Secret Hearts by Duncan Alice

Author:Duncan, Alice [Duncan, Alice]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dell
Published: 2009-09-01T00:00:00+00:00

“Me? Want you to leave?” Tom stood as still as a plaster statue of a waiter, his plate held stiffly before him. “Do you want to leave?”

She couldn’t hold his gaze a second longer. Her gaze dropped as she whispered, “No.”

Expelling a gigantic breath, Tom said, “Well, then, let’s not even talk about it. Of course, you don’t want to leave. Last night—well, it was a momentary breach of propriety, Claire, and it won’t happen again.”

She was afraid to look at him for fear she’d find he didn’t mean it. “Thank you.” She almost jumped a foot when he clunked the plate down on her desk.

“Thank you, Claire. I was afraid I had ruined myself in your eyes forever.”

She did look at him then, a swift glance to ascertain if he was joking. It certainly didn’t seem like a joking matter to her, but she guessed an honorable gentlemen like Tom might have a large tolerance for disgusting behavior. He looked only relieved, and Claire began to believe he truly had forgiven her and that she really would be allowed to remain at Partington Place.

“Now,” he said bracingly, “will you please ring for coffee so we can eat some of these good biscuits. I’m hungry, and Jed said you haven’t eaten anything yet either.”

Although her stomach rebelled at the very thought of food, Claire whispered, “Of course, Mr. Partington.” She pulled the bell cord and sat down at her desk once more, feeling a little more secure with several feet of furniture between herself and Tom.

Tom popped a piece of bacon in his mouth and began to butter a biscuit. “Hope you don’t mind, Claire. I’m used to getting up and eating a lot earlier than this. I’m not used to these city hours.”

Claire blinked at him, surprised yet again by this declaration that he wasn’t the sophisticate she’d always believed him to be. “Of course. Please eat.”

Scruggs knocked, opened the door, and walked slowly into the room. He looked as if his best friend had died overnight, but he always looked like that. Claire was used to it.

“May we please have some coffee in my office, Scruggs?” she asked politely.

With a look at the food on her desk and then a look at Tom, Scruggs said at last, “Very good, ma’am.”

Right before the door shut behind him, she heard him mutter, “A perfectly good breakfast room, and where do they decide to spread the crumbs?”

She felt guilty. If she hadn’t been such a coward, they would be eating in the room designed for such practices instead of in her office.

After swallowing his bite of biscuit, Tom said, “Uncomfortable sort of fellow to have around, old Scruggs, isn’t he?”

Gripping a pen in her hands to keep them from shaking, Claire said, “He’s simply accustomed to orderliness and routine, Mr. Partington. I’m sure he doesn’t mean to be uncivil.”

With a beautiful grin, Tom said, “I don’t mind, Claire. I think it’s sort of fun to have a death’s-head butler on my staff.

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