Bonded to the Rakian Berserker (Rakian Warrior Mates #3) - Elin Wyn Page 0,41
seem like a lot of trouble, but the system does have some benefits.”
“It is lovely,” Esme admitted. But in a strange, artificial way. Like a painting of the forest, by someone who’d only seen other paintings of the forest, never lived there, listened to small sounds of life that scrabbled and screeched all around under its thick canopy.
Declan turned off the avenue and onto one of the side streets. “Mistress Beaton will need a little bit of handling when we get there.” He clicked to the team. “Do me a favor, let me do the talking until I have her settled.”
“Who’s this Beaton woman?” Gavin asked. “Can she keep a secret?”
“My housekeeper,” Declan answered. “I’ve got no idea how to run house, not the standards necessary to keep up with the rest of the ring. As far as her keeping secrets, if the two of you play your parts well, she won’t know anything.”
“There’s a woman who lives with you,” Esme said slowly. “How was that going to work with me posing as your new wife?”
Declan shook with laughter. “She lives with me in her own quarters. You’ll understand when you meet her. But there’s nothing going on there, I can assure you.” He shot a look filled with mischief at Gavin. “You’re here as a married couple. I don’t think you’d have a problem keeping up the disguise.”
Esme’s checks burned again, for the millionth time that day. Surely, they hadn’t been that loud last night, had they?
As the wagon moved down the street from one block to the next, the houses became smaller, but still grander than anything Esme had seen in any of the towns and villages her clan had traveled through.
Finally, Declan guided the horses around the corner into a small stable yard, and two young boys came running.
“Artin, Spence, these are my guests, Master and Mistress Clauson. They’ll be staying with me until they find their own place.”
The boys, clean but roughly clad in plain tunics and breaches bowed hastily, their eyes wide as they tried not to stare at Gavin.
“It’s been a long day for the horses,” Declan continued with his orders. “One of you begin with them while the other unloads. Gently now.”
Esme started towards the small side door the boys had come bolting out of, but Declan caught her arm.
Gavin let out a low rumble, and he quickly released her.
“No offense,” Declan said quietly. “But we don’t go through the servants’ door.” He led them back around to the front of the house.
“The boys will have it all over the neighborhood who my guests are, and that’s all to the good,” he commented, eyes sweeping the streets as Esme gathered her skirts in one hand in order to climb the stairs leading to the elaborately carved, black and gilt painted front door.
“And they’d have been just as quick to tell everyone that my new guests didn’t know their way around a merchant’s house.”
Esme’s spine straightened, even as her stomach clenched. Such a little thing, and she’d nearly thrown disaster on their mission before it had truly started.
“I’m sure we’ll learn the rules here quickly enough,” she said.
No matter how this place felt, no matter how her insides knotted at being trapped in this city, she’d learn.
The door was flung open to reveal a tall, thin older woman, clad in unrelieved black, her face cast in stern lines. “Master Declan, welcome home,” she intoned.
Her gaze went over Declan’s shoulder to Gavin and Esme standing behind. But unlike the boys in the stable yard, her expression didn’t change in the slightest.
“And guests, goodness me. What a pleasant surprise.”
Declan bowed, with a small motion indicated for Esme to proceed him inside.
She raised her chin just a bit, and smiled with every bit of warmth she could muster.
“Mistress Beaton,” she said. “Thank you so much for your welcome. Master Declan has told us how well you keep his house running. You can’t imagine how much I’m looking forward to asking for your advice when it’s time for me to set up my own. I’m so sorry that we’ve put you to such trouble.”
A pleased look crossed the woman’s face as she stepped forward, guiding Esme into the brightly lit hall.
“Don’t worry about a thing,” she said. “Did you travel all that way from Kinallen without stopping?” She shook her head. “I know the menfolk often get carried away, thinking of speed and profits in business, but they should have been more careful, a delicate thing like you.”