Chapter Twelve
Constance burst into Theo’s parlor with a wide smile on her face. “Charlie, Oriana, Mary, Gideon, Elizabeth, the little ones, and Dotty are arriving tomorrow! Is that not wonderful?”
“It is indeed!” Payne helped Theo into her spencer, then placed her bonnet on her head and inserted the hat pin. “Are you excited to see all the babies?”
Theo would be glad to see her niece Elizabeth and nephew Gideon again, but especially Mary. “I am.” Constance bounced on the balls of her feet. They will grow up with Timothy.”
Timothy was Charlotte and Con’s son born last December. “They will. I must say, it’s almost as if the babies are planned to have cousins.”
Constance shook her head. “They cannot be. Charlie did not even know he was going to have a baby when Mama knew.”
“Very true. Maybe she started it. Because then Dotty found out she was going to have a baby.”
“And Charlie and Oriana were next!” Constance bounced again.
Theo glanced at the clock. “As much as I would like to stay here and talk about all of it, I have an engagement in just a few minutes. Chandos is taking me for a ride in his carriage.”
Her niece suddenly became serious. “Yes. I know. Aunt Grace said I could not keep you.” Then Constance smiled again. “You should invite him for a ride when your phaeton gets here. Papa said that would be on Wednesday.”
She was certainly well-informed. Then again, Constance was the same age as Theo had been when she had started paying a lot of attention to what everyone in the family was doing. And when Grace and Matt met and married. “That is a very good idea.”
“I thought so. That is why I suggested it. I like him. He’s always nice to us.” Constance dashed out as quickly as she had arrived.
“Well, that was interesting.”
Payne chuckled. “She has a great deal of energy.”
Theo laughed lightly. “That she does. I had better go down. If I am going to insist that gentlemen who come for me are on time, I must be as well.”
The new doorbell chimed. “He is here.” She strode out of her parlor and down the stairs. Theo had reached the first landing when she saw Chandos standing at the foot of the stairs gazing up.
“Good day.” He smiled at her, and something fluttered in her stomach. That was strange. She descended the rest of the way. He held out his hand. “I live in hope that the Park will not be too crowded.”
“I am afraid you will be disappointed.” She placed her gloved hand in his.
“I can’t be too disappointed when I’ll be with you.” He smiled.
That sounded … What? Practiced? No. Different. She gave herself a shake. “Let us be on our way. The sooner we can get around the Park the sooner we can have ices.”
“Never let it be said that I stood in the way of you and an ice.” Chandos placed her hand on his arm as they strolled out of the house.
Instead of assisting her into his carriage like he normally did, he picked her up and placed her in it. Theo’s breath caught. No one had ever done that before. At least not since she was a child. “Goodness.”
The corners of his lips rose. What had got into him today?
The carriage rolled forward as he started the horses. “I need advice.”
Ah. Now it all made sense. He wanted her in a good mood. “About what?”
“As you know, I must hire a secretary.”
“Did you meet with Mr. Whiting?”
“Yes.” Chandos glanced at her in surprise. “How did you know?”
“It stands to reason that you would not require advice unless you had already met with him.” She now understood what Eleanor had been talking about when Montagu had little knowledge of estate management. “What about the interview concerns you?”
He told her what he and Whiting had discussed and his recommendations.
“I think he has an excellent grasp of the situation. What concerns you?”
Chandos appeared a bit embarrassed. “I have never hired staff before. You have, haven’t you?”
“Yes. Just tell me what you want to know.” Why did gentlemen always seem to beat around the bush?
“Were you afraid to hire the wrong person?” He cringed.
Now they were getting somewhere. “Everyone hires the wrong person at some point. It could be that the person presents well but does not actually have the skills. Or perhaps they cannot manage to get on with the other staff. However, a well-written employment contract will smooth things over. Unless they are untruthful or they steal, or something like that, a good recommendation also helps.”
“Employment contract?” He sounded stunned.
Considering he had never engaged someone before, it was not surprising that he did not know a contract was required.
“Yes. You write down all their duties, the salary, additional things such as, for servants, the amount of fresh tea they receive and cloth for gowns, livery. That is more for servants. An employee should be paid enough to be able to support himself and his family if he has one. You must decide if he is to live at your house or if he will have his own dwelling. You might want to discuss that with him.” Theo glanced at Chandos to ensure he understand what she had said. “Do you need to know anything else?”
