been eating jam-and-butter biscuits with the enthusiasm of a child on All Saints’ morning. Certainly not the man who’d been kind and cordial with his staff. Was it possible his time in exile had changed him?
She doubted it.
“Are you listening to me?”
Theo straightened. “Yes, ma’am. Sheets must be ironed. Towels must be folded in threes, and pillows are to be fluffed at turndown.”
Mrs. Baton frowned. “Correct.”
A knock on the door was followed by the appearance of Mrs. Applestock’s cheery face. “Sorry to interrupt, but the biscuits need carrying down to the mine.”
Mrs. Baton’s frown went nowhere. “That’s Lolly’s job.”
Mrs. Applestock wasn’t deterred. “His Lordship has requested that Theodora do the carrying today.”
Mrs. Baton’s lips pursed like an invisible drawstring had suddenly been pulled. She narrowed her eyes. “I’ll send her along.”
“Thank you. Trout potpie for dinner tonight,” Mrs. Applestock added before she disappeared.
Mrs. Baton’s sharp gaze turned to Theo. “You’d better be on your best behavior, girl. I can’t imagine why he’d ask for you, except that he must already suspect you’re not up to this job.”
“I’ll do my best.” Because biscuit carrying required a high level of skill. But she kept that comment to herself.
Mrs. Baton pointed toward the door. “Well, go. Don’t keep His Lordship waiting.”
“No, ma’am.” She took her time walking back to the kitchen. She wasn’t going to hustle just because Baton said jump. Do that once, and it would always be expected. She didn’t want Baton thinking she had any great pull over her either.
Besides, only the exiled king could declare her service void, and Theo wasn’t about to let that happen. Such a tragedy would immediately call her father’s account due and result in him doing time in the dungeons. That would be the end of him in a few short days.
As much as she despised the exiled king, she felt rather certain she could get into and stay in his good graces.
She hoped. At least he was easy to look at.
She walked into the kitchen and found him putting his plate in the sink. What kind of royalty cleaned up after themselves? Lolly was at the other end of the long sink, scrubbing a pan, and Mrs. Applestock was sitting at the far end of the island, poring over a cookbook and making notes on a pad of paper.
Theo cleared her throat softly. “You asked for me, Sire?”
He turned. And smiled. At her. It seemed like a benevolent smile, but that was probably part of his act. Didn’t matter. She knew what he was all about. He leaned against the sink like he relaxed in the kitchen all the time. “Yes. I’d like you to accompany me to the mines today.”
“You want me to carry the biscuits.” It wasn’t a question. More of an impertinent statement, but he didn’t seem to take it that way.
He nodded. “Yes, please.”
Please? She didn’t mean to frown at his use of that word, but apparently she had.
“It’s not far, and I like to walk. I hope you don’t mind. It’s good exercise.”
“Whatever you wish.” It wasn’t up to her how they traveled, but walking suited her fine.
“Good. Go get changed. You have something more appropriate for the mines? The household uniform is a little much for where we’re going. If you need one, I could probably dig up another jumpsuit for you. It would be a little big on you, though.”
His fit him very well. She’d noticed. She blinked as the rest of his words registered. “I have jeans and short boots and a jacket.”
Lolly looked over her shoulder, still up to her elbows in suds. “That should do it. Gets a little cold down there.”
Theo nodded. “I’ll be right back.” She ran to her room, shucked the wretched uniform she’d just put on, and got into her street clothes. It was a welcome change. She wasn’t much for the uniform, but she knew she’d have to get used to the blasted thing, seeing as how she’d be spending most of her time in it.
That would save wear and tear on her own things, she supposed. That was a plus, seeing as how she hadn’t brought much with her. Not that she had much to bring.
She returned to the kitchen. “Ready, Your Lordship.”
He was chatting with Mrs. Applestock. He turned and looked Theo over. The briefest hint of something sparkled in his eyes. “All right, let’s go.”
He picked up the big basket off the counter and handed it to Theo.
Their fingers touched when she took it from