Riley. Never
expected to not have to live with some sort of guarded fear.
With frightening reality, Amelia realized just how much she wanted to know more about
the man who hadn’t thought twice about plucking her out of an abysmal situation. What
he’d revealed about the maid settled her feelings of being offered this job so hastily.
So much so that she resolved to stay on longer than a few days. Perhaps she’d give
it a week, to see how she felt.
Mr. Riley sat poised and still in his chair, studying her with watchful regard as
she digested his words. There was no doubt in her mind that he was a kindhearted man.
And her respect for him grew by the second.
“Olive is a very lucky girl to have found employment in your house,” she said. It
went without saying that she believed herself to be just as lucky as Olive.
He leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. “Back to your original query, Miss Grant.
How familiar are you with navigating high society and the ton ?”
Was he testing her? Wanting to prove he hadn’t made a mistake taking her in, she thought
it best to give him no reason to question her ability. “Enough to sort through your
invitations.”
She didn’t tell him that she knew Debrett’s backward and forward.
“Then that is exactly what you shall do today. My correspondence has been sorely neglected
for the past few months.”
She breathed a small sigh of relief, knowing that he wasn’t having second thoughts
about hiring her. “Mr. Huxley showed me your appointment calendar and the stack of
invitations yet to be answered. Are there any additional tasks you want me to complete?”
“The invitations will take you a few days. But I’ll leave you with my appointment
book, and as you learn more about my businesses, you will know how to book my days.
We’ll worry only about those items this week, Miss Grant, as I don’t want you overworked
when you have already sustained injury on my watch.”
She took affront that he thought her unable to take on tasks because of a turned ankle.
“I assure you that I’m more than capable of taking on additional responsibilities.”
Lips pursed in an unmovable line, he looked at her for a long, silent moment. She
had the impression he was judging her on her word but did not offer her request a
yea or nay.
She was desperate to know more about him. Clearing her throat, she asked, “What exactly
is it that you do, Mr. Riley?”
“When I was younger than you are now, I invested in a number of properties and ventures.
Most have succeeded very well over the years. Not wanting to pigeonhole myself, so
I’ve dabbled in just about everything. In the beginning, some ventures failed, but
the majority have thrived and have allowed me to amass a collection of successful
interests. Now I mainly focus my attentions on acquiring properties.”
The more he spoke, the more of an enigma he seemed. In Berwick, she’d never heard
of a Mr. Riley, but that might have more to do with his not being a peer than anything
else. She was not oblivious to the happenings around town where some of the more prominent
members of the ton were concerned, but Amelia knew next to nothing else about the city or its array
of inhabitants.
That was why it had been so appealing to get lost in the crowd—in a city difficult
for her brother to locate her, should he care enough to find her. And she suspected
he would when his debts climbed, as they were sure to do.
“How will I know which invitations you wish to accept?”
“Huxley will provide you with the names of anyone I choose not to associate with and
those who have aligned themselves with my ventures. As for the rest . . . I will trust
your judgment.”
“No questions asked?” She couldn’t hold the shock back from her voice.
“No questions asked, Miss Grant.”
“What if I make a mistake?”
“I can assure you it will not be the end of the world.”
“Thank
expected to not have to live with some sort of guarded fear.
With frightening reality, Amelia realized just how much she wanted to know more about
the man who hadn’t thought twice about plucking her out of an abysmal situation. What
he’d revealed about the maid settled her feelings of being offered this job so hastily.
So much so that she resolved to stay on longer than a few days. Perhaps she’d give
it a week, to see how she felt.
Mr. Riley sat poised and still in his chair, studying her with watchful regard as
she digested his words. There was no doubt in her mind that he was a kindhearted man.
And her respect for him grew by the second.
“Olive is a very lucky girl to have found employment in your house,” she said. It
went without saying that she believed herself to be just as lucky as Olive.
He leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. “Back to your original query, Miss Grant.
How familiar are you with navigating high society and the ton ?”
Was he testing her? Wanting to prove he hadn’t made a mistake taking her in, she thought
it best to give him no reason to question her ability. “Enough to sort through your
invitations.”
She didn’t tell him that she knew Debrett’s backward and forward.
“Then that is exactly what you shall do today. My correspondence has been sorely neglected
for the past few months.”
She breathed a small sigh of relief, knowing that he wasn’t having second thoughts
about hiring her. “Mr. Huxley showed me your appointment calendar and the stack of
invitations yet to be answered. Are there any additional tasks you want me to complete?”
“The invitations will take you a few days. But I’ll leave you with my appointment
book, and as you learn more about my businesses, you will know how to book my days.
We’ll worry only about those items this week, Miss Grant, as I don’t want you overworked
when you have already sustained injury on my watch.”
She took affront that he thought her unable to take on tasks because of a turned ankle.
“I assure you that I’m more than capable of taking on additional responsibilities.”
Lips pursed in an unmovable line, he looked at her for a long, silent moment. She
had the impression he was judging her on her word but did not offer her request a
yea or nay.
She was desperate to know more about him. Clearing her throat, she asked, “What exactly
is it that you do, Mr. Riley?”
“When I was younger than you are now, I invested in a number of properties and ventures.
Most have succeeded very well over the years. Not wanting to pigeonhole myself, so
I’ve dabbled in just about everything. In the beginning, some ventures failed, but
the majority have thrived and have allowed me to amass a collection of successful
interests. Now I mainly focus my attentions on acquiring properties.”
The more he spoke, the more of an enigma he seemed. In Berwick, she’d never heard
of a Mr. Riley, but that might have more to do with his not being a peer than anything
else. She was not oblivious to the happenings around town where some of the more prominent
members of the ton were concerned, but Amelia knew next to nothing else about the city or its array
of inhabitants.
That was why it had been so appealing to get lost in the crowd—in a city difficult
for her brother to locate her, should he care enough to find her. And she suspected
he would when his debts climbed, as they were sure to do.
“How will I know which invitations you wish to accept?”
“Huxley will provide you with the names of anyone I choose not to associate with and
those who have aligned themselves with my ventures. As for the rest . . . I will trust
your judgment.”
“No questions asked?” She couldn’t hold the shock back from her voice.
“No questions asked, Miss Grant.”
“What if I make a mistake?”
“I can assure you it will not be the end of the world.”
“Thank
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