Angel's Touch by Elizabeth Bailey Page A

who
generally attended to the administrative details of the business of
the estate. His master, once he had recovered enough to be capable
of participating, preferred to spend long hours driving around,
ostensibly visiting tenants, investigating complaints and examining
areas which were in need of repair. Inskip suspected—not without
some justification—that Salmesbury’s real incentive was that he
could more readily brood in isolation aboard his phaeton without
incurring criticism from his long-suffering well-wishers, Hoff in
particular.
    Thus
Inskip was invariably to be found on the other side of the
marquis’s desk where all the accoutrements of the job were
conveniently to hand. He had long fallen into the way of making
decisions without referring them, so that his master’s access of
sudden interest in the children, and more particularly in the
vagaries of Lady Margaret’s nurse, had taken him by surprise. His
faculties were for the moment dulled
    ‘ It
is difficult to know what to do, I mean,’ he added apologetically,
noting his employer’s frown.
    ‘ Well, I know what to do,’ the marquis informed him with
decision. ‘She must be got rid of.’
    ‘ Yes, I see that, my lord,’ agreed Inskip. ‘But as you are no
doubt aware, her ladyship will not tolerate the nurse’s absence.
Already, I am informed, she has—er—made it known that Kittle was
missed when she returned to the nursery.’
    The
marquis smiled. ‘My dear Inskip, don’t be shy. You may as well say
she kicked up the devil of a dust and be done with it.’
    The
secretary grinned. ‘Quite so, sir.’
    ‘ My
hand may have been forced temporarily, for obviously I had to let
her remain for the present. Nevertheless, after what I saw
yesterday, she will have to go. Good God, I could not reconcile it
with my conscience to leave Peggy in the charge of such a
woman.’
    He
saw an odd look in his secretary’s face, and had no difficulty in
interpreting it. ‘Yes, I know, Inskip. I should have done something
before this. And so I would have, had I known of it. But that is in
the past, and I do not mean to allow myself to become ignorant of
these things again.’
    Inskip met his eyes. ‘I am glad of it, my lord. We have
missed you sorely.’
    ‘ Thank you,’ Salmesbury said simply, and there was no need for
more words between them on the subject.
    The secretary paced a
moment or two while his employer drew absently on a sheet of paper,
his mind busy.
    ‘ I
wonder, my lord,’ Inskip said suddenly, ‘if we could try a little
subterfuge.’
    ‘ By
all means, if you think it will answer.’
    ‘ Say that we employ a second nursemaid—at least so we
shall inform the world at large—and allow Lady Margaret time to
become used to her.’
    Salmesbury sat up eagerly. ‘The very thing. Once Peggy
accepts her, we may give Kittle notice and the change will be less
drastic. An excellent idea.’
    ‘ It
may not work,’ cautioned the secretary. ‘Children take odd fancies
to people, and it may be—’
    ‘ Odd
fancies indeed,’ scoffed his lordship. ‘Nonsense, Inskip. One nurse
is much like another. It is all a matter of whom one is used to.’
He saw that Inskip was eyeing him uncertainly and a bitter smile
twisted his lips. ‘You would wish to tell me that Kittle stands to
Peggy in place of her mother, I dare say. But I cannot agree.
Recollect, Inskip, that persons of our order are in general in the
company of servants. Why, I scarce saw my own mother above a half
dozen times in a month, I dare say.’
    ‘ But she was there , sir,’ said the secretary with meaning.
    The
black eyes gazed at him, pain in their depths. Salmesbury’s voice
was very quiet. ‘I can do nothing about that, Inskip.’
    The
secretary disagreed, but he did not say so. If the marquis would
only go out into the world, he felt, it would not be long before
some young lady captured his interest. But he sighed inwardly,
thinking how unlikely it was that his employer would