Liam glanced in the direction Ben’s eyes looked and gulped hard. Vanessa, her hips rolling in a seductive walk, her dark eyes fastened on him, ambled slowly down the table toward them. Behind her, her covey of friends giggled amongst themselves as they watched her avidly, waiting to see what she would do.
“Liam,” she murmured, her voice husky. She placed her hands on the table and leaned forward, giving them all a full view of her bosom as it strained out of the bodice of her gown. “Have you thought about my offer?”
“Uh, no, Vanessa, sorry,” he said, hastily getting up from the table. “But I am sure old Jack here might take you up on it.”
“I say, what?” Bewildered, plain-faced Jack gazed up at Liam and Vanessa, clearly confused.
Vanessa’s expression changed from seductive to one that made Liam think she had just bitten into something sour. “I am not interested in Jack,” she snapped. “Only in you, Liam.”
Liam clapped Jack on the shoulder, even as the poor man opened his mouth to ask again what was going on. “But I fear I am not interested in you, Vanessa,” Liam said, picking up his apple to take with him. “Good night, lads.”
Under their laughter, Liam sauntered out of the hall and into the corridor, hearing Vanessa’s outraged screech from behind him.
“You will pay for this, Liam. I swear you will.”
* * *
Mr. O’Bannon, with the eyes of a hawk, watched as Liam and his fellow footmen lay the breakfast table for Lord Willowdale and Miss Miller. He knew he had little time before the lord and lady of the house appeared, and he needed to ask the butler for an appointment to speak with him privately. Though it was not unheard of for a staff member to need to talk to the butler or the housekeeper, who ran the household under the direction of the steward, it was also unusual.
Finding a moment where Mr. O’Bannon stood apart from the other footmen, Liam strode quickly toward him. The butler’s brows rose as he approached and Liam offered him a quick bow.
“What is it, Mr. Carter?” Mr. O’Bannon asked, his voice low and level.
“Sir, may I speak with you privately?” Liam asked. “After breakfast, of course.”
“Is it important?”
“Very, sir.”
Liam glanced around to make sure no one was near and that neither Lord Willowdale nor Thea had entered the dining room. He turned back to the butler. “It concerns the safety of Lord Willowdale and Miss Miller.”
Mr. O’Bannon stared at him for a long moment, no expression at all in his eyes or his face. Liam thought he almost looked like a statue that breathed. “Very well,” he said at last. “In my office after breakfast has been cleared.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Liam bowed again, then continued his work laying the table, making sure the silver was polished and there were no spots on the glassware. Thea entered first, which was fairly unusual, and, as he and the others bowed, Liam wondered if she slept well the previous night. She looked somewhat pale, and her eyes appeared puffy, as though she had been weeping.
I would guess that she cried herself to sleep last night.
Naturally, she did not glance his way and it was one of the other footmen who helped her into her chair. Though protocol demanded that the lord of the house be present before the meal is served, Thea asked for hot tea. Mr. O’Bannon signaled for Liam to pour it for her. With the butler’s eyes watching his every move, Liam dared not try any sort of communication with her, even something as subtle as a wink.
As he poured the tea into her cup, he did observe that the skin under her eyes had darkened slightly, and was indeed swollen.So she has been crying.Though she gave him a brief nod of thanks, Liam thought he saw her send him a rapid flick of her eye, but he could not be sure. Straightening, he walked sedately back to the sideboard and replaced the teapot on the tray. He continued his work, then stood at military attention until he bowed when Lord Willowdale arrived for breakfast.
In an unusual move and show of affection, Lord Willowdale dropped his hands to Thea’s shoulders and kissed her cheek before taking his chair across from her. “Good morning, sweet sister. How do you fare this morning?”
“Well enough, I suppose,” she answered, sipping her tea. “And you?”
“Quite good, actually.”
Lord Willowdale gestured for hot tea, which Liam poured for him, then began to serve them both breakfast. From the corner of his lowered eye, Liam saw Lord Willowdale watch his sister closely.
“You appear as though you have not slept well,” he said. “Did you?”
Thea shook her head, her thick fall of midnight hair tumbling around her shoulders. “Not really, Freddie. Hardly at all, to be exact.”
“Please do not fret all this talk of your marriage, Thea,” he said, his voice and expression kind. “It will all work out for the best.”
“Will it? I fear it will not.”
