“You’re beautiful,” Will assured him. “Get moving, Foxy, you’ve got lords to fuck. One way or another.”
—
He had to spend a mere hour kicking his heels in Lord Maltravers’s study before the interview began. Evidently his lordship was in a hurry.
“So. You’re Richard Vane’s man,” Lord Maltravers said.
“I left his lordship’s service some few weeks ago, my lord.”
“Why? Dismissed?”
“I resigned, my lord, with immediate effect.”
“I asked you why,” Lord Maltravers grated. “Answer the damned question.”
“I regret extremely that I am not at liberty to disclose that, my lord.” David gave a deep bow. “Lord Richard demands that his private business is never discussed by his servants—”
“But you’ve left him,” Lord Maltravers put in. “Hey? You’re not his valet any longer. And if you’re to be mine, you’ll obey my orders.”
“I shall do so without hesitation, my lord, if I should be so fortunate as to obtain the position.” It was as blatant as he could be, short of writing Will exchange secrets for salary on a piece of paper.
“Well, now. Hmm. I suppose you saw something of Lord Richard’s friends in his service, did you? My brother Lord Gabriel and Mr. Francis Webster, for example.” Disdain twisted his lordship’s face.
“Yes, my lord. The gentlemen have both been Lord Richard’s guests at his country home on numerous occasions.”
“I suppose you’re an observant fellow, hey? Got to be. Loose buttons and whatnot. And I dare say servants gossip. Don’t they? Chat, chat, chat about your betters.”
“I never gossip, my lord,” David said calmly. “A valet is in a position of great trust, and it must be respected.” He let that hang for a couple of seconds, watching Lord Maltravers redden, then went on just before the man spoke. “Gossip may be repeated in the servants’ hall, my lord, or by other valets. I may even overhear conversations by accident. But if I become aware of the private business of gentlemen, that is a matter for nobody”—a tiny, taunting pause—“but my master.”
“You’re a damned slyboots,” Lord Maltravers remarked. “Ain’t you?”
David bowed again. “It is necessary for me to find a post with a master of greater standing than Lord Richard. Once that is secured, I shall spare no effort to make myself indispensable.”
There was clear anger on Lord Maltravers’s face now. He did not like bargaining with a servant. If David’s true aim had been to secure the position, he would have offered only a flattering mirror in which his lordship could see his own greatness. He would have reminded Lord Maltravers that David was here obeying his will, as a supplicant.
David did not want him to think of it in those terms.
Lord Maltravers needed a victory, and that was David’s biggest advantage of all. There was little more than a week before the Cato Street trial began, and Lord Gabriel had still not capitulated to his brother’s threats, blaming Lord Richard’s obstinacy. A spy who held the secrets of Lord Richard’s household, where Silas Mason sheltered and Lord Gabriel and Mr. Webster were such frequent visitors, would seem a gift. David had to make that gift sufficiently unattractive that Lord Maltravers was not suspicious.
His lordship worked his jaw, a sign of anger. His stock was just a touch too tight and too high for either comfort or flattery of his incipient jowls. Clearly his valet did not like his master.
“I expect total obedience,” Lord Maltravers said. “You’ll do as you’re told and jump to it, sirrah. I shall have questions. You won’t understand them, I dare say, or my reasons for asking, but no matter. You’ll answer them, and you won’t repeat anything I say to you.”
“My master may place the utmost confidence in me,” David assured him, and watched it dawn on Lord Maltravers that if David would betray Lord Richard, he’d do the same to anyone.
He saw that, and he saw the hardening of Lord Maltravers’s lips that spoke of determination. Lord Maltravers would not be a soft-hearted fool like Richard Vane. He would break an insolent valet’s will and satisfy his own dented self-esteem at the same time. David had no doubt that if he took up the place, Lord Maltravers would make him pay for that forced bargain.
And the angrier Lord Maltravers became, the sooner he’d start taking out his resentment. David gave his slyest smile. “May I presume I have the great fortune to be offered the place?”
“You’ll start at once. The first thing I—”