Free Carla Kelly by One Good Turn Page B

is.
    “Aha!” Augusta exclaimed, planting herself in front of the Spanish woman. “This is the first time you have heard of this, is it not?”
    Juan gulped and wrapped his arm around his mother’s leg, burying his face in the fold of her threadbare cloak. Don’t bully them, you witch, Nez thought. Pray, don’t treat them that way. They are just two people with very little between them and ruin.
    Liria looked at him, and he knew he did not know her well enough to interpret her expression. Please, Liria, he thought.
Por favor, dama.
    To his relief, she smiled at Gussie. “My lady, I have had time to consider this offer. I have already told your brother that I will enjoy managing a duke’s estate again.”
    You are almost as cool a liar as I am, Liria Valencia, he thought, impressed.
    “If you have ever managed even a duke’s potting shed, then I am Caroline of Brunswick!” Augusta snapped.
    “Your mustache is not nearly as dark, Gussie,” he murmured. “Where was that estate, Miss Valencia? I can’t recall.”
    “Near Bailen,” she replied promptly, “in the middle of an orange grove. My lady, I will give most satisfactory service. Now, if you will excuse me, I think that Luster is starting to droop.
Ven conmigo, Juan. No ten miedo.
Your Grace, excuse us.” She dropped as elegant a curtsy to him as he had ever seen in his life, right there in his driveway, a curtsy worthy of the Court of Saint James, and then gave her arm to Luster. To his further gratification, the other servants gaped, then followed them into the manor. Gussie stared after them.
    “I think your dear little brother has matters in control, Augusta,” Audrey said. “But really, Benedict, it is a little hard to believe that
you
found a housekeeper.”
    “Oh, I didn’t, Audrey,” he said, happy enough to tiptoe along the selvage of truth, now that Liria had not left him facedown in his own yard. “Luster discovered her, and I am wise enough never to disagree with my butler. You should have seen Miss Valencia managing two invalids. She can handle one household, and I, for one, aim to let her.”
    He could tell that his sister was not going to give up without a struggle. “
Miss
Valencia, and she has a son?” Gussie asked. “What will the vicar say? What about the neighbors? Benedict,
why
do you never think of consequences?”
    “As your closest neighbor,
I
have no objection, and you know how my papa enjoys a pretty face,” Audrey said, and Nez could have kissed her. “As for the vicar, if I am not mistaken, didn’t Mr. Potter say at dinner the other night that his sermon this Sunday would be on not judging others? Of course, I could have misheard him, Augusta.” She took Augusta’s arm. “Come on, my dear, and walk me to the edge of the property. I would invite you, too, Benedict, but I know that you do not possess a shred of propriety, else you would have thought of it first!”
    He laughed and winked at her again. “Audrey, you remain a game goer! Tell your papa I will visit him tomorrow, and even drink some of your tea, if you will pour.”
    “Oh, well-done, Benedict!” she replied. “There is hope for you yet.”
    He watched them cross the yard, Augusta an unwilling partner, but Audrey pulling her along and jollying her as she went. Sophie tugged on his sleeve, and he looked down at her, surprised. “Heavens, Sophie, I forgot you were there. May I carry Your Highness into the house and let you be an invalid for a few more hours?”
    His niece shook her head. “Liria says I should only consider the Bourbons of Spain and France, and the Hapsburgs of Austria and not pretend to be royalty. She claims it is an unsteady profession these days.” She sighed. “But maybe just this once, Uncle.”
    He picked her up and held her close. Sophie wrapped her arms around his neck and he kissed her cheek. “And now I will take you upstairs and then root about in the kitchen for something to eat. I fear my household is somewhat