Page 17 of The Untamed Heart

“I shouldn’t hold your breath,” Hawkney replied, having not been the least bit perturbed at finding he and Sheringham were eating alone. It had been a relief, to be frank, but Sheringham did not know Lucius well enough to realise that fortune had smiled upon them.

Hawkney nodded a greeting as he saw the butler materialise at the bottom of the stairs to greet them.

“I commend you, Mitten, on keeping a remarkably well-run establishment despite your master’s er…”

“Work.” Mitten hurried to supply the word for Hawkney, who returned a look of amusement.

“Obsession would be more accurate, but as you like. Dinner last night was excellent. Please convey my compliments to your chef.”

“I will do so,” Mitten said with obvious gratitude and Hawkney wondered if Lucius even noticed what he ate, let alone the quality of it.

“Did Lord Darenth eat in his… in the ballroom?” Sheringham asked with interest.

Mitten glanced at Hawkney, who took pity on the fellow. “We’re old friends, Mitten. I know you would rather slit your own throat than speak out of turn, but… well, Lucius is rather a special case, is he not? I give you our word of honour as gentlemen that it will go no further.”

Mitten heaved a sigh. “I put the tray outside his study, for I dare not set a foot inside, but this morning it had not been touched. It is often the way when he is absorbed with his work. He does not eat nor stir from the study for days at a time. Yet, when he has nothing to interest him, it’s far worse, I fear. We all dread those times.”

“I can well imagine,” Hawkney said.

Mitten was an excellent butler, but unable to work in the best of circumstances when his master was an irascible crackpot, albeit a clever one. It always irked Hawkney when a problem was out of his control, but Darenth Knole was not one of his properties and the staff here none of his concern.

“Please do not think I am complaining,” Mitten said hurriedly, perhaps aware of the turn Hawkney’s thoughts had taken. “Indeed, the staff are devoted to him. We all are, for all his odd ways, for he is a kind and generous master.”

“When he remembers you exist?” Hawkney murmured, sotto voce.

Mitten shrugged. “Such is the nature of genius, your grace.”

“Speaking out of turn again, Mitten?”

They all gave a guilty start as the earl himself appeared in the doorway, and then another as the man standing there looked so entirely different from the one they had seen last night it was hard to believe they were one and the same. He had shaved, revealing an angular, ascetic countenance and sharp cheekbones. His hair had been washed and trimmed to a more respectable length, but his eyes, bright and unnervingly direct, remained as penetrating as ever. He was dressed almost immaculately, if with careless grace, and Hawkney suspected his long-suffering valet had been chased away before he had finished the job. Certainly, his cravat left something to be desired and had been tied in a hasty knot and with no finesse whatsoever.

They stared at him in silent astonishment.

Lucius glowered at them, gave a self-conscious tug upon his plain black waistcoat and sat down at the head of the table.

“Where is my tea?” he asked somewhat querulously.

“Here, my lord!” Mitten sprang into action as Hawkney exchanged a bewildered glance with Sheringham and they took their places on either side of him.

“We did not expect to see you this morning, Lucius.”

He sent an impatient look towards Hawkney. “Why? I said I would discover who sent the blasted threat, did I not?”

“You did, but you failed to appear for dinner.”

Lucius waved this away with impatience. “I have no tolerance for small talk. Are you to come to town with me?”

Sheringham blinked, rather startled to be addressed directly. He glanced at Hawkney for help and got none. Sherry had made his bed, he’d just have to lie in it. “Well, I—”

“Yes or no, man,” Lucius exclaimed. “It isn’t a difficult question even for one of limited intelligence.”

“Yes,” Sheringham replied, though a slightly bewildered note hung in the air after he’d spoken the word, as if it had appeared without his consent.

Poor fool, Hawkney thought with amusement.

Lucius sat up straighter, looking pleased. “Well, good. That’s good. I shall need someone to fetch and carry.”

Sheringham, who had just taken a sip of coffee, choked.