I've eaten in my entire sodding
existence."
"Yes,
sir."
"Jeeves?
That's word for word, mind you."
Faint
agony crossed Jeeves's aquiline features. "Yes, sir. Of course,
sir. I'll leave you to your meal, sir."
Ethan
snorted into his coffee as Jeeves left the room. He ought not to
tease Jeeves like that. He really, truly ought not to.
Then
again, life was short.
After
he had woken at an hour decided upon by Jeeves, eaten a breakfast
selected by Jeeves, and donned a suit chosen by Jeeves, Ethan was
beginning to wonder who served whom in his house.
He
trotted down the stairs to stand undecided in his own front hall.
"Jeeves!"
The
butler appeared like the bursting of a soap bubble, inevitable yet
still startling. "Yes, sir?"
Ethan
fidgeted. "I'm never awake this early. What am I supposed to do
with myself?"
Jeeves
didn't so much as blink. "I believe most healthy young gentlemen
enjoy a turn about Hyde Park in such nice weather."
The
park? Ethan couldn't remember the last time he'd been in the park, at
least not in daylight. There was that time he and Collis had ended up
naked and singing in a tree—
"Naked"
and "tree" reminded Ethan of Lady Jane Pennington. Now he
was sorry about that kiss—well no, actually, he wasn't. What a
missed opportunity that would have been! Missing opportunities wasn't
Ethan's usual style at all.
As
if Jeeves were reading his mind, the butler said, "I believe
there are many ladies partaking of fresh air in the park at this
hour."
Yes,
a bit of pretty companionship would do him good, for he was beginning
to obsess about a certain pair of milky white thighs. Ethan nodded
decisively. "The park it is. Would you mind fetching my—"
Jeeves
brought his hands from behind his back. One held Ethan's hat, the
other held the gloves that matched his suit. "Have a nice walk,
sir."
Ethan
sighed. There were no words. One didn't berate a servant for doing an
excellent job, after all. Still, Jeeves's attention to detail made
the little hairs on the back of Ethan's neck stand up.
Outside,
the day was something altogether new and interesting. People were
much friendlier at this hour, for one thing. Ethan was greeted with
polite, assessing nods from the gentlemen who passed him, and polite,
admiring glances from the ladies who passed.
Furthermore,
there were children around. Hyde Park abounded with them. Wee infants
in prams, chubby toddlers taking unsteady steps, laughing boys and
girls chasing dogs and balls and apparently anything not tied down.
Pausing to think, Ethan realized he had not seen an actual child in
years. Folks usually didn't pack their offspring along to gaming
hells and brothels, or even ballrooms.
A
small, lace-covered whirlwind slammed into his legs as he stood
there. Without thinking, Ethan swept her up into his arms before she
ricocheted to the ground.
"Hello,
darling," he said with a smile, automatically turning on the
charm. Female was female, after all.
Wide
blue eyes stared at him from the depths of a lacy bonnet. "You
ran into me," the child accused.
Ethan
blinked, then set her on her tiny booted feet with a deep bow.
"Indeed, my lady. My deepest apologies." He plucked a
clover flower from the lawn while he was down there and presented it
to her. "Please take this token of my profound regret. May I
hope you will ever forgive me?"
She
took the flower and sniffed it, considering him carefully. Then she
answered his bow with a very pretty deep curtsy. "You are, of
course, forgiven, kind sir."
Then
she grinned at him, showing a charming lack of two front teeth. "But
you're much too familiar," she scolded, and ran back the way
she'd come, little feet kicking up a froth of lacy skirts.
Ethan
sighed. "I hear that a great deal," he murmured.
"She's
a bit young for you, I think," said a teasing voice behind him.
Ethan turned to see the face that still haunted some of his more
domestic dreams.
"Rose!"
Rose
Tremayne stood there, looking the picture of inborn grace in a
sprigged
existence."
"Yes,
sir."
"Jeeves?
That's word for word, mind you."
Faint
agony crossed Jeeves's aquiline features. "Yes, sir. Of course,
sir. I'll leave you to your meal, sir."
Ethan
snorted into his coffee as Jeeves left the room. He ought not to
tease Jeeves like that. He really, truly ought not to.
Then
again, life was short.
After
he had woken at an hour decided upon by Jeeves, eaten a breakfast
selected by Jeeves, and donned a suit chosen by Jeeves, Ethan was
beginning to wonder who served whom in his house.
He
trotted down the stairs to stand undecided in his own front hall.
"Jeeves!"
The
butler appeared like the bursting of a soap bubble, inevitable yet
still startling. "Yes, sir?"
Ethan
fidgeted. "I'm never awake this early. What am I supposed to do
with myself?"
Jeeves
didn't so much as blink. "I believe most healthy young gentlemen
enjoy a turn about Hyde Park in such nice weather."
The
park? Ethan couldn't remember the last time he'd been in the park, at
least not in daylight. There was that time he and Collis had ended up
naked and singing in a tree—
"Naked"
and "tree" reminded Ethan of Lady Jane Pennington. Now he
was sorry about that kiss—well no, actually, he wasn't. What a
missed opportunity that would have been! Missing opportunities wasn't
Ethan's usual style at all.
As
if Jeeves were reading his mind, the butler said, "I believe
there are many ladies partaking of fresh air in the park at this
hour."
Yes,
a bit of pretty companionship would do him good, for he was beginning
to obsess about a certain pair of milky white thighs. Ethan nodded
decisively. "The park it is. Would you mind fetching my—"
Jeeves
brought his hands from behind his back. One held Ethan's hat, the
other held the gloves that matched his suit. "Have a nice walk,
sir."
Ethan
sighed. There were no words. One didn't berate a servant for doing an
excellent job, after all. Still, Jeeves's attention to detail made
the little hairs on the back of Ethan's neck stand up.
Outside,
the day was something altogether new and interesting. People were
much friendlier at this hour, for one thing. Ethan was greeted with
polite, assessing nods from the gentlemen who passed him, and polite,
admiring glances from the ladies who passed.
Furthermore,
there were children around. Hyde Park abounded with them. Wee infants
in prams, chubby toddlers taking unsteady steps, laughing boys and
girls chasing dogs and balls and apparently anything not tied down.
Pausing to think, Ethan realized he had not seen an actual child in
years. Folks usually didn't pack their offspring along to gaming
hells and brothels, or even ballrooms.
A
small, lace-covered whirlwind slammed into his legs as he stood
there. Without thinking, Ethan swept her up into his arms before she
ricocheted to the ground.
"Hello,
darling," he said with a smile, automatically turning on the
charm. Female was female, after all.
Wide
blue eyes stared at him from the depths of a lacy bonnet. "You
ran into me," the child accused.
Ethan
blinked, then set her on her tiny booted feet with a deep bow.
"Indeed, my lady. My deepest apologies." He plucked a
clover flower from the lawn while he was down there and presented it
to her. "Please take this token of my profound regret. May I
hope you will ever forgive me?"
She
took the flower and sniffed it, considering him carefully. Then she
answered his bow with a very pretty deep curtsy. "You are, of
course, forgiven, kind sir."
Then
she grinned at him, showing a charming lack of two front teeth. "But
you're much too familiar," she scolded, and ran back the way
she'd come, little feet kicking up a froth of lacy skirts.
Ethan
sighed. "I hear that a great deal," he murmured.
"She's
a bit young for you, I think," said a teasing voice behind him.
Ethan turned to see the face that still haunted some of his more
domestic dreams.
"Rose!"
Rose
Tremayne stood there, looking the picture of inborn grace in a
sprigged
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