forward, hobbling faster than ever until he reached them. He angled the useless umbrella over his head and scowled at Mr. Addleshaw. “We have a slight problem back at the house, sir.”
“And this problem forced you out into this horrid weather because it is grave enough that it couldn’t wait until I returned?”
Mr. Blodgett shifted his attention to Harriet. “Well, no, sir. It couldn’t wait—especially because she’s still with you.” The butler stepped closer to Harriet. “My dear, why haven’t you taken your leave?”
“Miss Peabody and I have recently agreed to join forces,” Mr. Addleshaw answered for her.
“Oh . . . dear, that’s a troubling state of affairs.” Mr. Blodgett drew in a wheezy breath and shook his head. “Well, she can’t come into the house.”
Hurt, mixed with indignation, stole through Harriet, even though she should have expected nothing less from Mr. Addleshaw’s staff. She’d told Mr. Blodgett exactly what Mr. Addleshaw required of her, and it hardly spoke well of her characterthat she’d agreed to take on the role of a lovely bit of femininity. She ducked her head and hoped the color she knew was now staining her cheeks would go unnoticed.
“Honestly, Mr. Blodgett, I do believe this storm has rattled not my brain but yours.” Mr. Addleshaw gave her arm a squeeze, sending additional pesky tingles up it. “Of course Miss Peabody is welcome in my home. I’m surprised you’d say differently.”
“My apologies, Miss Peabody,” Mr. Blodgett said, nodding at her when she lifted her head. “I meant you no disrespect, but you see, Mr. Birmingham has arrived early for his meeting with Mr. Addleshaw. I’m afraid he’s a little put out that his daughter and wife are not still in residence but have removed themselves to a hotel.” He stepped closer to her. “Since you’ve apparently agreed to whatever ridiculous plan Mr. Addleshaw proposed—replacing Miss Birmingham in the process, I might add—I don’t believe it’s in your best interest to step foot into Mr. Addleshaw’s home at this particular time.”
Mr. Addleshaw’s brows drew together. “Mr. Birmingham’s in my home. . . . now?”
“Indeed he is. He evidently decided to come early, believing there would be celebration news to enjoy before the two of you got down to business. However, now that he’s come to the conclusion something is dreadfully amiss, I fear he’s beginning to become agitated.”
Harriet began backing slowly away. “I think I’ll just be on my way now, and clearly our deal is going to have to come to a rapid end. I’d hate to think what would happen if we’d run into the Birminghams while I was trying to help you entertain your duke.”
“That might be for the best,” Mr. Blodgett agreed.
“No, it’s not,” Mr. Addleshaw argued, as he pulled Harriet back to his side. “The entire Birmingham family has been entirely too presumptuous. I never broached the subject of marriage to Miss Birmingham. I’m sure that after I bring that to Mr. Birmingham’s attention, he’ll be disappointed, of course, but then I expect he’ll immediately repair back to Chicago, taking his wife and daughter with him. You and I, Miss Peabody, have agreed to form a business alliance. If I need remind you, it’s one you desperately need, given you’re soon to be dismissed from your position, and given it’s one where you’re going to earn an indecent amount of money in a relatively short period of time.”
Mr. Blodgett’s eyes widened. “Good heavens, sir, you really have lost your mind.” Not giving Mr. Addleshaw an opportunity to respond, the butler turned to Harriet. “Now, I don’t blame you, dear, for what can only be described as downright lunacy. An offer of an ‘indecent amount of money’ must seem all too tempting, especially to a lady about to lose her income. However, such arrangements never turn out the way one might expect. As the only reasonable voice in this
“And this problem forced you out into this horrid weather because it is grave enough that it couldn’t wait until I returned?”
Mr. Blodgett shifted his attention to Harriet. “Well, no, sir. It couldn’t wait—especially because she’s still with you.” The butler stepped closer to Harriet. “My dear, why haven’t you taken your leave?”
“Miss Peabody and I have recently agreed to join forces,” Mr. Addleshaw answered for her.
“Oh . . . dear, that’s a troubling state of affairs.” Mr. Blodgett drew in a wheezy breath and shook his head. “Well, she can’t come into the house.”
Hurt, mixed with indignation, stole through Harriet, even though she should have expected nothing less from Mr. Addleshaw’s staff. She’d told Mr. Blodgett exactly what Mr. Addleshaw required of her, and it hardly spoke well of her characterthat she’d agreed to take on the role of a lovely bit of femininity. She ducked her head and hoped the color she knew was now staining her cheeks would go unnoticed.
“Honestly, Mr. Blodgett, I do believe this storm has rattled not my brain but yours.” Mr. Addleshaw gave her arm a squeeze, sending additional pesky tingles up it. “Of course Miss Peabody is welcome in my home. I’m surprised you’d say differently.”
“My apologies, Miss Peabody,” Mr. Blodgett said, nodding at her when she lifted her head. “I meant you no disrespect, but you see, Mr. Birmingham has arrived early for his meeting with Mr. Addleshaw. I’m afraid he’s a little put out that his daughter and wife are not still in residence but have removed themselves to a hotel.” He stepped closer to her. “Since you’ve apparently agreed to whatever ridiculous plan Mr. Addleshaw proposed—replacing Miss Birmingham in the process, I might add—I don’t believe it’s in your best interest to step foot into Mr. Addleshaw’s home at this particular time.”
Mr. Addleshaw’s brows drew together. “Mr. Birmingham’s in my home. . . . now?”
“Indeed he is. He evidently decided to come early, believing there would be celebration news to enjoy before the two of you got down to business. However, now that he’s come to the conclusion something is dreadfully amiss, I fear he’s beginning to become agitated.”
Harriet began backing slowly away. “I think I’ll just be on my way now, and clearly our deal is going to have to come to a rapid end. I’d hate to think what would happen if we’d run into the Birminghams while I was trying to help you entertain your duke.”
“That might be for the best,” Mr. Blodgett agreed.
“No, it’s not,” Mr. Addleshaw argued, as he pulled Harriet back to his side. “The entire Birmingham family has been entirely too presumptuous. I never broached the subject of marriage to Miss Birmingham. I’m sure that after I bring that to Mr. Birmingham’s attention, he’ll be disappointed, of course, but then I expect he’ll immediately repair back to Chicago, taking his wife and daughter with him. You and I, Miss Peabody, have agreed to form a business alliance. If I need remind you, it’s one you desperately need, given you’re soon to be dismissed from your position, and given it’s one where you’re going to earn an indecent amount of money in a relatively short period of time.”
Mr. Blodgett’s eyes widened. “Good heavens, sir, you really have lost your mind.” Not giving Mr. Addleshaw an opportunity to respond, the butler turned to Harriet. “Now, I don’t blame you, dear, for what can only be described as downright lunacy. An offer of an ‘indecent amount of money’ must seem all too tempting, especially to a lady about to lose her income. However, such arrangements never turn out the way one might expect. As the only reasonable voice in this
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