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“Morning, your lordship,” Jeb said pointedly. He glowered at the huddled women.

“Domesticated, ain’t he?” Gervaise thought he heard one whisper as he reached for the tea tin.

“You don’t need to be doin’ that, milord,” one said, leaping up. “I can fix your tea for you.”

“Thank you, but no. That won’t be necessary.” She shrugged and sat back down. Gervaise set about brewing Caroline’s tea and Reg sidled up to him.

“There’s been another delivery for Miss Caroline out front,” he said. “Looks like more clothes.”

“Lucky girl!” someone with good hearing piped up from by the fireplace to accompanied giggling and nudging.

“Shall I bring it up?”

“If you would.” Gervaise was glad to escape upstairs once he had washing water and tea in hand. The cats bounded up beside him, heedless of his slippered feet.

Caroline opened an eye as he reentered the bedroom. “What time is it?” she asked, smothering a yawn.

“It’s almost half past nine.”

“Goodness.” She sat up, dislodging Romulus, who had jumped up and tried to settle on her stomach. He took instant umbrage and jumped down from the bed. “Where is Remus?” she asked, rubbing her eyes.

“He’s in the sitting room.” He passed her the teacup. “Reg is lighting the fire for you in there.”

“Is he?”

“Yes, I thought you might want to sit in there and finish your sewing today.”

“Hmmm,” she murmured, her tone noncommittal.

“It’s quite…hectic downstairs,” he said, making his way to the washstand and pouring half the jug of hot water into the basin for his wash. When he tilted his new shaving mirror to watch her, she was sipping her tea, her expression serene.

He took a deep breath. “You may have to prepare yourself for some ribaldry this morning,” he said. “It’s possible we were overheard last night. I wouldn’t be at all surprised. I was rather…loud.”

Only there was no rather about it. Caroline cleared her throat, some color climbing into her cheeks, but she made no reply, just took a large gulp of tea. Romulus chose this moment to jump back on the bed, chirruping in her face and giving her a convenient out.

“How are you this morning, Romulus?” she murmured, stroking his back and letting him rub his face against her. Gervaise could hear the little cat’s purr from where he stood. Lucky Romulus.

“Also, you have had some more clothes delivered from Durand’s,” he continued. “Reg has stacked the boxes in the dressing room.”

“Oh, really?” She brightened at that.

“It might be your new plaid gown,” he admitted, dragging a razor down his face. “I told Madame you were anticipating that one’s arrival.”

She beamed at him. “Thank you, Gervaise.”

“Shall we meet at lunchtime?” he suggested. “I have to go out with Ralph this morning and drum up more custom, but I could collect you for luncheon.”

She drew her knees up under the covers. “I would love that!” She hesitated. “But what if it is not my new plaid gown?”

He shrugged. “Then you can wear your burgundy with the cunning sleeves,” he answered.

It was the plaid gown. When he jumped out of the cab at noon, she was waiting for him just inside The Citadel. She pulled the door open at the sight of him and joined him on the pavement. Gervaise nodded to Reg, who was hovering in the background, and the other man faded back into the gin palace.

Taking her hand, Gervaise brushed a kiss against her gloved fingers and handed her up into the hansom. “Very nice,” he commented, settling beside her.

She turned to him eagerly, parting her cloak to show her new dress off. “Do you like it? Effie said I am bang up to style and Vi said I look smart as new paint,” she said proudly.

“It looks very fetching,” he said, looking the cream and blue gown up and down, “but we need to get you some new bonnets and boots to match.”