4. Chapter 4
Thomas rubbed a hand down his face and winced.
He hated the feel of the stubble, but he’d deemed it necessary.
The dark shadow on his face might be the best disguise he could find.
Well, that and the faded hat he pulled low to cover his face.
One day, he’d thank the stable master at his estate in Kent.
The best way for Thomas to disappear was to do it properly.
So he hadn’t told a soul about his plans.
He’d also abstained from any drink for an entire week in Kent. It was the longest week he could recall. After a couple days of headaches and shaking, he finally had a clear mind. And even with it, he decided he still wanted to follow through with his madcap plan.
He put a note on the middle of his desk and simply left . . . on foot . . . in the middle of the night. He’d chuckled about the expected reaction of his staff upon their seeing his note the next morning.
To all who will be concerned,
Rest assured, I am not dead. Nor am I guilty of the charges laid at my door.
My steward, Mr. Johns, has full permission to show any man of the law into my study or around my properties to prove my innocence.
In the meantime, continue on as usual. I’ll be watching to see how the investigation against my person progresses.
Take care, for when I make myself known, I will be thorough in my defamation of any who dare to make light of the situation.
Loyal to the crown,
Thomas Monteclare—Duke of Fenleigh
He’d not even brought more coin than what he would have paid his own servants for a week. If he wanted to look like a servant, this was the best way to do it.
He caught the stagecoach in Rochester early in the morning, learned quickly that his small amount of money would do little more than pay for his passage back to London. He’d done so on purpose. If he didn’t have any money, he couldn’t be tempted to stop in at a pub.
It was now two days later and one night of sleeping in the barn at an inn for the night.
He looked as haggard as he felt, and he didn’t try to amend the problem.
Now, all he needed to do was find a job.
This had been one of the more concerning parts of his plan.
But in the end, there was only one person he could trust with his plans—on the chance that he was discovered.
If Thomas played his part well, even Samuel would be unaware.
He pulled the hat lower on his brow and climbed the steps to the Duke of Gilfordshire’s townhouse. Taking a slow breath, he knocked.
The butler answered the door but did not say a word in greeting.
That seemed quite rude. “Mornin’. I’m lookin’ for work.”
That seemed to do the trick. “You’d best do it the proper way then and present yourself at the back of the house. What are you thinking, man, to come to the front door like a gentleman?” He began closing the door in Thomas’s face.
“Who is it, Andrews?” a familiar voice came from behind the butler.
Andrews stepped aside revealing Thomas to the Duke of Gilfordshire—one of the only men Thomas could count as a friend.
Their eyes connected, and the Duke of Gilfordshire’s eyes went wide for a moment, but then returned to an unconcerned gaze. “And what is your name, sir?”
“Tom Smith, yer grace.” Thomas looked down to hide his grin, hopeful he hadn’t been recognized yet. He’d thought it would be entertaining to take on a lower-class accent, but he was fairly certain he was butchering it.
“Well . . . Tom. Come with me to meet my housekeeper at the back of the house. We’ll see what we can do for you.”
The Duke of Gilfordshire, or who Thomas knew better as Samuel, stepped out onto the front steps of the townhouse and led the way toward the back entrance. The front door clicked shut behind them.
Thomas followed, kicking himself for using the front door. What had he been thinking? Servants didn’t use the front door.
When they were walking along the side of the building and no one was in sight, Samuel stopped and faced Thomas. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Thomas clenched his jaw. “Like I said, I’m lookin’ for work.”
Samuel folded his arms. “You stick out like a sore thumb, Your Grace.”
“I do not,” Thomas countered. He quickly realized his error. His shoulders slumped. “How did you know it was me?”
Samuel raised both eyebrows. “You don’t know how to walk, talk, or act subservient, Thomas. But the better question is: why are you pretending to be looking for work?”
“That’s the glory of it. I’m not pretending. I really am looking for work. If I’m going to do your bidding, you’d best bet I’m getting paid for it.”
“Yes, but . . . why?”
This was not how Thomas’s plan was supposed to play out.
He was supposed to be inconspicuous, inconsequential, and invisible.
On the other hand, it might be best to work for someone who could keep him updated on the case of treason and its progression.
