Page 31 of Under the Seductive Ladys Charm
“Shall you be working here at home today?” Victor waited with his hands clasped behind his back.
Graham nodded. “That had been my plan. I need to send out some correspondences and such. That should take most of my morning.”
“I shall bring tea to your study then.” Victor opened the door for Graham.
Graham decided there was no reason to put things off and he left Victor with a nod of his head. As he walked along the familiar hallways, Graham wondered what his sister had to discuss this morning. He had a sneaking suspicion it would be about him setting Miss Browne up in a position more befitting her.
His sister had the oddest ways of showing friendship that Graham had ever seen. Perhaps now that Miss Browne was away with Mrs. Lennox, Amanda would realise her folly in how she had treated Miss Browne. Graham supposed that her calling to see him was a good indication that Amanda had finally had time to think over her actions.
He tapped his knuckles against her sitting room door. When the door opened he was greeted by Katrina, his sister’s maid. “Your Lordship,” Katrina mumbled as she swiftly stepped aside and curtseyed.
Graham paid the maid little attention. He eyed Amanda, who was sitting imperiously as if she were waiting to pass judgment against him. “I’m here out of affection, as I’m not disposed to being at anyone’s beck and call, Sister. Why do you glare at me so?”
He walked over and looked down at his sister as she gave him a smile. “Am I glaring? I was merely thinking how horrible it would be if someone were to snatch away your valet the way that you took my lady’s maid away without so much as a word to me about it.”
“Honestly, you still have a perfectly suitable lady’s maid. Do you not think having two was a little indulgent?” Graham had no intention of letting his sister run over him about this. His parents had been far too lax in their dealings with her, and frankly, so had he.
Amanda frowned. “Graham, she was my friend.”
“She is your friend still,” Graham assured her. “Miss Browne deserves our help. Is that not what you were attempting to do?”
Amanda’s eye twitched the way it did when she clearly did not want to do something. “Of course that was my intention. What else would it have been?” She turned her head pointedly away from him. “You always have your self-righteous eyes on me as if you can spot any wrongdoing that I might have done. For once, Brother, you are wrong about me.”
“Oh?” Graham gave her a frown. “What was it that you think I have accused you of this time?”
Amanda snapped her gaze around to Graham. “You know very well that you do not think me charitable and have such viewed my hiring of Charlotte as some vain amusement of mine.”
Graham thought about that. Yes, he supposed that was a fair thing to say. He nodded his head. “I do admit that there is truth to your words.”
“And yet you still think that?” Amanda pouted at him.
Graham shrugged and waved off her ridiculous expression. “What have you done that gives me a reason to reconsider? I got her a respectable position where she could potentially better herself. Should you not be thinking of her, instead of whining about your loss?”
Amanda opened her mouth then snapped it back shut. After a time she whispered, “I suppose you are right. I shall try to be better.”
“That truly makes me happy to hear.” Graham did not know if he could give her words any true weight, but he might as well let Amanda play out her drama. After all, she would do it regardless and pushing against the tide never stopped it from coming in. “Now, I do apologise, but I have to get to work or I shall never finish before the evening meal.”
Amanda inclined her head even if the set of her jaw did not look particularly pleased. She could hardly protest Graham wanting to work. She was eager enough to spend the family money, after all.
“I hope your day is productive, Brother.” Amanda waved her hand over to Katrina who opened the door for Graham.
Graham replied, “As do I.” He left before Amanda decided to try and rope him back into the conversation. It was a relief to hear the door click shut behind him.
Once he was free of the women, he walked to his study with the day’s duties in his mind. More importantly, he knew that he needed to write to Mrs. Lennox and to his steward at the country estate. He really did hope that everything was going smoothly for Miss Browne. He had heard little from Mrs. Lennox since Miss Browne had gone to work for her.
Graham opened his study door and was relieved to find it empty. With the season it seemed he constantly had visitors to entertain. Graham rang the cord next to his chair as he went over to his desk.
Victor popped his head around the door a few moments later, looking slightly out of breath. “You rang, Lordship?”
“Send Randolph to see me.” Graham set down at his desk and pulled out his writing utensils and paper.
Victor was gone the next instant with a snappy, “Of course, Sir.”
Graham began penning a letter to Edward to enquire after a project that he had left in Edward’s hands. The man was more than capable, but old habits were hard to break. He had finished writing to Edward and had pulled out a paper to write to Mrs. Lennox when Randolph, the recently appointed steward of the London household, came in.
“Good morning, Randolph.” Graham waved a hand at the leather chair that set across from his desk.
Randolph sat down and looked a bit apprehensive. “Is something the matter, Your Lordship?”
