“Your brother.”
Her real brother, Will, was indeed married to Lady Emily Blythe-Coston. But Molly was asking about Duncan. Lucy didn’t care for the question. There was only one reason Molly would be asking personal questions about Duncan. She found him attractive. Suddenly, Lucy very much wanted to marry Duncan off or give him a fiancée. But footmen were not usually married and giving him a sweetheart wouldn’t serve the mission either. If he had a sweetheart in Edinburgh, the staff would wonder why he had left her behind. Better to give them both clean slates. “He is unattached,” Lucy said then added, “We both are.”
“No sweetheart,” Molly said quietly. “Hmm.”
Lucy didn’t like thathmm. It sounded rather nefarious. Clearly Molly had set her sights on Duncan. Well, Molly could prepare to be disappointed there. No doubt Duncan would have little time to entertain a maid mooning over him. He’d have not only his duties as footman but also his duty to the mission.
Finally, they reached a door and Molly lifted the latch to open it. “The nursery is just there,” she said, pointing to another door. “You can meet the children and Mrs. Cox, the housekeeper, tomorrow. Goodnight.”
She walked away, taking the candle and its light with her. Lucy was forced to enter the dark room by herself. “Hullo,” she said quietly. No one answered back. The curtains of a lone window were drawn open, and the moonlight filtered inside the room, giving her a view of a small bed, dresser, dark hearth, and a washbasin. Apparently, she had the room to herself. The fire was unlit, and though she knew how to light it, she had no idea if what she needed to do so was in the room, and if it was, where. She dropped her bag and went to the washbasin, but it was dry.
She supposed she had better get used to being a servant. No one would light fires and draw water for her. She could certainly do for one night without. It was already very late, and she imagined she’d have to wake early, so she attempted to remove her traveling clothes. Unfortunately, she couldn’t do that alone, so she ended up climbing in bed in her boots and traveling dress. At least she could save time dressing in the morning.
Lying on the bed, sleep pulling at her, she wondered where Duncan was and what he was doing.
***
JAMES SHOWED DUNCANto a room with another man in it. The room had three small beds. One was unmade, the other must have been James’s, and a third was occupied by the other servant who snorted, turned over, and went back to snoring.
“McAlpin is the butler,” James said as he undressed. “He’ll want to see you first thing in the morning.”
Duncan quickly made up his bed then signaled to James that he could douse the candle. He undressed in the dark and climbed under the scratchy blankets. How far he’d come from the life he’d led before becoming an agent. Before joining the Royal Saboteurs, he’d never made his own bed or polished his own boots. Even when he’d served in the Foreign Office, directly under the Foreign Secretary, he’d had servants and a valet. It had been a sacrifice to leave the security of his position behind for a chance with the Royal Saboteurs and even more of a sacrifice to leave the comforts he enjoyed. Now he’d be the one playing servant, and he didn’t relish the hard labor he knew was waiting for him in a few hours.
Lord John might know Duncan and Lucy were agents, but McAlpin and the rest of the staff did not, and Duncan would be expected to prove his value and work hard.
Duncan closed his eyes, and it seemed only minutes later James and the other footman were shaking him awake. “Look lively. I’m Thomas, by the way,” said the other footman. The sky outside the small window was still dark, but Duncan dressed in the livery James passed to him. It fit reasonably well, a bit tight across the shoulders. He stumbled out of the bed chamber and followed James to the servants’ hall. It was a large bare room, still cold this early in the morning. A massive table and chairs took up most of the space. It had already been piled high with plates of toast, eggs, sausage, and any number of other morning provisions. He looked about for the butler but saw only maids and valets.
“McAlpin eats in the housekeeper’s room with the upper servants,” James told him. “He’ll come and find you. Sit here.” James indicated a chair, but before Duncan could take it, a pretty blond maid stepped before him.
“For you,” she said, holding out a cup of tea on a saucer.
“For me?”
“Yes. Do you take cream or sugar? Perhaps lemon?”
“Cream and sugar,” he said.
“One moment.” She gave him another smile and leaned over the table to fetch a saucer and sugar bowl. She set it before his plate and then took the seat beside his. Duncan knew women enough to know what this was. He had no intention of entertaining a romantic liaison with a maid on this mission, but he always appreciated consideration.
Duncan sat and stirred the cream and sugar in his tea. “That was very kind of you,” he said. “I’m Duncan Smith.”
“Molly Miller. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Smith. I met your sister last night.”
“Oh, good.” He looked about but didn’t see Lucy. He shouldn’t have expected to. As a nanny, she wouldn’t eat with the lower servants. She occupied a place in the household somewhere between servant and family. If she were fortunate, she might be invited to eat with the family. If not, she would eat alone. Knowing Lucy, the family would take a liking to her straight away, and she’d be at their table for dinner. “I hope she is settling in.”
“I doubt she’s awake yet. Betsy will go light the hearths after she breaks her fast.” Molly indicated a short maid with thin brown hair at the other end of the table. Duncan nodded at her, and she lowered her face and her cheeks colored.
“Your sister tells me you are from Edinburgh,” Molly said.
“I am.” Duncan took a piece of toast and eggs. He was aware most of the conversation at the table had ceased and the servants were looking at him. “I was born in England, but I served a family living in Edinburgh. It was a good position, but my parents died recently, and I wanted a place closer to my sisters.”
“How fortunate you were both able to find positions here,” remarked a man who was surely a valet if his impeccable dress were any indication.
“Fortunate, indeed.”
“Mrs. Cox and McAlpin are Scottish,” Molly said, and Duncan turned his attention to her again. She was friendly, and he appreciated the warm welcome. The first day in a new place could be awkward, but Molly was making him feel as though he belonged. “When I first came here, I couldn’t understand a word either said.” She smiled, and Duncan smiled back.
“The accent can be a bit difficult at first.”
