Page 24 of A Cinderella to Redeem the Earl
‘I do enjoy my guests,’ he said. ‘I suppose what I am trying to say is that I enjoyed this evening in an equal but different way.’
Indeed, it must be very different. His party had been a hubbub of laughter and excitement. Even she could see that from her brief glance through the door. But it was kind of him to say he had enjoyed this evening. ‘I have had a very pleasant time also, though I really do not think it is something we should repeat, since it is not really appropriate.’ There, she had said it. Much as she hadn’t wanted to, it was the right thing to do. She didn’t want him getting any false notions, thinking she was fast, or available, or something. Just thinking about it made her feel hot.
‘There won’t be much opportunity,’ he said with a chill in his voice. ‘I will be heading off to London in the morning.’
Had she made him angry? If so, it was for the best.
‘To make arrangements for your next party, I suppose,’ she said. ‘To pluck more chickens.’
He glared at her. ‘Indeed.’ He got to his feet. ‘I will bid you goodnight, Mrs Lamb.’ He bowed, put his cup on the table and left.
She sighed. Why could she not keep her thoughts to herself? They had enjoyed a perfectly respectable dinner and then she had ruined it. No doubt he was regretting giving her a job and would be looking for a replacement.
No. It had been the right thing to say. To remind herself of his true colours. To stop herself from falling for his charm.
Because falling for his charm would be a very easy, and a very stupid, thing to do.
She took the tea cups through to the pantry. Should she do the dishes before bed or leave them until morning?
If His Lordship was off to London after breakfast, she would be here all alone. And she would need to be up early in the morning to ensure he had breakfast before he departed. Besides, it would give her something to do tomorrow.
The dishes could wait.
She picked turning down the lamps, picked up her candlestick and headed for bed.
His Lordship had indeed headed out for London early in the morning. Pamela surveyed the breakfast she had prepared. No plates or utensils had been used. He had seemingly taken a couple of bread rolls and departed.
She went to the buffet and helped herself to scrambled eggs and bacon. She might as well enjoy the fruits of her labour, even if he had not.
She should not have bothered with the eggs. He had told her he wanted very little prepared in the mornings.
A rap on the kitchen door startled her.
Who could that be?
She went to the door to find one of the shopkeepers from the village. ‘Good morning, missus,’ he said doffing his cap. ‘Dobbs at your service. Dobbs Greengrocers.’
She eyed the box clutched in his arms. ‘I didn’t order anything.’
‘Came by way of His Lordship,’ the man said.
‘You better come in.’
He put the box on the table. ‘Will there be anything else you will be needing?’ he asked, glancing around.
She thanked heavens she had got the kitchen cleaned up from last night’s dinner. Village gossip was notoriously cruel. Any sign that the new cook wasn’t up to scratch would be reported immediately.
‘Not at the moment, thank you.’
‘You only has to send word, missus, and I’ll do my best to accommodate. His Lordship said as how you wanted to make preserves. Took a few days to get them oranges, but I found them, so I did.’
‘Oranges!’ Her heart gave a little jump.
She could scarcely believe he had been so thoughtful.
It was three weeks since Pamela had arrived at Rake Hall, or Rakehell’s Hall as she learn that the locals called it. The arrival and departure of the London servants, the master of the house, and his guests twice a week had become routine.
She had become acquainted with the members of the London household and they now treated her as one of their own.
