“You can leave that to one of the maids, you know.”
Bram’s lips tightened while he adjusted a painting that had somehow been knocked askew during the previous night’s frivolities. “I should rather those young ladies not have to witness the aftermath of...such evenings.”
“I am not certain why they would be scandalized by a crooked painting or vase.”
“They may be scandalized by what they find, and I would not wish such a thing on those young women.” Bram lifted the edge of a curtain and indicated to what appeared to be another stocking with a raised brow. Whichever lady had removed them was apparently missing both this morning.
Ambrose made a dismissive noise. “‘Tis only a stocking.”
“Those girls are hard-working and respectful. I should rather it stay that way.”
“If you fear they will gossip, you need not worry, Bram.” Ambrose waved a hand. “There is enough gossip about me that a pair of stockings would read most tiresomely.”
The butler kicked aside the stocking in question with a pinched expression. “As you say, my lord.”
Watching the man for a few moments more as he finished tidying the room, Ambrose pressed a finger to his lip. “Do you enjoy your job, Bram?”
“Enjoy, my lord?”
“Is it satisfying?”
He stilled. “It is.”
“Hmmm.”
“My lord?”
“Is there anything else you find satisfying?”
Bram straightened and creases appeared on a surprisingly line free face for his age. “I am not certain what you mean, my lord.”
“If you were looking for something interesting to do, what would it be?”
The lines deepened. “I should think his lordship knows enough about ‘interesting’ things in life.”
“I am hardly asking if you have a lady lover, Bram.” Ambrose held back a chuckle when the butler’s skin paled a little. “I just meant, is there anything else in your life aside from...butlering? Anything that you find brings you a sense of...I don’t know...fulfillment.”
“I enjoy a good game of solitaire, my lord.”
He groaned inwardly. He should have known Bram would not be able to offer much advice. The man was as plain as a man could get in his tastes—preferring water to ale, and bread to cake. And this was not much helping his conundrum. He could feel it, twisting deep in his gut. These parties and his life in general...well, they simply didn’t bring him the enjoyment they used to. He needed to find something to stop that ache, to appease this need to do something new or useful.
“Do you do anything else, Bram?” Ambrose demanded.
“I enjoy the occasional stroll in the park. When it is not too busy, of course.”
“Of course,” Ambrose intoned.
“My life is lived in service to you, my lord.”
“Well, now you have me feeling guilty indeed.”
Bram’s shoulders stiffened. “That was not my intention, my lord. You know I live to serve.”
“I should think it is about time you found something else with which to occupy your time. Why do you not take the rest of the day off?”
The butler’s eyes widened, and his posture grew so stiff that Ambrose feared he’d given the man a heart attack and he was going to keel over. “There are things to be done...,” he spluttered.
“I am hardly in a state to demand much today and Mrs. Locke can take care of anything else I need.” Ambrose shooed the butler with a waving motion. “If I cannot at least do something interesting, then you should.”
“But, my lord...”
“Bram,” he insisted.
His shoulders slumped. “Very well, my lord,” he muttered.
“Where shall you go?”
He pursed his lips. “I suppose I shall visit my niece. She has been sick of late and needs tending to.”
“Sick? Niece? Damn it, Bram, why did you not say something?”
He lifted a shoulder. “There was little to be said, my lord.”
“Does she need anything? Is there anything I can do?”
Bram shook his head vigorously. “Nothing at all, my lord. In fact, your family charity has already offered aid.”
“Charity?”
“The Creasey Children’s Charity?”
“Oh yes, that thing.” Ambrose frowned. “You know you need not rely on charity, you can come directly to me for assistance.”
“You are busy, my lord...”
Too busy to help an employee out when their family member was ill apparently. Bitterness rose in his throat. Lord, what sort of man was he?
“The charity…what exactly are they doing at present?” Ambrose asked. He was aware of it and how his family had established it some forty years ago, but he had little knowledge of what they did or even how much of his money went toward it.
“I believe they are trying to establish a hospital at present, near your estate in Hampshire.”
“Interesting...”
“Interesting, my lord?”
Ambrose waved the butler away. “Go and see your niece, Bram. I think we should make a trip to the Hampshire estate this week so it will be your last chance to see her for a while.”
FIND MARRIED TO THE EARL ON AMAZON AND IN KU
Stealing the Heiress (The Kidnap Club Book 2) Page 22