Right Number, Wrong Girl

“Not at all, my dear. Is there anything I can do to help you since I’m here?”

“No, thank you. I only have the one bag today.”

“Was Lord Henry a help to you yesterday?”

I paused. “I’m sorry?”

“Lord Henry,” Rupert said, tilting his head to the side. “He told me he was going to check on you not long after you left. You did seem rather distressed, if you don’t mind me saying so.”

I grimaced. “Not at all. I was. It was a very long day. To answer your question, though, he was. It’s very kind of you to ask.”

Rupert smiled. “But of course, my dear. There was a mention of wine from Lord Henry this morning. Is there anything I can do to help you with that?”

“Boy, is there,” I replied.

He laughed loudly, bowing his head as if he were surprised by his outburst. “Forgive me. That was quite excitable.”

“Don’t worry about it.” I grinned, walking towards him and following his lead towards the house. “I’ve confirmed the final menu with the chef and I’d like to meet with you to arrange the wines for each course based on what’s in the cellar, if you can spare me some time.”

“I most certainly can. I will have to check if I can be spared for half an hour to walk you through the cellar, but it shouldn’t be a problem.” He checked his watch. “If you might be able to provide me with a copy of the menu so I can begin gathering ideas, that would be much appreciated.”

“Ah.” I unzipped the bag and pulled out a large envelope. “I am a step ahead of you, sir.”

Rupert took it with a small chuckle. “Very well, then. I thank you for this, and I will arrange a time to meet with you. As soon as possible, I’d assume?”

“Yes, please. I’d like to confirm it with Lady Devon as soon as possible.”

“Understood.” Rupert closed the door behind me. “Where are you working this morning?”

“I was actually wondering if Her Grace was available for a quick meeting,” I said to him. “No more than ten minutes to confirm the menu, preferably with Evelyn present.”

He tilted his head. “Is that not a request for Nancy?”

“I thought we might kill two birds with one stone.”

“I see. Her Ladyship is in the sunroom taking her morning tea, so I’ll take you there and see if she’s happy to entertain you for a few minutes.” Rupert gestured to me. “Follow me, please.”

“Thank you so much, Rupert. I appreciate it.”

He smiled at me in a way that said he wasn’t used to hearing such words, and I followed him into an area of the house I’d never been before. I’d only ever really seen the drawing room and the library, but it wasn’t a shock to see that the rest of the house was just as elegant and regal as those two rooms.

The furniture had to be antique; the kind that was there for generations before this one. I didn’t even know what kind of style it was, just that it was old, fancy, and likely immeasurably expensive.

“Your Ladyship, Miss Hopkins is here and would like to speak with you, if you have a moment for her?”

She looked up from the book she was reading with a small smile that didn’t quite meet her eyes. “I can spare five minutes.”

How gracious of her.

“I will see if I can find Lady Evelyn,” Rupert said with a bow of his head before he disappeared.

She slipped a bookmark between the pages and set the book down on the table, crossed one ankle over the other, and looked at me expectantly.

I pulled the menu sheet out of the folder and held it out for her. “I spoke with the chef yesterday and confirmed the menu. They were happy to make a change in the dessert section to accommodate Evelyn’s request for a lemon cake.”

She raised her eyebrows as she took the menu and glanced down it. “Is my mother-in-law aware this isn’t her menu?”

“No, but honestly, she only really cared about the cake.”