Redeeming the Reclusive Earl - Virginia Heath Page 0,73
heard anything so ridiculous! Is there a shortage of good manpower here in Cambridge?’
‘It is her talented hand which drew all the sketches.’ He would give Effie as much credit as he could without arousing their suspicions, just to vex this arrogant arse. ‘I am afraid I cannot draw for toffee.’
‘Still—with the finest university in the country practically on your doorstep, I fail to see...’
‘A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Jones.’ Sir Percival stepped into the breach. ‘And may I say, what magnificent sketches they were, too...’ He wasted no time bowing, clearly thoroughly attracted to Effie, and took his time over kissing her hand. Something which filled Max with irrational jealousy, which he covered by turning to his stony-faced but rapidly blinking butler.
‘Smithson, fetch my sister, will you? As I placed her in charge of getting the rooms ready.’
‘Of course, my lord.’ Smithson nodded slowly. ‘But first I shall have the tea and sandwiches sent to the drawing room immediately... Or perhaps something stronger to revive your guests after their journey while their baggage is brought in and I speak to Mrs Baxter?’
In that moment he could have hugged his astute butler. ‘Yes Smithson. See to that immediately... Gentlemen—if you will kindly follow me.’
* * *
Effie wasn’t entirely sure what was going on, but certainly wasn’t about to contradict Max when he had apparently had a last-minute change of heart. She was trailing after the men to the drawing room when a very flushed and slightly out of breath Smithson intercepted her. ‘If I could borrow you for a moment, Miss Jones?’
‘But of course.’
Regally he closed the doors with a bow, sealing the gentlemen inside and then dragged her by the arm down the hallway and into the library where Eleanor was impatiently waiting.
‘Well, this is all unexpected, isn’t it?’ Although Max’s sister did not look the least bit fazed. ‘But exciting, no? Some emergency covert machinations are required while Max keeps them occupied in the drawing room. Fortunately, the spare rooms were only cleaned yesterday after my family left, so it shouldn’t take the maids long to put fresh linens on the bed. I shall tell Cook we are four more for dinner tonight and pray she can rustle something suitable up at such short notice. If she can’t, we shall ply them with wine and brandy and hope they don’t notice.’ She paced as she thought, ticking things off on her fingers.
‘Smithson, you sort out the tea and inform my brother I shall be with him as soon as possible. I shall assist him in stalling them with small talk until we can dispatch them to their bedchambers to rest before they dress for dinner. And, Effie—you need to dash home and gather up all your artefacts and I’ll have them all laid out in here as if they have always been here. This room will make a better museum than the study. I shall have the carriage dispatched to meet you there, as I suspect that will be quickest, and then you can bring it back and sneak it all in while the gentleman are safely ensconced in their rooms.’
‘Good idea!’ Effie was about to bolt out the door when Eleanor stopped her.
‘And if you are to be Max’s assistant, you should pack a bag, too, and I’ll have another room prepared for you.’
A prospect which made her panic far more than lying to the antiquarians did. ‘There really is no need when I only live across the pasture...’
‘There is every need if we are to convince them of this ruse! You are the expert, not he, and my brother is bound to come unstuck left alone with them for three whole days! It will be much safer if you are staying here—at their beck and call and ready to intervene at a moment’s notice. I fear you must be his shadow, Effie. Because Max is doing this all for you now, isn’t he?’
There was no arguing with that, because the logic was entirely sound, but logic did nothing to calm the enormous butterflies now flapping in her tummy or the nerves which were bouncing all over the place. But as sound as it was, it still