Be My Lover by Cecily French

to her is Ruthann, the first
parlor maid, Eliza, the second parlor maid, Joseph, the footman, Harold who
will take care of the grounds, Ralph, his assistant, Masie, the tweenie and
last but not least Mrs. Jackson, the best cook in London.”
    “I’ll be glad to have someone to cook for again other than
the staff, Mrs. Martin, and that’s a fact,” Mrs. Jackson declared. “I hope you
like simple cooking, ’cause that’s what I’m best at. But if you’ve a mind to
entertain, I’ll do you proud.”
    “Simple sounds wonderful,” Emily told her. “Thank you all
very much.”
    Timmons cleared his throat. “My lord, there is one thing. I
hope you don’t mind my presumption, but…”
    “Timmons, I’ve never known you to beat about the bush,”
Anthony said. “Just say it.”
    “I brought Zeus with us.”
    Anthony’s eyebrows rose. “You did?”
    “My lord, I promise you he’ll be no trouble. I’ve taken good
care of him while you’ve been away and I do believe he’d grieve himself to
death if he were left behind. I’ve…” A rosy pink flooded the butler’s face. “I
know it sounds strange, but I’ve grown fond of him, if…if one can be fond of a
parrot.”
    “A parrot?” Emily asked. “Zeus is a parrot?”
    Timmons seemed to be looking at something over Emily’s head.
“Yes, ma’am. A macaw, actually.”
    Anthony’s bellow of laughter filled the foyer and,
cautiously, the staff began to laugh as well.
    “Well,” Anthony gasped. “I suppose that will be all right,
Timmons. We can’t let Zeus die.”
    Relief relaxed Timmons’ worried expression. “Thank you, my
lord.”
    “And when do I get to meet this beauty of a bird?” Emily
asked. “Especially if I’m going to be sharing my house with him.”
    “I put him in the sitting room, ma’am,” Timmons said. “It
gets plenty of morning sun and he likes that.”
    “Then to the sitting room we shall go,” Anthony announced.
He led Emily across the foyer and opened a door. The room was small, but cozy
and well furnished. Large medieval-themed tapestries hung from each wall and a
fire burned in the grate as if Anthony was sure of her acceptance to rent the
house. Next to a window overlooking an expanse of yard a large cage hung from a
stand. Inside the cage was the biggest bird Emily had ever seen. Covered in
blue and gold feathers, it swung back and forth on a wooden perch, seemingly
oblivious to his visitors.
    “Good heavens,” she said. “That’s Zeus? He’s huge.”
    “Hence his name,” Anthony said. “Zeus belonged to my father.
To tell the truth, I had completely forgotten about him.”
    Emily tucked her hand in the crook of Anthony’s arm. “Have
you been to your father’s house since your return?”
    “No.” The single word signaled more questions would not be
wise.
    “I’m sure with Timmons’ help, Zeus and I will become good
friends,” Emily said quickly. “And his feathers are such beautiful colors! I’ve
never seen a macaw before.”
    “Let me show you the rest of the house,” Anthony said,
leading her from the room. “The original owner had it built forty years ago. He
was a notorious rake who slept with anything wearing a skirt. It’s rumored his
poor wife had no clue to his many infidelities, even after he died in
flagrante delicto with a woman whose morals—or lack of them—equaled his.
The man’s sneakiness knew no bounds.”
    “The furniture in the sitting room doesn’t look forty years
old,” Emily observed. “Has the house had a more-previous owner?”
    “It did. But the man’s fiancée bolted with another just
before the wedding and the jilted bridegroom-to-be fled for the safety of a
monastery. Or so says Brandon. I don’t know if the former owner’s taste in
furniture matches yours, but at least you won’t have to worry about buying any
for now. Three of the four bedrooms upstairs are furnished as well. You, of
course, will want to have your own things for your