in the kitchen doorway while Adrian searched for a tea tray. Adrian stilled as he noticed the butler watching him. A frown marred the man’s solemn countenance.
“Is something wrong, Mr. Reeves?”
“Montague. My office. Now.”
Adrian shared a glance with the cook. Mrs. Webster’s lips pursed into a worried frown as she looked at him. Being called by his surname did not bode well. Adrian saw that Benjamin had charge of the tea tray before he went to Mr. Reeves’s office and knocked.
“Come.” Mr. Reeves was standing in the corner of his office, and to Adrian’s surprise, Lord Devon was there as well. Both men were frowning at Adrian. Dread knocked the wind from Adrian’s lungs.
No, this can’t be happening.
“Adrian, I have been informed that you’ve been fraternizing with one of the guests. You know my policy on that.” Lord Devon’s eyes were heavy with sorrow and disappointment. Somehow, disappointing Lord Devon made this truly dreadful moment a thousand times worse.
“Your Grace, I’m sorry.” He didn’t try to make excuses. It would only make him look a fool.
“I’m afraid we must end your employment, effective immediately. I hate to send you away, Adrian. You’ve been a damned good footman, impeccable service, and Reeves said you’ve done so much to mentor the younger lads here. He fought for you to stay, but I fear we can’t ignore the complaint.”
That surprised Adrian. Mr. Reeves had fought for him? “I understand, Your Grace.”
Mr. Reeves looked deeply troubled. “Well, in light of your years of service, I will provide a recommendation.” He held out a sealed letter to Adrian, who took it with a numbness that left him beyond cold.
“Reeves will see you on your way. I am sorry, Adrian. Lady Devon and I will miss you.”
Shame burned a hole through Adrian’s chest. He bowed his head as Lord Devon left the butler’s office. Mr. Reeves cleared his throat, and Adrian lifted his head.
“Sir, may I inquire as to who made the complaint?”
“It was Mrs. Hamill. She claims to have spotted you leaving Lady Venetia’s bedroom this morning.”
Of course. Mrs. Hamill had found a way to avenge her pride at last. He should have expected this. But he and Venetia had been so careful.
“Sir, you should know that Mrs. Hamill attempted to seduce me, and I believe she did this out of a desire to avenge her wounded pride.”
“That may be the case, but the die is cast, and you did sleep with Lady Venetia.”
“I know,” he sighed. “But watch out for the other footmen. I don’t want Mrs. Hamill to destroy any more lives.”
“Agreed,” Mr. Reeves said. “I will watch out for them. There is a coach leaving for London in half an hour. The driver has agreed to take you on the top seat if you can be ready.”
“I can.” Adrian swallowed hard. “Thank you for defending me, sir.”
“I don’t agree with his lordship on this. Lady Devon placed you in a difficult position. I was young once, and I remember how complicated situations like this can be.” Mr. Reeves’s sincerity only made this worse.
“You . . . ?”
Mr. Reeves nodded. “I also fell in love once with a lady above stairs.”
Mr. Reeves had been in love with someone? Until that moment, Adrian couldn’t have pictured the grumpy butler as a dashing buck with romance on his mind and heart. Mr. Reeves understood, then, the knifing pain that Adrian was feeling in his chest and the way it was constricting his breathing.
“Sir . . . How did you recover?”
“A man doesn’t recover, not from that. I moved on with all but my heart. That’s all I will say on the matter. You had better go and pack your things.”
Adrian entered his basement room, shoving his belongings into his old leather valise. He had few possessions, only a few books, a miniature of his mother, and a handful of his own clothes. For a lifetime of twenty-nine years, he had so little. It bothered him more now than ever to have so little evidence of a life lived.
But he also had one handkerchief, one that Venetia had embroidered for him a few days ago. He rubbed his thumb over the intricate ivy leaves surrounding his initials: A. M. It was such a small gift from her, yet to him it was the only thing that mattered, aside from his mother’s small gilt-framed likeness.
“So it’s true—you’re leaving,” Benjamin said from the doorway. The young man’s face was stricken. Adrian hadn’t realized how much Benjamin looked up