Heiress for Hire (Duke's Heiress #1) - Madeline Hunter Page 0,99

had sent him to Bury Street to fetch his own carriage. Once it arrived, he had something important to do.

Beth came down the stairs just as Chase heard the horses outside. From where he sat in the library, he saw Jeremy enter, then stand aside. Beth stopped in her tracks and stared.

“He insisted on coming,” Jeremy said. “Refused to hear my explanation of what was wanted.”

Beth crossed her arms. “Who might you be?”

“Brigsby. I am here to attend to my gentleman.” With that Brigsby took the steps forward that brought him into Chase’s view, and almost nose to nose with Beth.

Brigsby had donned his most supercilious manner. Beth looked like a woman who saw a man who needed taking down a few pegs.

“Did your gentleman tell you to come here? No, he did not. I heard clear as a ringing bell what he sent Jeremy to do, and it was not to fetch you.”

“The request as given by this young man made no sense. Send a valise with clean shirts. As if that is enough for a journey.” He lifted a valise hanging from his right arm. “I will make sure this is sufficient, and if it is not I will return and—”

“He isn’t going on a journey, you fool man. He just isn’t going home. You give him that valise, then go back where you came from so you aren’t underfoot.” She walked away, shaking her head. “As if we need valets and such here.”

“I am not a valet,” Brigsby said to her back. “I am a manservant, and skilled in many responsibilities. If necessary I can perform your duties better than you can.”

Beth stopped, straightened, and pivoted.

Brigsby looked down his nose even when not trying. Now he did try. “I am a cook, for example. I also attend to my gentleman’s household. All that he requires, I do for him.” He lifted the valise high and moved it up and down. “Please show me where his chambers are, so I can settle him in.”

Beth walked back toward Brigsby with murder in her eyes.

Chase thought it a good moment to cough. They both turned their heads, startled. Brigsby recovered first. “Ah, there you are, sir. I have what you will need.” He carried in the valise while Beth disappeared. Jeremy lingered at the doorway, caught Chase’s eye, and gestured to the street. Chase let him know to bide his time.

He opened the valise. He had indeed sent an incomplete list with Jeremy, since his thoughts had been on little besides Minerva. Brigsby had packed the shirts, but also a stack of clean cravats, an extra waistcoat, small clothes, and grooming implements. It was enough for a journey of five or six days, not a night or so in a house right in town.

“Your pistol and some lead is under it all,” Brigsby said quietly. “You usually take it with you when you travel, so I thought I should bring it too.”

“I don’t think I will need it, but you would not know that so your forethought was understandable.” He closed the valise and set it aside.

“That woman appears to think I should leave, sir.” Brigsby appeared as bland as ever. “If that is your request, I will now do so.”

“That will have to wait until I return. I need the carriage for a few hours.”

“If you tell me where your guest quarters are, I will unpack for you while I wait.”

“I have no idea where they are. Perhaps right in this library. Ask Beth. She is the woman you just spoke with.”

Brigsby’s mouth pursed. “Am I to address her as Beth, sir?”

“It might be better, considering your first meeting, to call her Mrs. Shepherdson. She is down in the kitchen now. She would rather be above with Miss Hepplewhite, so you can offer to make some supper for the household in her stead. She may decide you are not a nuisance then.”

Brigsby’s eyebrows rose a fraction. Chase walked around him and strode to the door. “Come with me, Jeremy. We have a small errand to address.”

Jeremy caught up at the carriage. “If we are going where I think, you might take that pistol.”

Chase climbed in. “If I take it, I will probably use it on the rogue. Get up with the coachman and make sure he doesn’t dally.”

* * *

“—so the duke sent for a royal physician, who was the other man here, the one with the long, skinny face. Useful to have a relative who is a duke.