Which had to be Samuel. It was discouraging, though, that the first person Thomas met recognized him through his disguise.
He was off to a poor start, indeed. “The rumors were what made me think of it.”
Samuel shook his head. “You and I have both dealt with rumors before. There is more to it than that.”
Thomas nodded. “Of course there is. I could deal with the rumors, or . . . I could avoid them altogether. Do you know that I’ve traveled all day without drinking myself into a stupor? And not a single person has asked me for something?”
“It’s only ten in the morning.”
“That’s beside the point.”
“No, it’s not.” Samuel insisted. “If you are going to act like a servant, there will be hundreds of demands on you every day. Many more frustrating than the ones you believe to be escaping.”
“That may be true. But no one would be accusing me of treason. I’d be able to avoid that particular absurdity until they clear my name.” And I’d be forced to stay sober in the meantime, he added to himself. Thomas doubted his friend’s understanding of how reliant he’d become on drinking.
Samuel began shaking his head. “You cannot just run away from a dukedom. There is too much to do. I would know.”
“I pay an incredible amount of people to keep my estates running, Samuel. I’ve left a note to my steward to continue work as usual until I return.
” Thomas could see his friend’s disbelief written across his face.
“Just hear me out,” Thomas said before Samuel could tell him to go home.
“Have you ever wanted to see what life was like if you weren’t a duke? ”
“No.”
To be honest, until last week, neither had Thomas.
“Fair enough. I value honesty.” He hadn’t planned on begging, but if he was going to be a servant, this would be his first taste.
“Won’t you give me a try? I came back to London because I hoped to be able to hear how the case is progressing.
As soon as it’s all blown over, I’ll leave your staff to themselves.
But you’d have to keep my existence a secret.
You are the only one who knows what I’m about. ”
Samuel coughed. “Your sudden disappearance gives weight to the argument that you are guilty of the charges.”
“I realize that. But I have to trust that the truth will win the day. The authorities can snoop around my homes all they want. I know I’m not guilty.”
Samuel looked at him as he would a young child. “Let me get this straight. You want me to hire you, help you, and hide you? That seems like a lot I’m doing for you without a whole lot in return.”
Thomas hadn’t thought of it that way. But ever since he’d seen his footman and maid in the back garden laughing, he’d continued to see similar scenes everywhere he looked.
The lower classes had families and purpose.
It wasn’t that they were without troubles, but they seemed .
. . more fulfilled than those in the upper crust of society.
“Please. It may not make sense to you, but I need this. I know you’d be taking a chance.
But I promise not to cause you trouble. And I’ll work too.
It might take some time to learn, but I can do that. ”
Samuel fidgeted with the ring on his little finger, thinking it over. “You do anything you’re asked. Is that clear?” Samuel raised his eyebrows.
Thomas nodded.
“That means if I ask you to polish my boots while I’m entertaining Prinny himself, you come in and keep your head down. If I ask you to clean out the stables, or wait on a lady, or fluff my pillows at night . . . you will do so without complaint?”
Just imagining the scenes brought a smile to Thomas. “On my honor.”
Samuel took off his hat and tapped the brim with his fingers.
“My family needs to remain safe. My children are young, and won’t be able to identify you.
I’ll need to tell Miriam everything, of course.
” He blew out a long breath. “If you last two weeks, I’ll buy you a new hat.
” He replaced the hat atop his head. “Let me know when you’re finished with this spectacle, and I’ll help you make your way back into society, so long as you help protect my family from scandal. ”
That sobered Thomas. “Of course.” Thomas hadn’t forgotten that Samuel had a family, no one could, really.
The duchess was one of the most lively players in the games of society.
But children—that was a stage of life Thomas hadn’t spent much time imagining.
“Of course I’ll help keep your family safe.
And I’ll take the hat as well as a weekly wage. ”
“Then allow me to introduce you to my housekeeper, Mrs. Bitters.”
As it turned out, Mrs. Bitters was precisely the type of person Thomas was hoping for.
She was strict, but Thomas could tell the woman was happy in her work.
“So, you have no experience with waitin’ on people?
” After Samuel had told her to find a place amongst the staff for Tom Smith, she’d spent half an hour trying to figure out where to put him.