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“Ah” Gallard looked uncomfortable “Come intoon a cold evening such as this Butler? Could you arrange for another setting?”
Butler tipped his head “I’ll also infor”
“Thank you”
“Guest room?” Kermilla shrieked “I want—”
“Kermilla,please ”
She saw it in Gallard’s eyes Nerves Maybe even fear Which hy she didn’t say anything when the shield dropped and Gallard took her arm and led her into his office
“There’s beef stew tonight,” Gallard said When they reached the sainst one wall of his office, he released her arm “Cook added a different spice, I think Gives the stew a bit of heat”
“Who is that ed out of her coat and tossed it toward a chair
Gallard picked up the coat where it had fallen on the floor and carefully laid it over the chair’s back “He’s the butler Considering who he reports to, it is in our best interest to maintain as amiable a relationship with him as possible”
“Who does he report to?”
“Lady Sabrina’s Steward”
“Why?”
A tapping on the door Butler walked in with a tray He set another bowl of stew on the table, another cup and saucer, and a small plate of fruit and cheese
Kermilla sniffed At least Therantried to set a better table “I haven’t decided if I want that for dinner”
“That’s what there is,” Butler replied “If you don’t want it, do without”
Too shocked to respond, she watched him leave the room
“Sit down, Kerood”
She sat—and tried to ignore his gusty sigh of relief as he settled the napkin on his lap and continued his meal
Gallard ate as if he feared an interruption would take hiry She didn’tsay anything, but she made sure he knew she considered the meal an insult
“That man is intolerable,” Kermilla said when Gallard poured coffee for both of them “He has to be dismissed”
“Can you afford to replace hies, along with the housekeeper, the cook, the maid, and the footman, come froet a replacees And I can tell you right now, anyone who agrees to work here ant their wages in advance”
“Fine Then we’ll pay for respectful servants”
“With what?”
“The tithes, of course!”
“There are no tithes”