Sharon Page - The Worthington Wife

Julia had said John Carstairs was just a boy during the War. So had this naughty photo belonged to Anthony? He flipped it over and there it was—written in careful handwriting. A, with love. No initial or name for the woman. Considering he’d sketched and painted dozens of naked women, Cal had to smile. He could imagine a repressed Englishman being titillated by the picture—

“My lord, when do you wish to begin a search for a new valet?”

Cal looked up. He held the photograph in his hand, and Wiggins stood in the doorway. “I told you I don’t need one. I’m capable of taking off my own clothes.” He held out the picture. “I found this under the wardrobe. Lady friend of Lord Anthony’s?” He was teasing, expecting to make the butler blush.

He was surprised when Wiggins turned white. “I apologize, my lord. I did not realize the apartments had not been thoroughly cleaned. I shall have Mrs. Rumpole reprimand the maids for their carelessness.” The butler yanked the picture out his hands. “Let me dispose of this, my lord.”

Cal didn’t want to see a maid getting in trouble. “It’s not a problem.”

“It is my duty to deal with the matter, my lord. If you will excuse me, I will take my leave.”

Wiggins retreated so fast that the door slammed behind him. Lightning forked outside the window, illuminating the room in a flash of silver-blue, then thunder boomed.

It was then he realized that Anthony had never been earl, so had never slept in this room. So why was his picture under the earl’s wardrobe?

7

The Gypsy Curse

“I’m to give cooking lessons to the kitchen maid of another house?” Mrs. Creedy, the cook at Brideswell cried, leaning rather fiercely on her rolling pin. Then she suddenly appeared to remember who she’d just barked at. “I mean, if that is what you wish, my lady, of course I would want to do so. But how would I fit it in with the tight schedule of Brideswell? What will Her Grace say?”

Julia smiled, moving back to let the kitchen maid scurry past with pot in hand. “We’ll find a way, Mrs. Creedy. And Her Grace has already approved.” Zoe was all for the idea, to help Hannah Talbot. “It might not be necessary at all. I shall speak to Mrs. Talbot today. She may not feel she needs help at the moment, but I want us to be there to support her.”

“All right, but it seems a strange business to me. A kitchen maid elevated to cook in one afternoon? And I’ve heard the new earl wants simpler food and less of it.”

Julia nodded. “Yes, his lordship is concerned about waste of food, which is quite admirable and noble.”

Mrs. Creedy snorted. “His lordship has no idea what needs to be done in a kitchen.”

“But he is in charge. And I want to ensure Hannah does not suffer as the new earl endeavors to bring American ways to his kitchens.” In the depths of her heart, she did see why waste would appall him. After all, he had been starving. But she would not let him hurt or frighten the poor kitchen-maid-turned-cook, Hannah, even if he believed he was helping her. He had claimed she had produced excellent meals, but rumors had come to Brideswell from the other kitchen maid, Tansy, that poor Hannah was quite out of her depth.

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