in this household, not Mr. Woodsworth. She could hardly go back to Nicholas and tell him that General Woodsworth’s son had done half of her duties for her. “I can do it. I just need a little time to think.”
Mr. Woodsworth didn’t argue. He just nodded.
Patience looked at the grate filled with coal. She knew the kindling should go under the wood to start the wood on fire. It made sense that if she wanted the wood to start the coal on fire, she would need to put the wood under the coal.
“I think I know how to do it, but just in case, I am going to call out my plans to you, and you can tell me if I am right or not.”
“That sounds like an excellent plan, and while you are building what I assume will become the world’s most perfect coal fire, I have some news for you. I have come to fulfill my part of my promise. I will tell you all that I know about three of London’s finest.”
Oh, Patience had nearly forgotten about that part of their deal. She put her dirty cap back on, followed by her dirty gloves. What would Mr. Woodsworth tell her about the men he knew? Surely there must be at least a few good ones in the pack of wolves roaming around the ton every Season.
Mr. Woodsworth pulled a folded piece of paper from his breast pocket. She couldn’t read what was written on it, but she could see that he had divided everything into neat rows and columns. “First of all, there is Mr. Fenton. He is amiable—”
“Mr. Fenton. You may skip over him. I don’t need to know about any misters.”
“What do you mean?” Mr. Woodsworth was doing an excellent job watching Patience remove the coal from the grate without criticizing the way she touched each piece with only her thumb and forefinger. “You asked me to discover the character of some of the best men I know.”
“Yes, but not just the best; I need to know about men of rank. Earls, dukes, marquesses. Perhaps you could expound on the virtues of a baronet or two, but only if you know one that is quite exceptional and probably rich.”
“Why in the world do you need that kind of information? Those families don’t pay that much more for labor. And why only the men? As a maid, you will deal mostly with the women of a household, and actually, the housekeeper more than anyone else.”
“That hasn’t been true in this household.”
That gave him pause. He paced back and forth in front of the fireplace once, then stopped. “You do realize that the position I have put you in in this household is unique and born out of necessity. I don’t imagine any other head of a household would ask you to do anything like this. In fact, if they did, it would be highly inappropriate.”
His face was stern as he berated any employer that would treat Patience exactly as he had treated her.
“So what should a maid do if she were in a situation where her employer asked her to pretend to be a lady?”
“No other employer would ask that. It is preposterous.”
“So only in the Woodsworth household should I expect such treatment?”
“No.” He folded his neat list and replaced it in his pocket. Then he picked up the grate and dumped the cold coals into the bucket in one quick motion. “Emptying coals is not part of building up a fire. I think you have established that you can pull them out one by one if the occasion calls for it. Now, tell me how you think you should start the fire.”
“You aren’t going to tell me anything else about the men?”
“I had no idea you had set your sights so high. I only prepared mere misters for you. It is a miracle you deigned to work here in this household.”
“Well, in your household’s defense, your father isn’t a mister either. He is a general, and other than Wellington, he is the most respected general in all of Great Britain.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t try Wellington’s household first. He isn’t only a general but a duke. Not to mention former prime minister and current commander in chief.”
“What makes you so certain I didn’t?” Patience asked him.
He stood straighter. “For your information, my father has never had the benefit of coming from a good family. Wellington bought a commission in the army. He started one leg up.