An Affair Downstairs by Sherri Browning

should wake the baby.
    â€œLooking for me? I’m honored. No need to whisper, Mr. Winthrop. Mina sleeps through anything, as evidenced by her remaining in dreamland despite the bumpiness of this path.”
    â€œI’ll look into it. Sturridge was supposed to be checking into it today, but I called him away to other tasks.”
    â€œHeavens.” She laughed. “Quite the perfectionist, aren’t you? It’s supposed to be bumpy. It’s only a path, not a major thoroughfare.”
    â€œYes, well, we don’t need any ladies complaining of twisted ankles from going on midnight assignations with their lovers in the gardens, do we?” He shrugged. “It’s important that what I want to talk to you about stays between us. It regards Lady Alice Emerson. You’ve been direct with me regarding her attentions in the past, so I feel I can be direct with you.”
    â€œOf course. Speak your mind, Winthrop.”
    â€œIt’s very important to me that she commands attention at the ball. I want her to draw the eye of every suitable bachelor in town. When I say suitable, I mean someone appropriate for Alice.”
    â€œNot the Lord Brumleys of the world.” She nodded, clearly in agreement.
    â€œExactly. I’m not sure being relegated to our quiet corner of the country here at Thornbrook Park has done our lovely young lady any world of good. Lady Averford likes it because it’s home to her. She has a husband. What does she need with social engagements and parties?”
    â€œSophia loves a good party, Mr. Winthrop. No one loves being at the center of attention quite like my dear friend the countess. But I can see why you would have the impression that she doesn’t. She has been quiet these last few years, surrounding herself with dear and trusted friends and forgetting the rest of the world. We can’t blame her, after what she’s been through.”
    â€œLosing her firstborn was very hard on her.” He knew that Lady Averford made frequent visits to the grave of her infant son. She didn’t make a fuss about it, preferring not to call attention to her mourning perhaps, but he had seen her head that way with clusters of blue forget-me-nots in her hands. Once the flowers lost their luster, he would clean them off the grave only for her to bring more. He’d added forget-me-nots to the window boxes outside her bedroom windows and more in the conservatory so that she would always have them around.
    Her husband never left flowers. Once a year, he placed a colorful kite at the grave of his son who was buried next to Lord Averford’s father. Logan supposed it represented the activities they would have shared together, had the boy lived. All of the servants in the house pitied them for their loss and prayed for the still-young couple to have another child. “No one could blame her. But…”
    â€œYour concern is for Lady Alice. It’s not fair that she’s here with little to no society to hold her interest. Looking after Agatha is certainly no task for a young woman. Do you know that she wants to travel the world? India, Africa, America…”
    â€œLady Alice? In India?” He had no idea what she had planned for herself. He’d assumed, perhaps foolishly, that she was like most young women, eager to marry well and happily. “Is it safe?”
    â€œSafe enough, I suppose, if she’s accompanied. Captain Thorne and I have thought about going with her. I would love to show my husband where I lived for many years. If we happen to be leaving at the same time, so much the better for Alice.”
    â€œYes. I hope you can arrange it. I hate to think of her all alone on such an adventure.”
    â€œI’m sure you do.” She smiled. “So what is it, Winthrop? Has Alice finally thrown herself at you? I’ve seen the way she looks at you. I’ve expected it would happen one of these days. Alice is not easily