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Pandora frowned "I think I should have a say in choosing him, if he’s to acco the shape of her cheek "What qualities do you have in mind?"
"I would likeeyes, like Father Christood sense of humor Also patience, and excellent reflexes, because if I’ too hard, Icarriage"
Gabriel actually paled a shade or two, and gripped her closer
"There’s no need to be alarrin "I have yet to be flattened under a carriage wheel"
Looking no less anxious, Gabriel continued to hold her a little too tightly "The man I have in mind has all those qualities and more I’m sure you’ll be pleased with him"
"I probably will," Pandora allowed "After all, look at what I tolerate from my lady’s maid A footman would have to be absolutely impossible for me to dislike him"
Chapter 17
"My footman is impossible," Pandora exclaimed a week after their return to London "I have to find another one right away" She had just coe, and it didn’t appear to have gone well Closing the bedroom door behind her, she advanced on Gabriel with a scohile he unbuttoned his waistcoat
"There’s a problem?" Gabriel asked in concern He tossed aside his waistcoat and began to unknot his necktie
"A problem? No Many problems A plethora of problems I went to visit Helen and the new baby, and then I stopped at Winterborne’s, and--Good God, what is that s close to his chest and throat "It’s all over you A sort of one bad in the larder"
"I’ve just co at her expression "They added chlorine and other che foul"
Pandora wrinkled her nose "In this case, the solution may be worse than the problem" She retreated to the bed and hoisted herself onto theabout the foot his cuffs
He’d been prepared for a few objections about Drago, a former employee from Jenner’s, as ado had started working at the club at the age of twelve, and had risen through the ranks froht porter, and eventually tobeen abandoned at an orphanage with a note bearing his name
Gabriel had known him for years There was no man in London he would trusther excursions about tohich hy he’d ended up paying a small fortune to hire him as a lady’s footht have assumed One of the requirements of a footman was to be well acquainted with the terrain of London, and Drago knew every nook and cranny of the city He was a physically ie and muscular, with an air of quiet ht about approaching Pandora His disposition was steady, if humorless, and he was not easily provoked It was second nature for him to notice details of people’s dress, postures, and expressions, and identify risks and probleo had reluctantly accepted the position, his lack of enthusiasm had been obvious
"Lady St Vincent doesn’t pay attention to time," Gabriel had told him, "so you’ll have to s easily Keep an eye out for dropped gloves, handkerchiefs, books, anything she ht accidentally leave behind She’s sweet-natured and impulsive, so for God’s sake keep swindlers, street-sellers, pickpockets, and beggars away from her Also, she’s often distracted, so don’t let her trip on the pavement or veer into the street" Gabriel had hesitated before adding, "She’s hard of hearing in her right ear, and it so when she can’t orient herself She’d have my head if she knew I’d told you Now, do you have any questions?"
"Yes Am I supposed to be a footaze at hi at the club But to, curious, very active woman who doesn’t think in conventional ways She has much to learn about the world--and the world has o It won’t be as easy as you think"
Drago had given hihts returned to the present as Pandora aired her grievances
"I wanted a footman with twinkly eyes like Father Christ mercenary Foot, and have nice narowly, and his nao and he has a black beard You should have seen when I stopped by the toy depart with his arrew nervous and started looking for their lance "Does he know anything about being a footo has worked at the club in various positions But the butler is training him, and he learns quickly"