“Anything you – might require, my Lord. I can be your – housekeeper until you can find – someone more experienced, which – might be rather difficult in this – part of the world. Or I could – clean your house as I have been cleaning – our own since – my father died.”
“Very well then, Miss Sherwood,” the Marquis agreed. “You can run the house for me and help Cranley engage what servants he can find.”
“You are not – thinking of bringing – any from London?” Erlina asked him.
“No!”
The monosyllable was sharp and Erlina realised that the suggestion had annoyed him.
Gerry, who had been listening to the conversation, then said,
“I don’t know what I can do unless I help look after the horses, my Lord.”
“How old are you?” the Marquis asked.
“I am eleven and three months,” Gerry replied. “But
