“And wet themselves along the way.”
Oscar laughed so hard that he began to choke, his breath coming in frightening wheezes. And when he regained some of his strength, he waved Mr. Lucifer closer. “Tell me more,” he rasped.
“No, Oscar,” Diana interrupted. “You need to finish your tea first. And give Reynolds time to finish your toilette.”
Oscar dropped back against his cushions, his breath finally easing. “She likes me smooth,” he said as he scratched at his chin, and Diana felt her cheeks heat. That was not something to discuss with strangers, let alone this dark man.
Mr. Lucifer executed a perfect bow, but when he rose, his gaze was serious. “My lord,” he said in a tone that felt like a whisper but was nonetheless heard by all in the room. “I have been sent by the lady’s brother to assist for a short time while you are indisposed.”
Diana’s head snapped up. “Elliot? Why would he send…” Her voice trailed away. She knew damned well why he would send someone to her household. With Oscar in his bed, she had been forced to confront Oscar’s greedy heir alone. Geoffrey was a blighter through and through. He gambled, he caroused, and he came often to steal the silver to pay off his debts. And when she confronted him with his crimes, he threatened her.
She shook her head. She was the older sister, Elliot, the younger heir. He might be old enough to manage his own affairs now, but she’d be damned if he insinuated himself into hers. She’d had precious little say in her life. She would not cede control of it to anyone.
Unfortunately, while she was sorting all that out in her mind, Mr. Lucifer took advantage of her silence. “You see,” he said as he gestured to her. “She knows, my lord. There are dangers in London, and sometimes they invade a man’s home. Especially one who is temporarily weakened by an illness.”
“Temporarily, huh?” Oscar scoffed. “Yes, yes,” he agreed. “I still have hopes to walk again.”
“Of course, you will,” Diana soothed, but she was quieted by a wave of Oscar’s hand.
“Elliott sent you?” he asked.
“Yes, my lord.”
“And does he pay you as well?”
“Yes, my lord.”
Oscar’s gaze cut to Mr. Egeus. “And him?”
“Yes, my lord.”
Then he grunted. “Very well.”
“Oscar!” Diana cried out. “We don’t need my brother’s interference.”
Her husband looked at her and shook his head. “He’s got a good head, your brother, and a fat purse. If he wants to add to my servants out of brotherly fear, then we shall indulge him.” He squeezed her hand. “You need to be protected, my dear. You’re too delicate to risk.”
She wanted to snatch her hand away at that. She was the farthest thing from delicate, but her petite frame gave everyone the impression that she was a child barely out of leading strings. It was enough to make her want to rip out her blonde ringlets.
She didn’t. She’d had long experience managing her husband and her household. So she smiled at Oscar and squeezed back. “But you shall have the ruling over their actions, yes? Elliott may pay for them, but they abide by your rules, do they not?”
Oscar nodded. “Of course. I am the king of my own castle, am I not?”
“Of course, you are.” She turned and fixed Mr. Lucifer with a dark stare. “And I am the queen.” The smile she gave him was as hard as a diamond. “If you would follow me, Mr. Lucifer, I shall explain your duties while my lord finishes his morning ablutions.”
His smile matched hers, though it felt like it glittered with a great deal more relish than hers. “I await your pleasure, my lady.” And he made it sound as sinful a statement as if it had been uttered by the devil himself.
Which was ridiculous, and yet the words sent shivers down her spine.
Chapter Three
Lucas trailed through the house behind Diana. His eyes drank her in as he watched how she moved, how her shoulders were stiff, and her chin held high. And though he walked behind her, he replayed the way she had deferred to her husband and yet still commanded the bedroom. When she said she was the queen, he believed her. The girl in his memory had grown up to be a woman worthy of reverence and protection.
Which was now his job, and he couldn’t suppress the lump of joy that he could finally—after twelve years of regrets—be of service to the goddess he had failed so long ago.
He kept pace with her as she descended through the house until he came to the housekeeper’s room. As they went, he watched all the servants—even the butler—follow her movements with steady, sympathetic gazes. That told him that she was a fair queen who had made good choices in those who served her. But it wasn’t until they stepped into the kitchen that he realized the depth of their devotion to her. Everyone greeted her with a gift. The kitchen-maid held out an apron to her, the cook pressed a scone into her hand, and even the butler set a teapot down just as she entered the housekeeper’s room. She smiled graciously at every one of them, thanked them, and then sat down in her chair before pouring herself some tea.
All without saying a word to him. In truth, he felt like he was about to get a dressing down from a superior officer. And so he stood at attention while he waited, his gaze taking in everything about him.
First and foremost, he thought it was odd that she chose to speak with him from the housekeeper’s room belowstairs. Wouldn’t the female head of the staff be upset by the mistress taking over her place of work? But as he glanced at the papers on the desk, he realized all were written in Diana’s neat hand. So, Diana had taken over the housekeeper’s duties, probably as a way to economize.
Next, he noticed all the touches of a well-used office. Paper and ink were placed at easy use, and there were the inevitable stains on the dark wood desk. There was a tiny vase for a few spring flowers set on the windowsill. He recalled that she liked wildflowers and—at sixteen—had often woven them into her hair or clothing. But most importantly, he saw that she reclined at ease in this place. A mistress should not be one of the servants, and yet here she was as relaxed as if this were the lady’s parlor.
“You should not work as a housekeeper here,” he murmured. The words were spoken low such as to not be overheard. “It demeans your station and upsets the servants. They deserve a place to be at ease, and they cannot do it with you here.”
Her eyes shot up to his. “You are dismissed, Mr. Lucifer. I shall inform my brother that your services are not needed here.”
Dismissed? Good lord, she thought he was here as a true hire and not because she desperately needed some protection. He leaned back and folded his arms across his chest. “So, Elliott was wrong? He didn’t witness your stepson assaulting you? And stealing silver from the house?”
Her eyes narrowed. “Just who are you to Elliott?”
He took a moment to absorb her words. Could it be that she didn’t recognize him? It wasn’t possible! But of course, it was. Just because he’d thought of her every day and night since he’d abandoned her on her wedding day didn’t mean that he figured so prominently in her thoughts. It had been twelve years, after all, and yet the blow was so deep as to make his breath catch.