Page 108 of The Dueling Duchess

He’d just decided to go down to the kitchen and fetch some hot water when Cat charged up the stairs toward him. “Did I miss going into the counting room?” she demanded, breathless from her run.

“Almost!” he teased. “Where were you?”

“Cecile said I should help Cook with the dishes since Mary is out sick today.”

“That was nice of you.” He would never think about getting a child to do something like that; clearly Cecile was much better at this parenting business. He was fairly certain that none of his sisters had washed a dish in their lives. Neither had Guy, for that matter—not until coming to work at the Fayre.

While he did not enjoy many of the tasks Cecile made him do, he did like knowing how to take care of himself.

Still, he’d be bloody grateful to have his valet back.

“I like drying dishes,” Cat said. “And Cook gave me a biscuit after,” she added.

Guy chuckled at her reluctant honesty.

“I’ve never seen a secret room before.”

“Well, I hope you aren’t disappointed,” he said as he shoved aside the thin, moth-eaten tapestry that hid the door.

“I didn’t even know this was here,” she said, gazing at the door with round eyes.

Once he’d pushed open the door and lighted the two candles in the wall sconce, he turned to Cat, who was hesitating outside the room. “Come in.”

She stepped inside, looked around, and frowned.

He laughed at her crestfallen expression. “What? Isn’t it everything you’d hoped for?”

“It’s just a small room.”

“Why, yes—that’s right. What were you expecting?”

“I don’t know . . . just, something. But it doesn’t look special at all, so why is it hidden?”

“I don’t know for a fact, but if I had to guess, I’d say this house belonged to people who made coins. Years ago, before the mint took over, there were people all over Britain who did such work. My guess is they needed somewhere to hide their wealth. Or perhaps the house belonged to people who were not supposed to be making coins—counterfeiters such criminals are called.”

He could see her sharp mind turning it over. “So people used to hide coins in here, then?”

“That is only my guess.”

“So why don’t you call it the coin room?”

Guy laughed. “I don’t know. That’s a very good question. Perhaps you might ask your new governess about such matters,” he said, not so subtly dodging any other questions.

One of the housemaids, Susan, poked her head into the room. “The governess is here, and she’s got a trunk with her. Can you bring it up?”

“Of course, my dear.”

“Oh! I want to go and meet her,” Cat said, tearing from the room with George fast on her heels.

“There’s someone who’s excited,” Susan said with a chuckle.

“Indeed.” Guy smiled at Cat’s receding form. “I’ve cleared out the box room, but I think it could use a bit of a dust and polish.”

“I’ll see to it immediately, Your Grace,” she said, cutting him a cheeky look that made him laugh. Guy rolled down his sleeves and slipped on his coat before heading down to the foyer, where he could hear the sound of female voices.

He slowed his steps as he listened, recognizing not only Cecile and Cat, but the third voice, as well.

Guy frowned. No. It couldn’t be.