Lord of Darkness (Maiden Lane #5)(10)

“Quite,” Godric murmured. “Perhaps if I’d been informed in advance of your arrival …”

“Oh, no need to apologize,” Megs said quickly.

He turned and narrowed his eyes at her. This close she could see the small lines fanning from the corners of his eyes in an altogether alluring way, which made no sense because why would crow’s-feet be alluring?

Megs shook herself mentally and continued. “After all, your house hasn’t had a feminine hand managing it in quite some time. I expect once we employ a new cook and some scullery maids—”

“And a housekeeper and upstairs maids,” Sarah put in.

“Not to mention some footmen,” Great-Aunt Elvina muttered. “Big, strong ones.”

“Well, we did bring Oliver and Johnny and your two footmen,” Megs pointed out.

“They can’t be expected to do all the heavy lifting required to clean this place,” Great-Aunt Elvina said with a frown. “Have you seen the upper floors?”

“Er …” Megs hadn’t in fact explored the upper floors, but if the condition of the rooms they’d slept in last night were any indication … “Best we hire at least half a dozen strapping lads.”

“I doubt I’ll need a veritable army to run Saint House,” her husband said in a dry tone, “especially after you all leave, which will, I’m sure, be soon.”

“What?” barked Great-Aunt Elvina, cupping her hand behind her ear.

Megs held up a finger to interrupt because a thought had occurred to her. She addressed Moulder. “Surely you have some help running the house?”

“There was a couple o’ strong lads and some maids, but they left awhile back, one by one, like, and we just never hired others.” Moulder cast his eyes up as if to address the spiders lurking in the cobwebs dangling from the ceiling. “Did have a girl name o’ Tilly, m’lady, but she got in the family way ’bout a month back—not my fault.”

All eyes swung toward Godric.

He raised his brows in what looked like mild exasperation. “Nor mine.”

Thank goodness. Megs returned her gaze to Moulder, very aware of her husband glowering at her shoulder.

The butler shrugged. “Tilly up and left not long after. Think she was chasin’ the butcher’s apprentice. Maybe he was the father. Or it might’ve been the tinker what used to come ’round the kitchen door.”

For a moment there was silence as they all contemplated the mystery of Tilly’s baby’s paternity.

Then Godric cleared his throat. “How long, exactly, were you planning on staying in London, Margaret?”

Megs smiled brilliantly, even though she’d never really liked her full name—especially when it was drawled in a gravelly voice that seemed somehow ominous—for she really didn’t want to answer the question. “Oh, I don’t like to make plans. It’s so much more fun to simply let matters take their own course, don’t you think?”

“Actually I don’t—”

Good Lord, the man was persistent! She turned hastily to Moulder. “Then you’ve been managing the house all by yourself?”

Moulder’s great shaggy brows knit, causing a myriad of wrinkles to form in his forehead and around his hangdog eyes. He was the very picture of martyrdom. “I have, m’lady. You have no idea the work—the terrible job ’tis!—to keep up a house such as this. Why, me health is much the worse for it.”

Godric muttered something, the only words of which Megs caught were “laying it on thick.”

She ignored her husband. “I really must thank you, Moulder, for taking care of Mr. St. John so loyally, despite the toil involved.”

Moulder blushed. “Aw, it weren’t nothin’, m’lady.”

Godric snorted loudly.

Megs hastily said, “Yes, well, I’m sure now that I’m in residence, we’ll have the house in order in no time.”

“And exactly how long will it take to—” Godric began.

“Oh, look at the time!” Megs said, squinting at a small clock on the fireplace mantel. It was hard to tell if it still ran, but no matter. “We must be going or we’ll be late to the meeting of the Ladies’ Syndicate for the Benefit of the Home for Unfortunate Infants and Foundling Children.”

Sarah looked interested. “At the orphanage in St. Giles you told us about?”

Megs nodded.

Great-Aunt Elvina glanced up from trying to tempt Her Grace with a bit of toast. “What is it?”

“The Ladies’ Syndicate meeting at the orphanage,” Megs said in a sort of muted shout. “It’s time we go there.”

“Good,” Great-Aunt Elvina pronounced, stooping to pick up Her Grace. “With any luck, they’ll have some tea and refreshments at the meeting.”

“That’s settled, then.”

Megs finally turned to look at her husband. His face was rather stern and she was suddenly aware that he’d been watching her.

He glanced away now, though. “I suppose you’ll all return for supper, then.”

His tone was lifeless, nearly bored.

Something inside her rebelled. He’d taken her invasion into his home and their plans to hire new servants and clean up his ratty old house without turning a hair.