CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Giff didn't tell Alice, but when his grandfather arrived, Grandad's staff would be told by Giff's Scots servants that Alice was a right one. That made him proud. He took her hand as they walked through the garden to the house. "May we go to your house for luncheon and come back here later?"

"Yes. We can visit Hatchards before we return. We will need books to take with us."

He didn't plan to have time to read books, but one never knew. He supposed they couldn't spend all their time in bed. After all, they'd be in company on the ship and while traveling in France. "That's a good idea."

"We also require contracts for all of our servants. Do you happen do know how much your father is paying the grooms?"

No. But he would make a point to find out. Fergus would know. "Not at the moment."

"I will write to our solicitor and ask him to make up the contracts. We can add the amounts later."

"Wait a minute." He stopped and stared at Alice. "Do you mean to tell me you know how much they are making at Worthington House?"

"Of course I do." She seemed surprised that he wouldn't know that. "Ten pounds a year for a stable boy. The personal grooms earn fifteen pounds a year and the stablemaster twenty pounds."

Why had he even doubted her. He'd been told she learned everything needed to run not only a household, but an estate as well.

When they arrived back several hours later, he drove directly to the mews. A wagon stood outside of the stables loaded with stinking hay. It was enough to make one cast his accounts. The wagon moved off and another one arrived with new bales of straw.

Fergus and Robertson strode up to them. Robertson bowed, and Fergus said, "Almost done. We're waiting for oats and a few other things."

"How's the tack?"

He shook his head. "Some of it can be fixed. The rest will have to go. Mice and rats."

"It is unbelievable how the saddles were let to fall into ruin," Robertson said. "I have never seen anything like it, and I hope I never do again."

A man who looked to be in his late thirties with brown hair and eyes joined them. "Are you Bromley?"

"I am, my lord." The man bowed.

"Will you accept the position as my stablemaster?"

"I will. The second coachman wants to know if there's a place for him. He's the one that drove you down to London with the fourth coachman."

"I'll be pleased to have them both." Giff thought that other than a cook, that completed their staff. While they were with Alice's family for luncheon, she spoke with the housekeeper and was able to make arrangements for three housemaids. "I expect the stable to be run in an orderly manner without the abuse Smith was known for. You should know that Robinson and Fergus will assist when they are able, but they are our personal grooms and are expected to be ready to serve us when we require them."

"Yes, my lord. They both mentioned as much."

"My curricle can be moved in as soon as space is ready. Her ladyship's phaeton will come over just before the wedding. You are all invited to Worthington House for the celebration."

"Thank you, my lord." Bromley gave a small smile. "I'll see to the garden key as well."

"Good man. Carry on." Giff lifted Alice down from the carriage and escorted her into the garden. "That went well."

Glancing at him she tilted her head. "Do you not think someone should be held accountable for the ruined tack?"

"We have no idea how long they've been there. It probably wouldn't do any good at this point." He did plan to tell his mother what they would require.

"That is true. It is still a shame. "At least I'll be able to bring my saddle and the tack for my mare and the pair with me."

"That will help." Giff would have Fergus bring his as well.

"Let's look at our house again." In particular their bedroom.

He opened the back door and almost ran into Williams. What was he still doing here?

"My lady." He handed her a letter. "This came for you right after you left."

She opened it and shook it out. "It is from Mrs. Rollins. She and her husband can attend us tomorrow morning at nine-thirty. That is the only appointment they have for a longish meeting for the next two weeks."

That was fast. "Tomorrow it is. I hope we can find some paper and ink."

"Mrs. Simmons brought some over, my lady." Roberts led the way to a heavy French desk in the morning room. "It's here. I will take it to Mrs. Rollins when you are ready."

Giff hoped that meant they'd have the house to themselves after the footman left. Alice made short work of the letter, and they were finally alone. Now to make love to her without ruining her hair and gown. He untied the ribbons to her bonnet. "Is that all I need to do before I remove it?"

She rolled her eyes at him and pulled out a lethal looking hat pin with a bird on one end of it. "Now it comes off." She put the bonnet on the small square table next to her and wrapped her arms around his neck. "What do you have in mind, my lord?"

"This." He bent his head and teased her lips open. Soon their tongues were doing a sensuous dance together. He backed her up to a sturdy-looking table, picked her up and set her on top of it. "I feel as if it has been forever."

"Sometime three days can be forever." She shivered as he lifted her skirt, and gasped when he touched her inner thighs.

He tried to go slowly, but when she wrapped her legs around him he almost lost himself. "I love you."

She grabbed his head and brought it down to her. "I love you too. Make love to me."

Later they slumped against each other. Giff noticed that although the sun was still high in the sky, it had shifted. How long had they been here? He took his handkerchief out and cleaned them both, then set about putting them to rights again. He helped her down from the table. "It's probably time to start getting ready for dinner."

Alice yawned. "I suppose you are right. This reminded me of bed and beds. I believe all the bedding for the stable staff must be replaced."

Giff blew out a frustrated breath. "That dratted stable is going to cost us more than the rest of the house."

