George turned to look at her. “Oh, and what might that be?”
“I have someone special I would like you to meet.”
George’s expression hardened. “Someone special? Is it a new beau?”
Lucy laughed. “Not at all, but let me bring him in, if I may?”
“Of course.”
Lucy went to retrieve her brother, and they came into the studio hand in hand. George scowled when he saw them together.
“Mr. George, this is my brother, Harold, who I thought was lost in the fire those many years ago.”
Then George broke into a smile. “Truly, your brother?”
“The very same. He has been searching for me and we only just met again for the first time in—how many years?”
“Sixteen,” Harold answered, squeezing his sister’s arm affectionately.
“I was only ten back then,” George said. “And, I must say, I do not remember any of your family from that time.”
“I have come to ask you if my brother might stay at Grayson? He was thinking of staying at the King’s Arms, but I should so grateful if we might be able to spend some time together catching up. I would still perform my duties, of course. But every moment we can spend together would be precious.”
George seemed to be amazed by this development and asked, “How did you find her again. How did you escape the fire?”
Lucy turned to her brother and said, “We have not had time to explore all of that yet. He has only just arrived. I wanted to ask you first about his staying here. I thought it best to ask you rather than your mother or father.”
“And rightly so,” George said, putting his paintbrush into a jar of turps. “Come—let us go back to the house. I feel certain the whole family would be intrigued to hear this amazing story.” He turned to Harold. “I will fix you up with a room, and then you shall join us for dinner and an evening of adventurous tales. Let us make this a special occasion.”
Lucy hesitated. “I am not sure her Grace would approve having us to dinner. You know it would be my first time at the family table.”
George laughed. “Then she shall just have to get used to it, for I will insist it happens.”
* * *
After Harold was settled into his room in the servant’s quarters—as Stevens thought was proper—Lucy could barely tear herself away, and continued to hold on to her brother’s arm, as though afraid if she let go she might lose him again.
Stevens appeared once again at the doorway and said, “Miss Lucy, her Grace has been asking for you again.”
Lucy was flustered but acquiesced. “Of course.” She turned to Harold. “I really must go. But I shall see you again before dinner. And by any chance do you have any dress clothes suitable for dinner?”
“I do,” he said with a smile. “I can dress up to be a real gentleman.”
“Then until later, dear brother.”
As she was scurrying to join the Duchess, it suddenly struck her—what about the offer of employment from Lady Harding? She had not yet replied to accept the offer. But how could she possibly accept now when her future seemed so uncertain after being reunited with her brother? The right thing to do was to wait—hear her brother’s story and see what his plans were. Could they be a family again? Would he remain in Dorset? Would he want her to move to where he was? Far too many unknown circumstances needed to be revealed and explored. She took a breath and entered the Duchess’s chamber.
“Ah, finally,” Her Grace said with a note of irritation. “Where have you been?”
“Unexpectedly detained.” She did not want to tell about her brother just yet. Everything would be revealed at dinner this evening. “Did you want your drops, Your Grace?” Lucy asked.
“No. It is not about that. Come sit with me.” Lucy went over and took a chair across from her. “George has offered to help me select another dog—a puppy—and I want you to train it.”
“I am happy for you. I know how much you miss Isabell, but Your Grace, I know nothing about training a dog.”
“You do not? How tiresome. Of what use are you to me then?”
Lucy was tempted to tell her Grace that she was planning to accept a new position and then the Duchess would find out what use Lucy had been to her. But this was not the time.
