Page 31 of Miss Ellis Unleashed

“Yes, and he wasn’t happy about it at all. But there’s only him I trust to give it to. There’s a maid of all work who comes in each day,” he answered, setting his napkin on the table and fussing with it.

She stared at him in surprise. She’d been inside Throsby’s town house once, a brief visit of half an hour and no more, but knew his home must be twice as large as hers. “Why do you not have more servants by now?”

“My needs are small, but I must hire some soon before my valet gives his notice due to overwork and loneliness. I wonder if you would permit Gibbs to assist me?”

“You want Gibbs back?”

“Not back,” he said quickly. “He has vowed never to leave your employ. But he offered to conduct interviews for me. He claimed a future duke needs the right staff about him.”

“He is not wrong about that,” she said, considering the request. Gibbs had little to do here, now that Throsby had left the house. If Gibbs helped Throsby, the butler would only be polishing the silver once a day, instead of the three times she caught him at it lately.

Daisy probably had more staff than she needed anyway, but she couldn’t bear the idea of letting anyone go just because they were without enough work to fill the hours.

“Gibbs and others may help you if they want to.”

“Thank you. Gibbs has been a great help to me through the years, as has my valet.”

“The servants remarked only this morning how much they miss your valet, by the way, but that might be on account of him always being the one to iron the paper.”

Throsby met her gaze and ignored her mention of the paper as he continued. “Miss Dawes seemed unhappy.”

“She is troubled indeed, but over what I cannot say. I’ve had a feeling she wished to speak with me for some time, but something always stops her. But it has to be Justine who makes the first move to resume our acquaintance. There was no need for subterfuge over her feelings about Lord Brookes, if she had liked the man as much as Gabby and I once thought she did.”

“Now neither one has married him.” Throsby shook his head. “Though I don’t imagine your friend was dissatisfied with becoming a duchess in the end.”

“No, but the title is not why she married her duke.” She wrung her hands, studying Throsby. “You do realize that, don’t you?”

He nodded. “Love. An almost unheard-of state for most great men of the ton to admit to suffering. But Mamble admitted it freely to anyone who would listen. They chose with their hearts, not because of her dowry or his title.”

Daisy wet her lips, suddenly nervous about the subject of marriage. Throsby had talked a great deal about her making a good match, but never had he given her a clue as to what he might want in a wife himself. “Is that what you will do, my lord? Will you choose love over a great and advantageous match?”

“I would prefer to, but I’ve yet to find myself in that position.” Although he frowned the next moment, and his eyes dropped from hers. A flush of color spread over his features, and he reached for his glass suddenly to take a small sip of wine.

She studied his expression, and felt a blush forming on her cheeks at his discomfort. She wasn’t sure what it meant, but the subject bothered him. Throsby had changed so much since the guardianship ended that she could no longer read his mood or gauge his reactions.

Flustered by that, she picked up a plate of sweet cakes to end the meal and offered him first choice.

Throsby groaned. “I want one, of course, but I couldn’t possibly eat another bite.”

Daisy set the platter of cakes down and laughed softly at him. Throsby had eaten very well tonight, stating he’d been starving for lack of a good cook at home. Cook would be so pleased to hear he enjoyed the meal, and Daisy was, too.

If Throsby had not employed enough servants yet, he must be eating at his club a great deal too often. “Just as well, or there’d be nothing but crumbs for any morning callers tomorrow. Cook has outdone herself.”

“She has, and she always does.” He leaned his elbow on the table, gazing at her directly. “Perhaps I could convince you to dismiss Cook, so she has no choice but to come and work for me instead?”

“Not a chance,” she said quickly, eyes narrowing. But she was surprised to discover the viscount was merely teasing her. “Too much of this and you’d only grow fat, the way you eat.”

“I managed to keep my trim figure while I was your guardian, despite all the endless dinners we were invited to this season,” he protested, putting a hand over his flat belly protectively, making her laugh at his display of vanity.

Perhaps she’d drunk too much wine with dinner, but she felt utterly charmed by Throsby tonight.

Daisy gazed at him as if she’d never truly talked to him before. Dinner tonight had been vastly different from their previous meals together. They were at ease with each other for once. Teasing and being teased had never been so enjoyable before. “I always wondered how you did that. I assumed you boxed or did something equally vigorous while you were out.”

He quirked a brow. “Chasing you around ballrooms kept me fit.”

“You never caught me doing anything wrong,” she protested.

“You were thinking about it, though.” He sat back. “It was deterrent enough that you knew I was watching you and your admirers, so you all behaved yourselves.”