Page 22 of Miss Ellis Unleashed

“Away from you,” he said, trying to shake her off. “I’m sure you’d prefer that.”

“Not today. You’d think more clearly and feel better if you ate something before you step outside.”

His stomach growled alarmingly loud in response to the mere suggestion of food.

“Besides, out there are dozens of heartless husband-hunting spinsters looking for the highest title to marry. A lord who is ill-prepared for a determined pursuit risks immediate leg-shackling.”

He paused, realizing she spoke the truth. “Christ, it only gets worse.”

“I would also suggest a shave and a change into fresh clothing, as well, before you step outside.”

“I have nothing to change into here,” he said, glancing down at Miss Ellis and scowling. “Someone made damn sure of that.”

She smiled briefly. “That same someone took the liberty of sending for your valet. He happily agreed to return discreetly with whatever you would require to become presentable again,” she said, appearing all too pleased with herself. “Your good standing in society is more important than ever now. You must think of your reputation.”

Max froze as reality dawned. “I’ve inadvertently compromised you by coming here, haven’t I?”

Daisy pursed her lips a moment, but he’d wager she had already had time to consider the situation he’d put her in. “I have no intention of mentioning you being here, and my servants already promised to do the same. They are concerned about you. No one has to know about your visit unless you or your valet tell them.”

“He wouldn’t dare,” he growled.

“Good,” she said, glancing past him and nodding. “Now, go and eat something before you faint away from hunger, and then freshen yourself upstairs.”

He shook his head. “I never go upstairs in this house.”

“But you must today. The contents of your former bedroom, my father’s old chambers, were returned to where they belonged on my birthday.”

“Oh,” he said slowly, and then sighed. “Couldn’t wait even one day to erase the memory of me being here, could you?”

She put her hand on his back and gave him a not-so-subtle push toward the dining room. “I prefer that lower room as the study it once was while my father was alive.”

He nodded. They had argued a lot about him moving a bed for himself into that downstairs room. He’d felt it more appropriate that they slept on separate floors, given he was a bachelor. Daisy had seen it as him exerting his authority and resented the change. Now everything was back to the way she expected, Daisy seemed to have mellowed. “Thank you for your kindness today,” he said, and finished with, “Daisy.”

While he’d been her guardian, he’d never allowed himself to call her by her given name, even in private. It was too familiar, too intimate. The distance and formality had made their situation easier to maintain somehow. But things were different now.

Daisy guided him toward her dining room as if he were an invalid, which he almost felt he was. She helped him to a chair but did not offer to join him for the meal. She crossed the hall and shut the doors to the drawing room quietly, and left him all alone at the table in another dimly lit room.

Gibbs and his valet entered from another doorway and quickly whipped all the covers away to reveal a feast on the table.

Max almost fell into a swoon. “God, I missed this.”

He hadn’t had a decent meal since Daisy had unceremoniously thrown him out on the night of her birthday.

The butler and his valet loitered, faces full of concern for his wretched state. They filled a plate high and poured coffee for him. “May I express our sorrow at the news of your cousin’s passing, and our immense satisfaction at seeing you here once more,” Gibbs whispered.

“Thank you,” he murmured. “But it was a mistake on my part that must never be spoken of again.”

“Of course not. Should there be anything you need from us in the future, rest assured you will always find good help here,” Gibbs promised.

He glanced at the butler, a man he’d known all his life, and scowled. “Are you scheming for a new position for yourself, now I’m to become a duke?”

“No. Never,” the man protested, looking highly offended. “I could never leave Miss Ellis untended.”

“Good, otherwise I would have to regret the high wages I put you on.”

“Never fear, your grace. Miss Ellis will always be my first concern. I only meant that should you find difficulty with securing satisfactory staff deserving of working for a future duke, I would be only too happy to help interview likely candidates. ’Tis a tedious business. But only if Miss Ellis permits me to help you, of course.”

“Hmm, well, there is no guarantee of that, but I appreciate the offer,” Max murmured, and then continued eating. He’d not taken on new staff simply because he wasn’t spending that much time at his town house.