Read Online The Valet and the Stable Groom: M/M Regency Romance by Katherine Marlowe - Free Book Online Page A

ambitions?”
    “Perhaps when…” Clement’s eyes returned to the window, and the dark shape of the stables through the rain. “Perhaps when the household is better settled. After the garden party. And once Hildebert has struck upon some hobby.”
    “Do you imagine that he shall?”
    “Yes. I think so. He’s not idle by nature. I think he balks at having to exchange his former hobbies and entertainments for the limited options remaining to him in the country, but I expect that he’ll settle upon some employment for himself, sooner or later.”
    “Hopefully sooner.” Letty sighed, leaning against the window frame beside him and considering the rain outdoors. “What has you so distracted?”
    “Am I distracted?”
    “You’re staring out the window. Boggarts in your brain?”
    “No. Perhaps.” There were no lights visible in the stables, but that didn’t mean Hugo wasn’t there. He might be able to do his chores effectively in dim lighting. Clement tore his eyes away. “If I do stay, I don’t know what I’d do with myself. I never imagined being content with remaining a country valet forever.”
    “Not forever,” Letty said, and gave him a wry smile. “Midgley isn’t young.”
    Clement pressed his lips together, neither smile nor grimace. “He isn’t old, either.”
    “There are other households in the country, as well,” Letty said. “Soon you’ll have a whole garden party full of them.”
    That earned a smile from him. Clement pushed away from the window, mind filling with tasks he ought to accomplish.
    “There’s something else,” Letty said. She narrowed her eyes.
    Clement paused. “Something else?”
    “Something else on your mind. I’m sure of it.”
    “Letty,” Clement said, and grinned. “When have you ever known me to have anything on my mind but my work and my ambition?”
    She lifted her brows and pursed her lips, effectively silenced. Shrugging her shoulders, Letty left him to his reverie.

    C lement spent most of Friday haunting the servants’ kitchen.
    He did his tasks in laps, seeing to Hildebert and his needs and then returning twice an hour to the kitchen.
    Mrs. Ledford was seeing to the peeling of potatoes. She glanced up at Clement’s entrance.
    Clement had no reasonable excuse to be in the kitchen, particularly not so early in the morning. He made himself a cup of tea, and drank it.
    Hugo did not appear, but there was likewise no fish stew to be had.
    Clement returned to his duties, all of which took twice as long as usual. His hands were clumsy and his mind was distracted.
    He went back to the kitchen.
    Mrs. Ledford’s eyes followed him.
    “Good morning to you, Mrs. Ledford,” Clement said. He decided upon making himself a cup of tea, only to realise that he had done so on his prior trip to the kitchen. Mrs. Ledford might notice something amiss if Clement’s tea-drinking habits suddenly trebled.
    “Good morning.”
    He determined that now was the time for friendly conversation. They were, after all, allies in the service of the Devereux household, and it would be most advantageous for all parties if they could behave as such.
    Clement forgot every topic he knew.
    Mrs. Ledford had paused in the peeling of potatoes. “Mr. Adair?”
    “Yes, Mrs. Ledford?”
    “It seemed as though you had something to say.”
    Cheeks hot, Clement redoubled his efforts to manufacture conversation. “Are you…” he began, and then pointed at the potatoes in question as he strove to inquire politely about her morning industry and whether she required any assistance. “Potatoes?”
    Mrs. Ledford peered at him. “Are you quite well, Mr. Adair?”
    Clement sighed and rubbed at his face. “Yes, Mrs. Ledford. Forgive me. I feel entirely restless today. I think I will run myself quite out of my skull with… with…” with thinking of him.
    Or the conscious endeavour to avoid thinking of him, as the case may be.
    Catching his tongue between his teeth, Clement slowed himself enough