A thrill of bell-like laughter emanated from her. "We will simply our new stablemaster to order everything. If Smith gives them trouble about sleeping where they have been, we can put them in the servants' quarters here for a few days." She yawned again. "I need to tell—"

"Mrs. Simmons." Giff kissed Alice. "Come, my bride. Hopefully, our housekeeper is here somewhere."

"They have apartments downstairs." Alice donned her bonnet. "It would not surprise me if they are taking the opportunity to move into them."

He was just glad no one disturbed them making love. "And I thought the next two weeks would be boring. How wrong I was."

"Nine days now." She kissed him. "We have a great deal to accomplish."

They found the Simmonses in the servant's quarters having tea. Both of them stood up with guilty looks on their faces. "I beg your pardon, my lady. I should have." Mrs. Simmons glanced around. "I should have been doing something."

Alice's lips trembled. "There is not much for you to do at present. However, tomorrow you will receive some maids from Worthington House who have agreed to work here. Have you been able to convince anyone from next door to come work for us as well?"

The housekeeper nodded. "They will start tomorrow. We brought over our belongings and rearranged the furniture in our apartment. I suppose we were taking a rest before everyone else got here."

Giff glanced at Simmons who, intelligent man that he was, let his wife do the talking. "We have footmen coming as well. They've been trained by the butler at Lady Alice's home. They are all former soldiers."

"I will arrange for the tailor who makes the livery to take their measurements." Simmons glanced at Giff and frowned. "I don't think I have ever seen the St. Albans livery."

Good Lord. Neither had he. He only knew the crest. "I am as ignorant as you."

"Green and gold," Alice and Mrs. Simmons said at the same time and laughed.

"There you are, green and gold." Giff tugged Alice a little closer. "Leave it to our wives. Or in my case, almost wife."

"How did you know?" Simmons asked.

"There are some old suits in the attic. They will not be suitable for any of the new footmen, but they can be a guide." Mrs. Simmons looked at Giff and Alice. "There is a lot of gold on them."

"I'll wager you found periwigs as well," Alice said.

"I did, my lady."

"None of our footmen wear periwigs." Alice wrinkled her nose. "They are hot in the summer and become dirty easily. I think we can do without them."

"I agree," Mrs. Simmons said. We'll just order the livery." She glanced up at the ceiling. "If you will give me a few minutes I'll bring one down."

"I will accompany you," Alice said. "Other than when they are being used as a nursery, I am very fond of attics."

Naturally, Giff and Simmons followed them up. The housekeeper had not exaggerated when she said there was a lot of gold. "Good Lord." Giff held up the uniform. One could barely see the colors for the gold. "We could melt this down."

Alice pulled a face. "Our footmen will bring over a set of Worthington livery for a guide on the amount of gold to use. I do not remember anyone having this problem before."

"There is a lot to do and reorganize, my lady," Mrs. Simmons said softly. "But we'll get it all done, and you'll see how nice everything will be."

Alice patted her shoulder and smiled. "I know. I've been through construction and decorating before. This is just another part of it."

The housekeeper appeared concerned. "I hope you will be happy to hear I've ordered all the linens."

"Thank you for telling me." Alice sighed. "I am glad to know it. We will need new bedding for the stable staff as well. Perhaps you can coordinate with the new stablemaster."

"Yes, my lady. I would be happy to do so." Mrs. Simmons nodded.

As they passed the corridor leading to their apartment, Giff hoped that the next time, he and Alice could make love in their bed. After all the bedding had been replaced. He flipped his pocket watch open. "Shall we go, my love? We have just enough time to arrive and wash up before dinner."

* * *

More quickly than Giff thought possible, their house and stables were put in order. Every time he and Alice went to the house, something new had been done. Carpets and hangings changed, new paint and wallpaper. The kitchen took the longest, but with their new cook, Eugène, a relative of Jacques, in charge even that went smoothly. Relatively speaking. He and Alice shopped for everything from gloves to trunks. His mother even set about making sure the garden was in perfect condition. Which reminded Giff and Alice to hire gardeners. The only place Giff was not allowed to go with her was to the fittings for her wedding dress. Instead, he went jewelry shopping. Alice deserved jewels that she owned aside from the sapphires and the ornaments required for a young lady's come out.

He selected a double strand of pearls with earrings to match and coaxed her into a set of pearl hair pins before he gave her the necklace. "Wear these at our wedding if they will go with your gown."

Alice grinned. "I shall." She wrapped her arms around his neck. "Thank you." After kissing him, she took a box out of her reticule. "I have something for you as well."

The box contained a square sapphire pin that matched her necklace. Giff had never expected such a gift from her. "This is marvelous."

"I am glad you like it." This, naturally, led to more kissing, which was broken up by Mary wandering into the morning room.

"Oh, I did not mean to interrupt you," she said. Suddenly, she glanced at the window. "You have more company than me."

Gideon and Elizabeth were at the windows peering in. One day, hopefully soon, Alice and Giff would have privacy. Until they had children.

