Page 13 of Love and Other Disasters

The butler’s smile was tight in return. “I will speak to him on your behalf, never fear.”

He backed away and rushed off, leaving Sophie with no illusions that her problems would be attended to by the man soon. In fact, the butler had acted strangely today.

She glanced down the hall and wondered why he’d rushed off with so much haste. He acted as if they were on the cusp of hosting a grand party, which was hardly likely since the duke was to be gone for months.

Sophie put her hands on her hips and wandered down the hall a little further to the top of the staircase and looked down. She could see nothing and no one moving about below. How odd that the household staff was reduced so dramatically for the summer, too. She’d never heard of such a thing being done before. In a house this size, surely there was as much to do whether the family was in residence or not.

And with the household staff reduced so dramatically in number now, the butler could become so busy that he might just forget about the importance of her questions. She might wait weeks for an answer from him, and that would never do. The children could not bear to be cooped up for so long in the nursery wing alone. She could barely stand it herself.

If she did not hear about the matter in a few days, she might just have to carry on without Lord Jasper’s permission altogether. A circumstance she’d only consider as a last resort.

Chapter Five

A week later

* * *

Jasper put his feet up on the desk. “Are we ready for my guests?”

“Yes, I believe so. The east wing has been cleared and the remaining servants not involved with the event have retired to other locations about the estate.”

“Good. Good.” Jasper glanced out the windows facing the rear garden and smiled. “Now, I want a pair of footmen waiting with drinks in the entrance hall from four in the afternoon today. They are to serve refreshments to my guests as soon as they arrive. No waiting to show them to their rooms first unless they specifically ask for it. After that, point them toward the long gallery, where they are to make themselves scarce until the next carriage arrives.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Jasper eyed the butler. Seymour was looking a little flushed today. It had been an exhausting week of setting up and putting away the most valuable heirlooms for everybody. Seymour had been in the thick of it always, but he was getting on in years. The strain of their frantic preparations these past days was showing on him finally.

No doubt the type of guest expected for his party would not appeal to him, either. He was the duke’s man now, and probably should have been sent off to visit his family, along with all the others. And yet, the palace barely functioned without his steady hands on the reins, keeping the other servants in line.

“Seymour, if you do not feel up to the task, please elevate one of the younger men for the duration of the festivities.”

Seymour stared at him stonily for a moment. “Do you imagine this is the first scandalous party held at Ravenswood?”

“I’m only saying…”

“Well, respectfully, my lord, perhaps you should not continue expressing that thought. Your mother held lavish entertainments and brought scandalous friends here many times while you were still safely tucked in your cradle. There is nothing I haven’t seen. Including the duchess undressed, my lord. Quite a fine sight, I might add.”

Jasper laughed as the butler’s cheeks grew red, but he let the comment pass. Mother had been a beauty, and Seymour had been in service here for a very long time. He was not surprised to learn the man had admired her figure, too. Jasper, though, had trouble imagining his mother misbehaving or cavorting naked anywhere. He’d never really known his mother as a woman of the world. The late Duchess of Ravenswood had no time for her sons, but she had loved her friends dearly, and they had forever been visiting each other’s homes. Perhaps there was a side to his mother that should remain a secret from him, but obviously wasn’t possible for the older butler. “I stand corrected.”

Seymour nodded, looking pleased. “Everything at Ravenswood shall be taken care of as usual, I assure you.”

He nodded. “Thank you. Listen, about keeping my brother in the dark about my little gathering…”

“What gathering?” Seymour asked, eyes twinkling. “‘Twill be just another quiet summer in the countryside. Nothing to report to him. Just as there was nothing to report to your father, the late duke, about the duchess’ activities, either.”

Jasper grinned; glad Seymour was head of the household. He’d earn a few extra coins from Jasper when this party was over. He’d honestly expected some difficulty with the older man. However, given the butler was fully apprised of the estate’s precarious financial situation by the duke himself, and Jasper’s intentions was to use the money for the improvement of the estate, he readily agreed that discretion was called for. At least until later. But the party could not involve the new Duke of Ravenswood, since he was set on making a good impression to score himself a wealthy wife.

He stood and put his hands on his hips as he looked around. “Are the ladies here yet?”

“Yes, my lord. They are ensconced in the parlor adjoining the long gallery,” Seymour reported. “Drinking wine and eating stew until called upon.”

“Good. Remember, I want them receptive to my guests’ advances, but not so influenced by an excess of spirit that they forget their role here.”

“I believe the women will be capable of all you wish for,” Seymour advised. “But the drink has reduced their awe of their surroundings.”

“Awe?”

“They are unaccustomed to the riches that surround them,” Seymour reminded him with a tight smile.