Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 120838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 604(@200wpm)___ 483(@250wpm)___ 403(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 604(@200wpm)___ 483(@250wpm)___ 403(@300wpm)
There, she turned on him and he was relieved as fuck she had a spark of fire in her.
“Was it necessary for you to piss all over your patch with Jeff?”
He didn’t respond to that.
He asked, “What’s the staffing situation here?”
“Sorry?”
“Jeff’s the butler. I assume that’s full time.”
“I…think so,” she said hesitantly.
“And does he live here?”
She nodded. “As far as I know.”
She hadn’t put two and two together.
Then again, she wouldn’t. No one wanted to think of their mother boning a man half her age.
“Who else works here?”
“There are some maids,” she told him. “At least one I know works full time, but Mum, or Christine probably, hires extras when Mum’s around. At least one more to get the house entirely in order and keep it in order when Mum’s here. If there’s a house party, they hire extras.”
“Christine?”
“She’s the cook and housekeeper. She’s definitely full time. Been here for years.”
“Wouldn’t it be the butler’s job to hire on any needed staff?”
That flummoxed her.
She had a huge learning curve ahead of her, his poor wee lass.
“Any others?” he pressed.
“Gardeners. I think there’s a whole team of those.”
He nodded and made a decision.
Chat with Christine, who was probably as thrilled with Jeff being there as Dair was. Then a conversation with Jeff. One that would either end with him packing his bags or properly doing his job.
She cut into his thoughts. “Why are you asking me this?”
He sidestepped that by saying, “We’re going to have a full house soon, love.”
Her gaze grew far away, and she mumbled, “Oh, right.”
“Not your worry. I’ll have a word with Christine. Do ye want to freshen up before we go?”
She focused on him again and nodded.
“Where would I find Christine?” he queried.
“A guess, in her office off the kitchen. Do you remember where that is?”
He nodded and guided her out of the room to the staircase.
He touched his mouth to hers at the base and said, “Take your time, but just to say, let’s get this next chore done so ye can settle in and relax a little.”
A shadow moved across her features as what they had to do next came to mind before she gave him another nod and started up the stairs.
She was halfway up, and he was watching her go, when she stopped and turned.
“Thanks for taking care of…well, everything so far, honey.”
“Dinnae think a second about it,” he replied then jerked his chin to the stairs. “Up. We’ll be on our way when you’re ready.”
She walked up the wide flight of thick pile, red-carpeted stairs like she was going to the gallows.
Once he lost sight of her, he made his way to the kitchen.
Christine was bustling out of her office. She didn’t look elderly, even though she obviously wasn’t young.
She looked competent.
And harried.
When he saw her, he remembered her, though he couldn’t remember the last time he was at Treverton. Maybe when he was fifteen? Perhaps sixteen.
So, indeed, she’d been around awhile.
She was there but unobtrusive and he’d had no direct dealings with her.
He was going to now.
“Christine?” he called, startling her.
She put her hand to her chest and breathed, “Oh my,” then went on to say, “Well, young Master Wallace. I haven’t seen you in ages.”
“Yes, it’s been quite a while,” he agreed.
“Is Lady Blake here?”
“She is. Upstairs, freshening up.”
This made Christine scowl, probably because Jeff hadn’t informed her of their arrival. He’d been busy greeting them and seeing to their bags, but the bloke had to have a phone so he could text her.
“We have some…official business to see to which we shouldn’t delay,” Dair finished.
She understood him, and Dair couldn’t quite read her new expression. It wasn’t grief, per se. It wasn’t elation either.
Apparently, anyone Helena knew had conflicting emotions about her passing.
Nevertheless, he said quietly, “I’m sorry for the loss of Lady Norton.”
“Yes,” she replied vaguely.
“Just so ye understand, Blake and I are—”
That brightened her up. “Yes. I saw the picture. Delighted for you both.”
“Thank you, Christine,” he said. “I assume ye ken Mr. Sharp, Alex and her husband, Rix, and very likely others will be arriving soon.”
She gave him a quick nod. “Mr. Sharp’s assistant has shared the details. I’ve everything in order. Just need you to tell me when you’d like your meal tonight. It’s my understanding Mr. Sharp will arrive around five.”
Blake had barely eaten anything all day, excusing this by saying she wasn’t hungry.
“If ye can manage something substantial,” he requested. “Blake hasn’t been eating properly today.”
“Poor little miss,” Christine murmured.
They heard someone approach.
Christine looked beyond him and did not hide he was correct in his assumptions.
When he turned, he knew it was Jeff coming and he knew that Christine had no respect for him and possibly liked him even less.
Jeff came to Dair and said, “Your fob, Mr. Wallace.”
Decision made.
The man had to go.