Regency Series Boxset Two by Fenella J Miller

Author:Fenella J Miller [Miller, Fenella J]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Goodreads: 19319885
Published: 2013-08-21T14:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

"Mrs Reed, I had thought you avoiding me for some reason."

Was it her imagination or did she detect a decided glint in his eye? "I must apologise for not coming and thanking you immediately for your generous gifts." She could hardly tell him that his butler had forgotten to pass them on. "They were temporarily mislaid. They were a generous gift indeed, sir, but I cannot keep this one. Material of this quality is not suited to someone of my station."

She held the rectangle out and he was obliged to take it. She could see he was not pleased to have it given back to him. Then he smiled and the breath caught in the back of her throat.

Mrs Reed, I do beg your pardon. I should have realised that myself. Please, will you not sit down? There are various matters I need to discuss with you." With a slight bow in her direction he pulled out a chair and placed it on the opposite side of the desk to the one he had been sitting in. She had no option but to take it. For someone in her position to sit in the presence of her employer was highly irregular. But then everything about this relationship was irregular.

"Mr Bucknall, no doubt you have seen the improvements I have already made in the house. However, to restore it fully I need a full complement of staff. Jack tells me you have already brought in a flock of sheep to tidy the park, and taken on sufficient outside men to bring it back to its former glory."

He nodded solemnly. Why did she think he was having fun at her expense? Her irritation was building. She did not care to be made a figure of fun. "Do I have your agreement to increase the inside staff?"

"You are the housekeeper here, Mrs Reed, you may do as you please. However, I must make it very clear that I do not care for liveried footman and all that flummery. Discreet and invisible, that is what I want from my servants."

"Then I thank you, sir, I shall send someone to the village. I have already taken on all those available who live in the cottages nearby. Forgive me for asking, but do you have any more bolts of the darker blue material? It is perfect for the female staff, if I'm to take on more than I need to see they are dressed accordingly."

"The trunks in the box room the nursery floor are full of such stuff." He tossed the parcel back to her – his sudden gesture startled her and the item fell to the floor with a thump. She had not fastened the string securely and it unrolled; yards of shimmering silk cascaded across the boards.

She exclaimed in horror at her clumsiness. This was no way to treat such delicate stuff. Scrambling from her chair she dropped to her knees and started to gather it back. Strong arms gripped her elbows and she was lifted from the floor and dropped, rather too hard, back on her feet.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.