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Victoria finally decided to confront him. She was in the butler’s pantry, her trusted notebook on the table, when a shadow fell over the pages.

“Can I help you with something?” she asked firmly.

“You’ve transposed these figures,” Stephen said, pointing to a line near the bottom.

“I did not do?—”

Her eyes followed the numbers, and she caught the mistake. Great, now he would make fun of her, and he was going to make some comment about how she would bring ruin to his respectable house, that she’d better?—

“That’s the only mistake you made.”

Wait. That tone…

Victoria could have sworn that she detected a hint of admiration in his simple—but very true—comment.

“You are good with numbers,” he said, looking shocked himself.

“I am,” she affirmed.

“And you’ve managed the cook exceptionally well.” Stephen took a little step closer. “He is known to be… difficult.”

“I wonder who chose him to be part of the staff.”

Victoria knew very well that the cook was Stephen’s personal choice. Dorothy had told her that Stephen was a very picky eater.

He scoffed and smirked, his chin dropping as he kept his eyes on hers.

Oh, that look is dangerous.

“Anyway…” Victoria swallowed. “I gave him full control of the desserts. The rest was easy.”

“Managed a man with something sweet,” he mused.

His tone, that low purr, did things to her that she couldn’t understand. Her breath caught mid-inhalation, freezing her for one treacherous moment.

“My Lady, which china for breakfast?” Mrs. Charlotte suddenly called from the china cabinet.

“Excuse me.” Victoria left the pantry as fast as she could.

CHAPTER10

Luncheon

Stephen had been watching Victoria for the past few days, and he pretended it was to make sure that everything was done properly. He could have figured out that everything was from observing her the first day. But he couldn’t stop.

Victoria was taking care of literally everything regarding the preparations for the house party. With the elegance and the efficiency of—and it pained him to admit it—a gently bred lady. No, even that was unfair to her. She was doing a much better job.

She talked to the servants with authority but with respect as well. She managed, not ordered, and she spared some witty comments to dispel their anxiety over making things right or on time. She also was annoyingly efficient in managing numbers, from budget to inventory to foreseeable expenses.

“Ah, our Victoria is doing an amazing job, don’t you think, Stephen?” his mother commented at the breakfast table.

“Miss Victoria is… adequate,” he answered.

He wanted to smirk at seeing Victoria so angry at him, but he held back. He was lying, of course, but he would never admit out loud that Victoria’s help was indispensable.

“Dorothy,” Victoria said softly. “Will you come with me to pick the new drapes for Annabelle’s room?”

“Ah, the old ones were ruined by mold, right?”