A term that should be as clear in its definition as the cloudless sky, yet much like the sun rising within its domain, there were various degrees to it. It was a term that didn’t quite suit Oliver in many ways, and yet he himself could claim innocence in certain areas. Like dealing with crafty females such as Lady Louisa. No, dealing with crafty females was not the same as dealing with Lady Louisa. His mother could be considered crafty. In fact, all the females in his family could be considered so. Lady Louisa was something altogethermore.
He was out of his depth here.
His gaze dropped to her plump lips and quickly whipped up again. What the devil was that? An “innocent” glance? His mind filled with curses. He blamed the kissing scene he had just witnessed.
The corner of his eye ticked.
He retreated a step, averting his gaze. “Should the leaves be trimmed a bit?” He supposed he ought to snip a few so as not to draw too much suspicion to him. “I don’t have a tool with me, though.”
A scoff. “Forget my earlier comment. Trimming my weeping willow leaves would be blasphemy. You are not a very good gardener.”
Oliver couldn’t blame her for wanting the tree to remain untouched. He would also be reluctant to do anything that would ruin the shelter of this magnificent tree, much like the shelter he had found in the ruined cottage on the ducal estate in Kent. He would retreat there as a boy whenever he wanted a moment of quiet, a moment to collect his youthful thoughts. They had this in common.
He looked over to her. “Do not worry; I shall try not to be so obvious in my lack of skill and try to live up to my disguise.”
“I think it best if we change your position.”
Curiosity filled Oliver. “Change it?”
“Why be a gardener when you can be a footman?”
A footman? She would let him into the house? While this surprised him, the prospect was undeniably intriguing. However, “I don’t think that will work.”
“Why not?”
“I won’t have much freedom as a footman.” And he needed freedom. Eventually he would have to slip away with the book while drawing as little suspicion as possible. Servants tended to notice servants, and he would never go unnoticed.
How one woman could be so forgetful, and create a situation that required his presence in the first place, still baffled him. However, he also knew how exhaustion clouded the mind and slowed the body. She’d said last night she needed to search the study and the library, and she’d already been working at least on the study, apparently. He would allow her more time to complete her search of those two locations. He could pretend to be a gardener for a while longer. If the book wasn’t foundthere...She would not be able to convince him something else wasn’t afoot.
Her brows scrunched in thought. “What about my personal footman and a driver? I shall make it clear to Mr. Hall, the butler, that you only take orders from me.”
Her brother’s words came back to him. “You truly do like bossing people around, do you not?”
She flashed a grin. “I do.”
“Be that as it may, most of the servants likely already saw me in the garden.”
She waved a dismissive hand. “Well,I, your employer, have decided you are not gardener material. You are much better suited to be my right-hand man of sorts.”
“And why would a lady need such a right-hand man of sorts?”
“Good question...” She tapped her chin with a finger, a glint sparking in her eyes. “Oh, I know—I have a harasser.”
“Are you referring to me?” Oliver said flatly.
“Well, that I cannot say. I only know that someone broke into our home. There are also the wagers.” She smiled at him. “I’m afraid I have a shadow pursuer who harbors unknown intentions.”
Oliver’s jaw ticked. “To be clear, you don’t really have a shadow pursuer who harbors unknown intentions, do you?” That would not only be concerning, she would also require actual protection.
“Who is to say I have, who is to say I haven’t?”
Crafty female.
“Very well.” He didn’t waste time considering the complications of his decision, only that he would feel more comfortable searching alongside her. “I shall act as your footman, driver, protector, right-hand man.”
“Very good, I shall have some livery procured for you.”
There was still one thing... “What will your father,” and stepmother, “do when he learns of this?”
