Page 3 of Disciplined by the Duke
Clearing her throat, she took a sip of tea and smiled at Peggy. “I’m not too certain on all the connections in our family tree, either. But Mr. Pike was kind enough to recommend me for this position, and for that, I’m grateful.”
“I see.” Peggy poked at her cake with her fork. “So, you’re not close relations with Mr. Pike. Are you . . . I mean, have you and Mr. Pike come to an agreement of some sort? Is that why he recommended you?”
“An agreement. Between myself and Mr. Pike?” Her shoulder blades snapped together at the thought. “Definitely not. He was merely doing a favor for a distant relation. Absolutely nothing more.”
“Well, don’t put your nose up. Single men are harder to find around here than you might think. Mr. Pike might have a little dirt around the edges, but that washes off.” Peggy sniffed and took another sip of tea.
“Of course, Peggy, I didn’t mean—”
She patted Liz’s hand and smiled. “Of course you didn’t. I’m just being contrary. And he is a bit older than you.”
Liz didn’t want to break the tenuous détente, but she had to know. The cook’s face shone with kindness. Lines around her eyes attested to the fact that she liked to laugh. Liz couldn’t imagine Pike smiling, let alone chuckling. “Peggy, haveyouset your cap at Mr. Pike?”
A flush as red as her hair swept across the woman’s face. “Well . . . I . . . uh, that is . . .”
“I apologize. It’s not any of my concern.”
The cook patted her hand again, and gave her a shy smile. “No, it’s all right. I don’t know Mr. Pike well. He’s the strong silent sort, if you know what I mean.”
Liz nodded weakly.
“He has a secure position, no deformities that I can see, and isn’t known to go deep into his cups at the village tavern.” Peggy sipped her tea. “Good husband material, if you ask me.”
She wanted to curl her lip in disgust. Tell Peggy she would be wise to aim higher. She merely nodded politely. “Quite.” Liz busied herself adding sugar to her tea. If Amanda and she had the same requirements for a husband they both would have been married years ago.
And their lives would have been much better off. Perhaps Peggy was the smart one.
“Well, if you’re done with your tea I’ll introduce you to Mr. Todd, the duke’s steward. He’ll show you around and get you settled.”
Peggy led her up a back staircase. The cook knocked at an oak door and entered at the curt reply. “Mr. Todd, this here is Miss Elizabeth Smith, our new—”
“I know who she is, Mrs. Johnson. You may go.”
Peggy left, rolling her eyes at Liz and brushing her finger under her nose. Apparently Mr. Todd was one of the servants who liked to “put on airs.”
“Come in, Miss Smith, come in. No need to lurk in the doorway.” His watery blue eyes glared at her under bushy gray eyebrows.
She entered and glanced about the chamber surreptitiously. She didn’t think the duke would keep his important documents with his steward. But perhaps Mr. Todd handled the duke’s correspondence for him. The room that Mr. Todd called his office was large and airy with windows that fronted on to a formal garden. One wall was comprised of shelves, holding folders of different sizes. The opposite wall had built in cubbyholes with papers and various bric-a-brac filling the slots. If the purple-sealed letter was among that it would take her a fortnight to find it.
He pointed to a chair across from him, and she sat.
“I understand that you served in the Earl of Westmore’s household.”
She nodded, hands folded primly in her lap.
“How long were you in his service?”
“About two years, Mr. Todd.”
“And before that?” he asked.
“Before that? Before that I was nineteen.”
Mr. Todd lifted an eyebrow. She cleared her throat. “What I mean, sir, is that my father didn’t want me working before that. He was a clerk at a law firm and hoped for a position more advantageous for me. But after he died, I was fortunate to obtain a position with the earl.”
“Hmm.” The steward didn’t look impressed with her work history. “Two years of service does not give one much experience, especially not for a ducal estate.” He sighed deeply. “However, the duke is most gracious when it comes to giving opportunities to the less fortunate. But make no mistake.” He planted the tip of one thick finger on the top of his desk. “Your work will be subject to the highest scrutiny. You are expected to adhere to the strictest tenets of discipline.”
She nodded solemnly.
