Page 3 of Brazen Rogue
Reign sighed in relief that Mrs. Watkins did not seem as prickly as her husband. "It is a pleasure to meet you both," she said. "I look forward to meeting the child I'm to care for."
"Yes, Lady Alice is a lovely child, but in need of tutoring. Come in, and I shall show you about the kitchen and then your room upstairs. As you'll be looking after Lady Alice, there is a room beside the nursery that you may use for the duration of your stay."
"Thank you." Reign said before she was introduced to multiple people, the cook, several footmen and maids, the chambermaids, and one of the grooms, who sat at the table having lunch.
"These are the servant stairs, they travel up to the attics, and you may use these instead of the main staircase unless you're escorting Lady Alice."
"Of course," Reign said, following the housekeeper, whose tour of the house was quick but efficient. "This door leads to the front foyer of the house," she said as they climbed up to the ground floor.
The housekeeper opened the door for Reign, and she stepped into the foyer, looking up at the grand staircase made from marble. Several doors led off into multiple rooms that she would soon become accustomed to, she supposed, the longer she was employed here.
"This level houses the dining room, library, back and front parlor, music room, and conservatory. You may use any of the rooms, bar the dining room and library."
Reign nodded, taking in all that she could with the hasty tour.
Now that she was here, she realized she knew very little about the family and what they desired of her. She hoped she made a good impression and was able to stay, move forward with her plan and earn a good, sound wage.
America and its possibilities beckoned her, and she did not want anything to scuttle her dreams, not even if it meant she had to work as a servant for a year or two to accomplish them.
ChapterTwo
Bellamy stared down at the parchment in his hand and quickly wrote out a response to his steward to send funds to yet another of his wife's traveling locales she departed without paying her debt.
Since her death two years past, letters such as the one he received were often, and he paid them, not wanting any menacing whispers that the Lupton-Gage family did not deliver what they owed.
Even if that debt were not his but that of his late wife, he would deal with the matter and move forward. His wife was renowned for causing strife wherever she went and leaving unpaid accounts seemed to be a hobby of hers upon arriving on the continent. He would not allow anything to shadow his daughter's future in society, not even one IOU.
His housekeeper Mrs. Watkins’ loud and commanding voice sounded in the foyer along with that of a young woman's. He glanced at the date and realized the new governess for his daughter was to arrive today, and that is with whom his servant must be speaking. He leaned back in his chair, debating whether he felt up to greeting the young woman from the South of England or not.
He supposed he ought since she had traveled a great distance and he was not an ass most of the time. Not to say he did not have his moments ...
Their voices dimmed, and he knew they had headed up the stairs to the first floor. His daughter would be in her room, waiting for him to collect her for their daily ride. She would be finished with her lunch by now.
Bellamy stood, striding for the door, and started up the stairs. He caught sight of the housekeeper and the young woman she was escorting heading toward the picture gallery, and he strode to his room, needing to change into his riding attire.
His valet came out of his closet, used to the occupations and times he kept, his riding gear already in hand.
"I thought the brown breeches and tweed jacket best for today, my lord," Chambers said.
"Very good." Bellamy stripped off his jacket and took the tweed from his servant. "Do you know if Alice is dressed for our ride?" he asked.
"I believe I saw a maid enter with her lunch and remain to help her change as usual. She will be looking forward to today, my lord. Are you not teaching her to jump a small log in the north field?" Chambers asked him.
Bellamy frowned and turned to his valet. "How do you know such details?" he asked. "I have told no one of my plans."
"Ah," Chambers said, tapping his nose. "Lady Alice has been telling everyone since your ride yesterday that you promised her this. Please do not go back on your word now, my lord. She will be most displeased, and we shall all have to hear about it."
Bellamy laughed, knowing that for the truth it was. Alice, his darling little girl for all her beauty and wit, was a termagant. "I promise I shall not disappoint her and therefore subject you all to her displeasure. She will be content and happy after her ride, so long as she keeps her seat."
"Ah yes, well, let us hope that she does," Chambers said, folding the breeches he removed. "Have a pleasant ride, my lord."
Bellamy strode into the passage with a nod and ran directly into a warm, lithe woman's body. He reached out without thought, clasping the woman's hips to stop her from tumbling to the floor.
With the force of their joining, her face slammed into his chest, stealing his breath.
"Apologies," she mumbled against his shirt, disentangling herself from him and stepping away. "I did not see you there, my lord."
"Oh, my lordship! I do apologize," Mrs. Watkins lamented over and over. "We did not expect you to ... to ..."
