Page 139 of A Foolish Flirtation

Colfax’s gaze softened. “Slow is the only way with a woman like my Hannah. She deserves my taking the time to court her right.”

“Yes, I can well believe it. She’s an excellent woman and I am fortunate to call her my friend. Who would have thought it, eh? Both of us respectably leg-shackled and living lives of blameless virtue. I never would have dreamed of such a thing back in our days in St. James’s Square,” he said, referring to his bachelor quarters.

Colfax cleared his throat, a twinkle lurking in his eye. “No indeed, milord.”

“Which brings me to my next point. I want you to cast off your footman’s livery and start training with Garraway in the New Year.”

“Garraway, milord?” Colfax, for once, seemed quite taken aback.

“Yes, for the old man’s looking to retire in a twelvemonth and move into the cottage I promised him. He’s a widowed sister who’s coming to keep house for him. They mean to deal quite comfortably together, so you see I have need of a new butler here at Vance.”

“But—” He paused before resuming. “Milord, I’m not—”

“Not what?” Jeremy’s eyebrows rose. “Butler material? I assure you that you are. The biggest snob I ever met was butler to a duke. He made his master look like an ant by way of comparison.”

“But what would Mr. Garraway say?” Colfax wondered aloud. “I know he don’t—doesn’t—think that much of me and that’s the truth.”

“Well, that’s where you’re wrong. I discussed the eventuality with Garraway first over two years ago, so he’ll be quite resigned to the fact by now. He said they go in fear of you in the servants’ hall and that you’re a hard man to know. Both are facts which will stand you in good stead as a butler. I think you’ll find he has already been training you surreptitiously as his successor for a good while now.”

“Well…” Colfax hesitated. “He does like to stick his oar into whatever I’m about, but I never dreamed that’s what he was doing.”

“He’s quite the institution, is old Garraway. I shall miss him, but he won’t be going far. His place will only be a stone’s throw from Plumtree Cottage, so I’m sure he’ll be turning up on your doorstep with homemade wine and demands to know what’s to do up at Vance on a regular basis.”

Colfax scratched the back of his neck. “Me? Butler, here?” he said in dazed tones. “Are you sure, milord?”

“I can think of no one else better for the role.” He proffered his hand and Colfax shook it warmly.

“Thank you, milord. And if I might make so bold as to offer you my congratulations by way of return…”

Jeremy grinned. “Was it Hannah told you or Teddy? He’s spilling over with the news. I’ll be lucky if he does not tell every guest in the house.”

Without waiting for Colfax’s reply, he made for the connecting door and tapped lightly upon it, trying the doorknob.

*

“Are you ready for me within?”

Emmie jumped up excitedly from her seat. “Wait! I’ll let you in.” She felt a bundle of nerves to reveal her new quarters to him. Opening the door, she cleared her throat. “Prepare to be amazed,” she announced, stepping back so Jeremy could see her sumptuous apartments in all their glory.

Instead of taking in the splendor of her newly decorated room, he followed in her footsteps, catching her hands and holding them out to her sides to take in the effect of her new evening gown. “Ravishing,” he breathed, drawing her into his arms and sealing his lips to hers. “Madame de Flores has outdone herself.”

“Do you like it? It is rather gorgeous, is it not?” Emmie smoothed her sumptuous skirts of richest red velvet. “And you don’t think I’m showing too much?” She turned anxiously to the side, so he could see the full effect of her silhouette sideways on. “The gown had to be altered slightly to accommodate my growing waistline.”

“You look truly magnificent.” He reached out to touch her hair, which had been arranged into bunches of long ringlets, decorated with her diamond pins. “You look radiant, Ballentine. I can’t wait to walk downstairs with you on my arm for everyone to see you.”

She smiled back at him. “Well, you look splendid too,” she said, shyly approving. “But then you always do. What do you think of my new rooms, by the way?” She made an extravagant arm gesture to indicate their surroundings.

Jeremy’s gaze left her figure only with the greatest of reluctance. His eyes traveled over the Roman-style plaster columns, the pink marbled effect on the walls, the plump red and gold chaise longue, the large oval mirror, flanked by romping golden cupids.

A slow smile spread over his face as his eyes took in the mantelpiece covered in delicately jeweled and painted seashells and the large painting of the scalloped shell behind her bed. “It’s incredible!” he said, turning in a circle to take it all in. “I love it.”

“I’m not too sure about all of Mr. Penrose’s details, but I do think he made a good job of it,” she agreed.

“What aren’t you sure about?”

“Well, this extraordinary chair for one thing,” she said, walking over to stand before her dressing table. “Look at it.” The accompanying stool had the appearance of a round stone plinth. “I’m not sure it’s as comfortable as the old one was.”

“You could always put one of these pink cushions from the bed on it,” he suggested, “if it is not comfortable for your posterior.”