“I found that inconvenient, Uncle Ronald. And not that it is your concern, but McClellan was taking his turn in instructing her, as was Mrs. Twitchel. She had run a bakery, but was not familiar with the routines of a great house.”
“I see. Well, have a care when ‘educating’ your staff that they do not become overly familiar. That young woman just now was altogether too free and easy with you.”
“Good gracious, Uncle. These are not feudal times, and I am not some chieftain, ruling my fief. And well it is, for I have little enough time for recreation as it is.”
“Well, perhaps you should give up some of these philanthropic endeavors, dear boy. If you are finding yourself pressed for time, perhaps you should focus more on doing things for yourself.”
“Come, Uncle. It seems we do nothing but pull caps with each other of late. Let us focus on the game and enjoying our time together.”
“Very well, Nephew. Perhaps we could play for favors since you will not countenance playing for money.”
“Oh, no. Dear, dear, no, Uncle. I remember the last time we played for favors and I was required to follow you about to one dismal party after another.”
“They were only dismal because you wouldn’t speak to anyone, and turned the most abominable shade of red anytime a young lady came anywhere near you.”
“That, my dear Uncle, was because every time I did so, you would turn up reciting all my qualities and assets as if I were a racehorse. That was an experience I would prefer not to repeat. So, no, I will not be playing anything against you for favors or money, nor yet for anything else of value.”
“More’s the pity,” Lord Ronald replied. “It gives a competitive edge to a game.”
“That is just what I do not need at all, Uncle Ronald. It makes my head ache just to think about it. No, let us just have a friendly game, and nothing more.”
Quentin and Kenault were silent throughout this exchange. After a time, they began to banter a bit, but it was forced.
After Lord Ronald had gone to the West Wing, declaring himself in need of a nap, Mr. Kenault said, “Percy, how does your uncle treat his servants in his own home?”
“Truth be told, Tommy, he lives at his club, so the service is all handled by the major domo.”
“I thought as much,” Quentin observed. “He has some very odd ideas about how to run a household. My cousin has always said that if a servant wanted to go, it was best to let ‘em. No future to be had from unwilling service.
“True enough,” Percival said. “But something certainly seems to be bothering him. I will try to speak with the maid later when he is not about.”
Although how I am to manage that, I am not sure. He always seems to turn up just as I am managing something delicate.
Percival heaved a sigh. “Gentlemen, I think I might like a nap myself. Would it trouble you to play cards in my rooms whilst I sleep?”
His friends exchanged glances, but readily acquiesced.
Chapter 46
Tiffany sat on the log couch in the twilight, sipping a tea made from raspberry leaves and contemplating the tiny fire in the fireplace set into the wall of the outer shell of the old inn.
Old Elizabet came and sat down beside her. “How is she?”
“Sleeping. She was lucid for a little while, had some tea and a few of the wild strawberries. Then she wanted to know when Mr. Bentley would be home, and slipped into sleep.”
Old Elizabet nodded. “I’ll go down and see her in a little while. How are you faring, Miss Tiffany?”
“Honestly, I don’t know. I seem stuck between having had a job and now, suddenly, I am a wanted fugitive. Even more than before, I am unable to look for work, and I fear that I am placing a strain upon you and all the others who look to you.”
“Have no fear on that account,” Old Elizabet said firmly. “We are prepared for disasters. This is not our only place. It would be inconvenient to abandon it, but not tragic. We have put some work into keeping it sound while making it continue to look as if it is abandoned.”
“I can see that,” Tiffany said. “It must have been quite lovely here when it was kept up.”
“Oh, that it was. Lady Ann used to have all the staff children out on the green Sunday afternoons. We had competitions, an’ there were prizes for the ones that could run the fastest, or spell the best or such.”
“You learned your letters?”
“Oh, aye, and our numbers, too. Sir James was quite firm about it. He said there was nothing more useless than an ignorant servant.”
