Free The Star-Crossed Bride by Kelly McClymer

but she had also learned that there were times when she must control her impulses. He did not like to think of what unpleasantness must be buried in her childhood. Perhaps it had been sheer desperation, and not love, which had made her so willing to elope with him? His heart rejected the idea immediately.
    He could see the question bubbling up inside her; until, suddenly, she turned her face into the placid mask of boredom she had been wearing throughout the tedious dinner. Lifting her wineglass to her lips, she waved him away yet again, as if she still thought him no more than a faceless footman. A swift rush of pride flooded through him at her grasp of the situation. At the same time he found it necessary to dampen the prickle of irritation he felt at how easily he had become invisible to Emily and her family by donning a footman's uniform. He dismissed his own foolishness with a silent scoff. If it had not been for this faceless disguise, he 'd be lucky to still be alive. He watched the countess from the corner of his eye — a footman never looked his betters in the eye, Nan had whispered to him hurriedly. Soames, the butler, had given him the same advice — along with much more along the same vein — in solemn tones after hiring him.
    He had obviously been overawed with Valentine's references, which were forged in the name of the duke of Kerstone. No doubt his brother-in-law would forgive him for using the title in such a worthy cause. The duke had given him a spare signet ring and sealing wax so that he could handle certain matters in a discreet and timely manner.
    Dinner continued for a short time before the countess suggested that she and Emily retire and leave Granbury alone to his cigar. Politely, he declined the need to smoke and insisted on joining the ladies immediately. The countess nodded her assent, a pleased gleam in her eye. Emily stood, quiet and demure. Valentine marveled that she could look so, when he knew what effort it must take for her to avoid glancing his way.
    As they passed from the dining room into the music room, where Emily was obviously expected to put her musical talents on display for Granbury, Valentine felt himself relax. The countess had overlooked him, despite the fact that he had stood next to her, offering her dishes, refilling her wine, taking discarded dishes away. He warned himself not to get too cocky but it seemed likely that as long as he behaved in the unexceptional manner of a properly trained footman, he could remain here and keep an eye on Emily — at least until the duke and Miranda arrived to do the job properly.
    As he carried his heavy tray into the kitchen, Nan stared at him, wide-eyed with worry. He knew he needed to talk to her quickly — but how to do so privately as well, in the bustling kitchen? Before he could decide on how to draw her away she batted her eyes at him and asked him to help her with a heavy pail of water that needed to be carried to Lady Emily's room. They had no sooner reached the relative privacy of the back stairs before she turned to him. "Well?"
    He smiled at her imperious question. "I avoided discovery, thanks to you."
    Nan studied him critically, "The clipping I gave that neat 'air of yours makes it more raggedy, and your 'ands are not too fine for a footman, I suppose. But you still walk too tall, and your step's a bit too cocky."
    "Is it?" He tried to match the gait he had seen the other footman use. It would have helped to have some recent experience with such servants, but Anderlin hadn't had a footman in years. He shrugged away the concern. He'd just have to rely on Nan's tutoring. The maid's allegiance had been a surprise. When she discovered him in the hall outside Emily's room, he had hoped to keep her silent for long enough to escape. Instead, she had declared herself fully in favor of breaking her mistress' engagement, and had come up with a plan to keep him near Emily so that he could keep an eye on her while they pried away