. The earl did have feelings for her, just as she did for him.
Perhaps it was not impossible to think they could be together one day. The only thing that stood in her way was Lady Alice.
But she allowed herself to believe that the young womanwouldelope with her lover. She had been very distraught over having to marry Lord Drinkwater. Though it was not Serena’s place to tell the earl, she prayed that Lady Alice would be honest with him.
She gathered up her supplies and made her way to the large parlour. She had just begun humming gleefully to herself, imagining herself married to the earl and chasing after three lovely children she shared with him, when there was a sharp rapping at the door. She whirled around, relieved to see that it was Clarke in the doorway. Her relief was short-lived when she saw the grave expression on his face.
“Miss White,” he said, his voice as dark as his face. “Lord Drinkwater has asked me to fetch you. He requires your presence in the study immediately.”
Serena’s heart fell. All the daydreams she had allowed herself to revel in instantly dissolved like smoke. What could be so serious that even Clarke looked concerned? Has something happened to the countess? Was something the matter with the earl?
Abandoning her duties, she followed hurriedly behind Clarke, wringing her hands by the time they reached the study door. The butler put a gentle hand on her back as he ushered her in and announced her. Lord Drinkwater rose, beckoning her to come in and sit beside his guest. Only then did Serena realise that it was a constable, and she curtseyed to him with surprise.
“Miss White?” he asked, standing to greet her and bowing in return.
Serena nodded.
“Yes, good morning, Constable,” she said. “May I ask what this is about?”
The man sighed, glancing at the earl. The earl did not see, however; he had his back turned to them, and he was over by the open liquor cabinet. A moment later, he turned around, holding a half-full glass of brandy. To her immense puzzlement, he crossed the room and offered it to Serena
“There you are, darling,” he said softly. “You might need this. And you might want to sit down.”
Serena barely registered what he’d said to her as the constable nodded his head. Stunned and suddenly feeling scared, she took the proffered brandy and sat down in a chair next to the constable, who resumed his seat. The earl hovered nearby.
“I don’t understand,” she said, brow furrowed, gazing from the earl to the constable. “What is going on? Why do I need brandy?” She cradled the glass in her lap, at last turning to the constable expectantly.
“Miss White,” the constable said again. “We have some information that you are sure to find quite disturbing.”
Serena took a sip of the brandy, growing more wrought with anxiety and worry by the second, to steel herself for very bad news.
“Please, just tell me,” she said, her voice trembling.
To her surprise, the earl topped off her glass, even though she’d hardly touched the brandy. Then he pulled a chair up beside her, holding his own glass of liquor.Dear God,she thought, horrified.What can this be?
“Ezekiel Tate, solicitor to your family and estate, has recently been arrested,” the constable began. “He has been charged with embezzling funds and property from several of his clients, using forged documents to rob them of their fortunes.”
Serena froze. Then, she shook her head, as if not understanding the man’s words. She took another sip of brandy, grateful that it was finally beginning to calm her nerves.
“I beg your pardon?” she muttered.
“I assure you, Miss White, it is true. He has been robbing his clients, and he has been arrested for it.”
“But . . . that is terrible,” she said, pale with shock, the words finally sinking in. “How did you learn of this?”
The constable shook his head.
