Duke Looks Like a Groomsman - Valerie Bowman Page 0,4

watching this,” Rhys said, nodding.

“Watching what?” Clayton’s nose was scrunched in confusion. “I don’t know what in the devil either of you is talking about any longer.”

“I’m talking about Kendall here pretending to be a servant,” Bell replied, still grinning.

Kendall blinked. “A servant?”

“Yes. It’s perfect,” Rhys added, nodding.

Kendall turned to him and stared as if he’d lost his mind. “Perfect? Me? Being a servant? How is that perfect?”

“That still doesn’t fix the problem of the ladies’ mothers recognizing him. Even if he’s dressed as a servant,” Clayton pointed out.

“Ah, but it does,” Bell replied. “That’s the beauty of it. Most people don’t look at servants. They don’t pay attention to the majority of things beyond what they need and want. My training as a spy has taught me much about the human failure to notice details. I’d be willing to bet that not one of those ladies of the ton will look twice at Kendall if he’s dressed as a servant and performing servants’ duties. He’ll be wearing livery, knee breeches, and a powdered wig, after all.”

“And it has the added advantage that a servant will be in a particularly excellent position to discover how a lady truly behaves,” Rhys added, sweeping his long dark hair off his forehead with his fingers. “I’d wager she’s at her best when addressing a potential bridegroom and at her worst when addressing a servant. God knows I’ve seen it time and again from my mother.”

“You’re both truly mad, you know that?” Kendall replied, looking positively alarmed.

“I dunno,” Clayton replied, tugging at his cravat. “But it sounds like quite a lark to me. I’m perfectly willing to offer my upcoming house party as a venue for such an experiment.”

“You’ve gone mad too, then,” Kendall declared.

“Think about it,” Bell said, turning his attention to Kendall. “It has the potential to give you precisely what you want. An unencumbered look at the latest crop of debutantes behaving precisely how they would when they don’t know you are watching.”

Kendall narrowed his eyes on the marquess. “It’s positively alarming that you don’t see the problem with this plan.”

Bell shrugged. “What problem? The risk is not too great. If anyone recognizes you, we’ll simply ask that person to play along. No doubt they’ll enjoy the game too.”

“What if I find a lady I fancy?” Kendall replied. “Am I supposed to simply rip off my livery and declare myself an earl and expect she’ll fall madly in love with me?”

“Not at all,” Bell said. “I’m merely suggesting that you get to know these young ladies on the basis of how they treat servants. I’ve no doubt the best-natured ones will be kind and pleasant. Once you have a few candidates, you will know who to court next Season.”

Kendall shook his head slowly. He pulled his mug back toward his chest at last. Perhaps he was beginning to like the idea. “You’re suggesting that I choose a future bride on the basis of how she treats a footman?”

Bell arched a brow. “How did Lady Emily treat servants?” His next words were slow and deliberate.

Kendall clenched his jaw.

Rhys pursed his lips. Now that had been a good point. Bell always knew precisely what to say. Lady Emily had snapped at a servant a time or two. They’d all witnessed it.

“I see by the look on your face that you recognize my point,” Bell drawled.

Kendall appeared to consider it for a moment. Rhys could tell by the dawning look on his face that he was beginning to see the merits in the plan. He had to be. The man needed a wife. How better to find one you could trust?

“I’m willing to do it with you,” Bell tossed out casually with another shrug.

“What?” Rhys snapped his eyebrows together. “Why would you do it?”

Bell straightened his shoulders and settled back into his chair. “Because I’ve narrowed down my hunt for the Bidassoa traitor to one of three possibilities.”

“The man you’ve been hunting for the Home Office?” Rhys clarified, lowering his voice.

“Precisely the one,” Bell replied. “And if Clayton here will invite those three men to the house party, I will also pretend to be a servant to watch them.”

Rhys tossed back his head and laughed. “I should have known you had another motive all along, Bell. His Majesty’s work is never far from your mind. Even when we’re drinking.”

Bell’s grin widened. “Why shouldn’t we use the opportunity for two useful pursuits instead of one? I’ll admit, I was already thinking about this plan before