Read Online Dizzy Dilemmas by Mary Beeken - Free Book Online

straight faced no matter the situation. His elastic, somewhat ugly features were perfect for the medieval art of Gurning and had actually won him a competition or two at the country fayres, and thus by their very nature were not disposed to be those of a butler. Whilst other households boasted a senior servant so far superior he could snuff the pretensions of the most formidable Duchess with the slightest lift of an eyebrow and a tone of barely concealed disdain, the Earl of Leveston and his family employed one who openly scowled at most callers; thought nothing of speaking his mind to whomsoever he felt was in need of his opinion, regardless of status and who was not disposed to hide his humour whether good or ill. The present Dowager had employed him on her marriage as a favour to her old nurse whose nephew he was, but also because it secretly amused her and her new husband to employ a very young and unbutlerish butler in opposition to the perceived norm. Over the years it had been expected that he would grow into his role and adopt a persona more in keeping with the major-domo of one of the leading households in the country, but Coulton saw no reason to change and continued very much as he had always done. When his employer succeeded to the Earldom he made several half hearted attempts to retrain his butler into the accepted mode but all efforts had been singularly unsuccessful and so the status quo had been maintained. Neither the Earl nor his Duchess were disposed to replace him, especially as he proved to be a staunch alley when dealing with their children; a wily handful the lot of them, according to the late Duke who was inclined to be too indulgent by half himself and therefore happy to leave Coulton to administer a staunch reprimand or quick clip around the ear whenever necessary. The present Duke holding Coulton in equal measures of affection and respect and it had to be said, a tiny amount of fear, retained his services and thus the next generation of Brocktons were raised under his watchful eye. Whether it was because Coulton had mellowed over the years or more likely, that the latest Brocktons were better adept at twisting him around their little fingers, meant that they could get away with far more than their father would ever have dreamed possible.
                  As they reached the top of the steps of their London mansion, the glossy, black front door swung open to reveal a scowling Coulton.
    “About time you remembered where you lived and came back. What with Mr Alf ie arriving from Devon and none of you were here to greet him and me expecting you this hour past. How long does it take to view a few bits of marble?”
    “Coulton; I have chocolate!” Gabrie l immediately thrust a large package into the Butler’s hand in an attempt, successful as it turned out, to arrest the scold before it had truly gotten under way.
    “Why Master Gabriel, what a good lad you are.” His wrinkled visage rearranged itself into a wide appreciative grin as he peered like an excited child at the parcel in his hands; his scold all forgotten as he thought about his cup of tea and chocolate treat he would enjoy later.
    “Did you say Alfie is here?” Mrs Honey Dew said removing her bonnet and handing it to the waiting footman.
    “Here I am my little Honey Potts!” came a jovial voice from the library and out popped a man of average height in his middle fifties with white hair and a pair of steel-rimmed, reading glasses perched on the end of his somewhat bulbous nose.
    “Alfie dear!” Mrs Honey Potts almost skipped up to him and gave him a quick hug and a brief kiss on the lips before stepping back to survey her husband of nearly thirty five years. “Why did you not say you were coming? We would have made sure to be here when you arrived.”
    “I wanted to surprise you my love. As you know I had planned to come up next week but I have missed you my dear and so decided a few extra days holiday will do me no harm