* * *

Miss Susanna Greenway noticed a letter addressed to her on the dish in the hall. She picked it up and went to her room. Normally, her mother would read all the correspondence sent to her, but the careful and childishly elegant handwriting intrigued Susanna. She opened the letter.

My dear Miss Greenway,

It is with regret and heavy hearts that we must inform you that Lord Normanby has been courting Lady Alice Carpenter with a view toward marriage—he would scarcely be contemplating anything thing else with a lady. Lady Alice discovered he is betrothed to you and will no longer accept his overtures. I wished to warn you of histrue naturein order to give you an opportunity to save yourself from this blackguard.

Yr. friends,

T.V and M.C.

Susanna was not surprised. She had been both stunned and suspicious when he had started to court her and then asked for her hand in marriage. There was always something about him she hadn't trusted. His lordship probably used the betrothal to her as a way to stave off his creditors. She and her father knew about his debts almost immediately. After all, everyone in the City knew which members of the aristocracy were under the hatches. Although she doubted his lordship was aware that they had knowledge of his financial difficulties. He probably believed that he was fooling them. She glanced at the initials again. M.C. could be someone from the Carpenter family, but who was T.V.? It did not really matter. Lord Normanby had signed the settlement agreement exactly as she had wanted. He apparently did not care that he had ceded almost all control to her, or he had not read it. Susanna wondered if he was really as intelligent as he thought he was. She went to the library, took out a copy of Debrett's, and found the Earl of Stanwood. His sisters included a Lady Mary Carpenter, Lady Alice and Lady Grace Carpenter who wed the Earl of Worthington whose sisters included a Theodora Vivers. Susanna called for her family's town coach. Perhaps it was time to put Lady Mary's and Lady Theodora's minds at ease. Susanna was also interested in meeting the ladies who would warn her about Normanby.

When she reached Worthington House, she was informed that Ladies Mary and Theo were out with their governess, but that Lady Alice was available. Susanna was then led to a parlor by the very correct butler. "Would you like tea, miss?"

"Yes. Please."

A few minutes after tea had been brought in, a blond lady entered the room. Her gait was so smooth it was as if she was floating. Susanna had been trained well at school, but she always thought that type of elegance must be natural or taught from early childhood. She rose. "Good morning. I am Miss Susanna Greenway."

"Good morning." The lady held out her hand and shook Susanna's. The action had the effect of putting her immediately at ease. "I am Lady Alice Carpenter."

"Thank you for taking time to speak to me, my lady."

Lady Alice appeared curious. "Please have a seat and tell me what I may do for you."

Susanna took the letter from her reticule. "Earlier, I received this missive. I wanted to ease the authors' concerns."

Lady Alice's brows rose. "Authors?"

Susanna nodded. "Yes."

Her ladyship took the note and laughed lightly. "They have been very busy lately."

The front door opened, followed by the parlor door opening. Two schoolroom ladies, one younger than the other with blond hair, the other older with dark chestnut hair, stood in the door.

"Come in," Lady Alice said. "This is Miss Greenway. She has come to address your letter."

The girls glanced at one another, entered the room, and took seats on the sofa.

"I am Lady Mary," the blond girl said.

"And I am Lady Theo," the older girl said. "We are happy you have come."

"How will you deal with his lordship?" Lady Mary asked.

"I intend to wed him. Faults and all." Lady Theo opened her mouth, and Lady Alice shook her head. "Firstly, I want you to know that we, my father and I, know about his debts." She glanced at Lady Alice. "I did not know about you. However, I am not surprised. No doubt he thought to jilt me as soon as he wed you. I take it you do not plan to marry him?"

"Not at all." A smile curved her lips. "I am betrothed to the Marquis of St. Albans. The Duke of Cleveland's heir. We will marry in three days."

Susanna was glad for the explanation of the relationships. She really would have to start memorizing Debrett's. "I wish you happy, my lady. In his arrogance or haste, Lord Normanby signed the settlement agreement drafted by my father and myself. He will find that all the servants will be mine and loyal to me. He will have an allowance, but nothing more. And as soon as he gives me two sons he may do as he wishes, but not in England. There was one other complication." All three ladies nodded, which surprised Susanna. "It has been dealt with in a manner of which I believe you will approve."

"She will be treated well." Lady Mary stated flatly.

"Extremely well." After speaking with the woman, Susanna had arranged for "Celeste" to be sent to her family who had been searching for her. "She is going home."

Lady Theo stared at Susanna for several seconds. "Do you want to marry him?"

"I do not dislike the idea. I am marrying for the rank. So that my father will have a peer for a grandson. It is my mother's dearest wish, and I shall not disappoint her. I might have a few duties I will dislike, but knowing I am in control of all aspects of the marriage will compensate me." Lady Theo was still not convinced. "He will not harm me either physically or with words. If he does, I have a remedy. More than that I cannot say."

Lady Alice rose. "Thank you for visiting us. After everything is settled, do you mind if I invite you to one of our charitable meetings? We will all be back in Town in autumn."

"I would be delighted." Susanna had never expected to be approved of so quickly.

"Wonderful." Her ladyship held out her hand again. "I look forward to knowing you better."