LITMIR.BIZ

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She was the one person Gwen had qualms about. Oh, she looked the part of housekeeper with her snowy hair bound in a coronet about her round face and her motherly girth swathed in black bombazine covered by a pristine white apron. But she had no experience as a cook for anyone other than her six children and husband, all of whom had passed on.

       “Welcome home, sir,” she said in her gentle voice as she reached up to help Sir Trevor with his multi-caped greatcoat. She had to stand on her tiptoes to pull it off. As she dropped back down, she peered at Gwen around his waist, brows up and mouth pursed in an O of awe.

       “This is Mrs. Bentley,” Gwen said. The little woman straightened as Sir Trevor turned to eye her. “She’s acting as housekeeper and cook.”

       Mrs. Bentley bobbed a curtsy, puddling Sir Trevor’s coat against the floor as she did so. “A pleasure, sir. Mr. Allbridge is waiting in the library, and I’ve started the teakettle on the boil. Is there anything else I can do for you?”

       “No, thank you,” Trevor replied. “And tea would be most welcome.”

       Gwen let out her breath.

       “Have it right out, dearie,” Mrs. Bentley said with a grin, then she blinked and swallowed. “That is, very good, sir.” She ducked her head and hurried off.

       Trevor turned to Gwen. “So I have a groom and a housekeeper. How many more?”

       “A maid of all work, and I’m working on a footman,” Gwen replied, feeling rather proud of herself. It hadn’t been easy finding people willing to volunteer with such short notice. “And several other men will be by this afternoon to set the gardens to rights.”

       She waited for his praise, his amazement over her skills at managing a house. She was certain she’d be just as humble accepting them.

       Instead, his mouth tightened. “You are kind to think of my needs, but in the future, I’d prefer to be consulted before you spend my money.”

       Gwen felt as if he’d slapped her. She recoiled, but only for a moment. How dare he assume she’d spend his money without asking!

       She squared her shoulders and looked up into his icy green gaze. “I will have you know, sir, that not one of these people asked a penny. Blackcliff Hall is the life of this village, and we’re all so glad to see it occupied again that we were delighted to stay up last night and make it presentable. And if you were any kind of gentleman, you’d appreciate that!”

       Trevor raised his brows at her vehemence. Every inch of her straightened spine and high head said righteous indignation. Her chest rose and fell in her green coat, pink ribbon fluttering, as if she were taking deep breaths to try to steady her emotions. She truly thought these people would serve him with no expectation of reward.

       He couldn’t believe that. In his experience, everyone had a reason for offering help; everyone expected something in return. Nor could he believe they’d worked all night for no other purpose than to pretty up Blackcliff Hall. They knew nothing about him. Why put themselves out on his behalf?

       And despite what she’d said about Blackcliff being vital to the village, he was certain they must have more important things to do. Determined to prove himself right, he strode into the withdrawing room.

       And stopped. And stared.

       Every wood surface glowed; every inch of brass from the candlesticks on the mantel to the lamps on the tables gleamed. A fire was crackling in the hearth, and a bunch of russet chrysanthemums filled a crystal vase on one of the decorative tables. He could smell the lemon polish.

       He whirled to find Gwen watching him. “Is the whole house like this?” he demanded.

       A becoming shade of pink darkened her cheeks. “Most of it. We didn’t quite get to the cellar, but we hoped you wouldn’t get to it, either.”

       He glanced around the room again, noting the quilted lap robe draping the sofa and the silhouette framed on the wall. Neither had been there last night, he was certain. “Did you sleep at all?” he marveled.

       She smiled. “Who could sleep with a new master at Blackcliff?”

       Trevor shook his head. It seemed he was wrong. They truly had stayed up all night, for him. What kind of people were these? What land had his father sent him to? There had to be some reason for their kindness, but if not expectation of repayment, then what?

       Still, he knew what his response must be. He offered her a deep bow. “You have my thanks, Miss Allbridge, and my apology. I’m not used to people so generous with their time and talents.”

       “You’ve never met the people of Blackcliff,” she said, smile deepening as he straightened. A dimple danced at the corner of her mouth. Trevor found himself unable to look away.

       The grandfather clock in the entryway chimed ten. “Oh, goodness! I’ve kept you from your appointment!” She seized Trevor’s hand. “This way to the library. I’m sure my father has everything laid out to explain the estate to you.”

       Trevor didn’t resist as she tugged him out of the withdrawing room and down the corridor. She had strong hands for a woman, sturdy, unlike his mother’s long, elegant fingers. She was also the busiest woman he’d ever met. Everywhere he looked he saw evidence of her handiwork.

       Windows that had been grimy with dust now sparkled in the golden light of autumn. Every last cobweb had been obliterated. She must have enlisted each man, woman and child in the village to clean the place and stood as their captain. And she didn’t even look tired!

       She threw open the door to the library with a flourish and stepped aside for him to enter. He thought surely she’d wait outside, perhaps even go straight to attack the cellar, but she followed him inside and shut the door behind her.

       He had the oddest sense of a trap being sprung.

       He glanced around the library, trying to determine what was wrong. Every wall was hidden by tall oak bookcases with leaded glass fronts. The only open space was for the paneled door by which he’d entered, the wide window opposite it overlooking the grounds and the black marble fireplace to his right. Candles in the brass chandelier cast down a glow on the stout leather-bound chairs scattered about the ruby-patterned carpet and the massive, claw-foot desk across the room.

       This was where a gentleman conducted business—thoughtful, logical, impressive. For the first time, he began to feel at home.

       An older man stood with his back to the desk, hands braced behind him on its surface as if he needed its strength. Where Gwen Allbridge was an all-consuming fire, her father looked more like a burned-out husk. His gray hair was thinning and receding, his cheeks hollowed. His body was too narrow for the plaid wool coat and brown breeches that hung from it.

       He pushed off from the desk and managed a bow, his voice creaking out of him as if even breathing was a struggle. “Sir Trevor, an honor to meet you. Horace Allbridge at your service.”

       “Allbridge,” Trevor greeted him, moving into the room. “I understand I have you to thank for keeping my estate safe.”

       His steward immediately dropped his gaze to his scuffed brown boots and shuffled them against the carpet. “Only doing my duty, sir.”

       Trevor swung around him and seated himself at the desk. The black leather-bound armchair didn’t offer a protest as he sank into it, fitting his frame as if it had been made for him. He rubbed his hands over the smooth desktop, saw his reflection gazing thoughtfully back at him in the polished surface. If he turned his head, he could gaze out at his garden and the black fell rising behind the house.

       Something drifted over him, strong, sure. If he’d had to name it, he would have called it peace.

       He took a breath and raised his head. Gwendolyn Allbridge was watching him from her place near the door. He’d seen similar smiles on the faces of new mothers, excessively proud of their babbling infants. But was it her father or him she found so adorable?

       Not a little

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