“Is he the right person?” He looked so concerned her heart went out to him. He really was afraid of making a mistake.
“Only you can answer that question. However, I will attempt to help you. How does he make you feel? For example, did he ease your mind about how to handle the difficulties you are having that made you decide that you needed a secretary?”
He nodded. “He did. I was irritated that my stewards would play those sorts of games, but he did seem to know what to do.”
“Good. Did you have a good rapport with him? Did you get the feeling you can trust him? I should think that would be very important. After all, he will know about most of your personal and other business.”
Leo could trust her. He never really thought of his feelings for an employee.
When he didn’t answer, Theo frowned. “Do you not get ideas about people? I will give you an example. When you first met Charlie, what did you think of him?”
That was easy. “He was a good fellow that I’d like to know better.”
“There you are.” She nodded her head once. “What was your impression of Mr. Whiting?”
The way she smiled at him made Leo feel as if she’d given him a gift. “Competent. He has a dry sense of humor. Very focused on the matter at hand.”
“And he has a good reputation.”
“Yes.” Leo was finally beginning to think he could do this.
“You’re right. He knew what should happen, but also made me know it was my decision.” All he had to do was hire him. There was only one problem. “Do you have a contact I could use?”
“I do.”
He’d expected Theo to look as if she was going to roll her eyes or do something like that, but she didn’t. She just gazed at him as if she was proud of him. No one had done that in a very long time. “Can you give me a copy when I take you home?”
“I will work on one with you.” She gave him a sidelong look. “After ices.”
“Naturally.” He had to laugh. “After ices.” He glanced around and was not pleased to see Thanet riding toward them. “We are about to be imposed upon.”
She glanced in the direction Leo was looking. “By whom?”
“The Earl of Thanet. Worthington would murder me if I introduced him to you.”
Theo raised one imperious brow. “He is a friend of yours?”
At least she made it a question. “No. Merely an acquaintance.”
“How do you know him?” There was more than a hint of censor in her tone.
“How does a gentleman know any other gentleman? School, clubs, that sort of thing.” House parties Leo was no long attending. “Do me a favor, and if you have to look at him, give him your coldest and most imperious look.”
A lewd smile appeared on Thanet’s face. Good Lord. Of course, he thought Theo was Leo’s latest mistress. With whom else had he driven in the Park before? Leo steeled himself.
“Chandos,” the man hailed. “Care to introduce me to your friend?”
“No.” He thought for a very brief moment that Thanet would leave it at that, then he opened his mouth. “I would like to keep my head on my shoulders. However, if you want to risk yours then you may apply to her brother.”
“Her brother, eh?”
That was when Theo gave him a look of such disdain that Leo was extremely glad he was not on the receiving end.
Then Lady Bellamny, accompanied by Lady Cowper, drove up and stopped. “Lord Thanet, go away. Even you should know better than to accost young ladies. You are not welcome in polite company.”
He gave Leo an odd look, backed up his horse, and left.
“And you, your grace.” He knew he was in trouble when she used that tone. “How could you even think of—”
“My lady,” Theo said quickly. “He was not. In fact, he told me my brother would be upset if he introduced that man to me and told that person he would not provide an introduction.”
“Just as well.” Her ladyship’s tone bit, and her black eyes bored into him. Her message was clear. If he wanted to spend time with Theo, he would ensure something like this never happened again.
He gave a quick nod indicating that he understood. He would have to get the word out that he no longer had mistresses.
“Very well then,” Lady Bellamny said, sounding somewhat mollified. “Have a good ride.”
Theo smiled brightly. “Thank you, my lady. I am sure we will.”
“It is amazing the types of men some of the gentlemen seem to know for no good reason at all,” Lady Cowper opined as they drove away. “I am glad you stopped and let ‘that person’ know he was not wanted.”
“He really is bad.” Theo’s look of amazement made Leo feel even more guilty than he had been. “What did he do?”
“Among other things, almost ruined a young lady.” And refused to support a child he’d got on his mother’s maid. That he’d not tell Theo.
“We should probably tell Matt before he finds out some other way.”
“I’ll do it when we get to your house.” Leo had the feeling that Worthington would have a great deal to say on the matter and none of it would be good.
“It will be all right. After all, you cannot be held responsible for what other men do.” She patted his arm.