“I didn’t know that he had engaged a new man,” she said. “Has he turned off Studley, then?”
“That’s what I’d like to know. All I can tell you is that my fellow says Studley went off with some tale of being obliged to visit his old father, and this new man walked in. Told me he was a valet, but what I thought was that he must have broken out of Newgate! What’s more, I caught him hobnobbing with that groom of Martin’s this afternoon, and if you can tell me, Ger, what Martin’s valet was doing in the stables I’ll thank you!”
“Most mysterious,” agreed Gervase, rather amused.
“Ay, you may laugh!” the Viscount said. “You haven’t seen the fellow! Valet! Good God, one would as lief employ a coal-heaver! No, really, Ger! Give you my word!”
“Martin does not care very much for his appearance,” Miss Morville ventured to suggest.
Gervase cast her a mischievous look, murmuring demurely: “ Not one of these dandified jackanapes! Very true, Miss Morville!”
“I am sure,” she retorted, with spirit, “he would never be so foolish as to demand to be shaved when he should rather have been measured for a cerecloth!”
The Viscount would have none of this trifling. He said: “A man don’t need to be a dandy to hire a respectable valet! Point is, either he don’t hire one at all, or he hires one who knows his work! What I want to know is, why was this Newgate fellow brought in?”
“My dear Lucy, my very dear Lucy!” said Gervase, at his most dulcet. “What dreadful apprehensions are you trying to instil into my head? Miss Morville, my pulse is tumultuous! I think you should feel it!”
She was, however, intently regarding the Viscount. “What is it that you fear, my lord?”