the usual overdone colognes at balls? Not really.
Gran was right—she could use more time around men, especially alone. There was so much she hadn’t really thought would affect her, and she needed to be prepared for courtship. The footman would be good practice. Gran was also right about the fact that Venetia did have a soft spot for dark-haired men with fine eyes.
At least, eyes that belonged to a certain footman.
Gwen found Lady Devon in one of the drawing rooms, greeting a new group of guests. Once those guests had departed and she was alone with Lady Devon, Gwen took her chance.
“How is poor Venetia? I’ve only just heard what happened.” Marrian was pale and wide-eyed with concern.
“Not a broken ankle, thank heavens. But she suffered a rather nasty sprain. She’ll need to be in bed most of the week.”
“Oh, how terribly disappointing,” Marrian sighed. “I was so looking forward to matchmaking her with one of the gentlemen this week.”
“As was I, but I believe we may still have some measure of success. I wasn’t jesting when I said Venetia has never been properly courted. She’s had no real opportunities for romance or attraction before. She was kept at a careful distance from most eligible men by my son, God rest him. I believe he feared that she would leave him if she were to marry, and after he lost her mother, he could not bear the thought. Then, when he passed, she was caught in a year of mourning. It is only now that she has a chance to taste life for the first time.”
Lady Devon listened to her friend intently. “I imagine you have a plan, Gwen?”
“Actually, I do. That footman, the handsome one who seems to have trouble swallowing. The choking one, I mean.”
“Oh, Adrian? Yes?”
“Would you think it horrid of me to request that he tend to her while she’s recovering?”
“By tend to her, what do you mean?” Lady Devon asked.
“Bring her meals, eat with her, read to her, keep her company.”
The duchess’s brow furrowed. “You and I would keep quiet on the matter, but the servants, even the best of them, would talk. It’s improper, and it would ruin her.”
“Not if we have her maid present.”
“Gwen, you don’t even know Adrian. How could you trust him to be alone with her?”
Gwen smiled. “I trust him because you do. You and your husband only hire the best, and that young man has been with you a long time.”
“He has,” Lady Devon admitted. A flush to her cheeks caught Gwen’s attention.
“But there’s more to him than that, isn’t there?” she asked cautiously. “Who is he, Marrian? Footmen do not make a duchess blush, not without cause.”
Lady Devon looked away. “I shouldn’t speak of it. It isn’t my place. Adrian is a wonderful young man, and you are right, he has worked hard in my home for ten years without one incident or word spoken against him.”
Gwen knew she had touched upon something important about the footman, but now was not the time to press the matter. She needed Lady Devon to agree to let the man attend to Venetia.
“So you agree to this, then? You’ll allow him to tend to her?”
“I . . . Well, I suppose so. So long as Mr. Reeves is not desperately in need of him.”
Gwen hastened to assent to this. “Yes, of course, by all means.”
“I will speak to Mr. Reeves privately and have his assurance to let Adrian see to this temporary position.”
“Excellent.” Gwen, cane in hand, headed for the door, but Lady Devon caught her arm gently.
“What if this goes too far? What if Venetia were to fall for him? You should be ready to face a brokenhearted grandchild should she become too attached.”
“I know, it is a risk. But Venetia is a highborn lady. She knows she cannot marry below her station. I shall be ready to face the consequences, whatever they may be.”
“So long as you are prepared,” Lady Devon said.
Indeed, Gwen was prepared. She had seen desire for a man in Venetia’s eyes for the first time, and depending on what she could uncover about this young footman, perhaps . . .
But no. Venetia could never marry a man who was a servant. Society would shun her, and any children she might bear would suffer greatly. Still, Gwen had always loved to break the rules. Perhaps her granddaughter would be brave enough to do the same.
4
“Adrian, Mr. Reeves is looking for you,” Benjamin called out as Adrian