Jade Lee by Winning a Bride Read Free Book Online Page A

Lawtons will never be one of us. We in Yorkshire know what’s what. We know—”
    “That Lord Lawton is your employer? Do you understand that he is directly responsible for the food on your table and the clothes on your back?”
    Mr. Ransey’s eyes widened in shock, but Will was on a roll, his voice and his anger finding a target in a man who had pushed too far.
    “Do you think you are helping me?” he continued. “Do you think by making me appear before Lawton covered in mud one day, then have him wait on my attention the next, that you are helping anyone at all? Because I assure you, you are not. I had to stop the man from sacking you yesterday—”
    “Sacking me! Well just let him try! I’ll have all the maids—”
    “Pouring bad cream in the corners? Good God man, don’t you understand? The Crowles are no more!”
    Ransey’s two fists slammed down hard on the table, rattling the saucers and spilling the tea. “Never say that, Master Will! You’ll rise again, you wait and see.”
    “And if I do, I will sack you myself! Goddamn it Ransey, you do me no credit, spoiling the library and sending false messages. Do you think you’re untouchable here? Do you think I’d like to see you and Mary tossed out on your ear?”
    The man straightened to his full height. He barely topped Will’s nose, but it didn’t matter. The man could put on airs as well as any duke. But for the first time, the attitude just looked sad to Will. A man holding on to something that could never be.
    “Let Hisself try! I won’t be leaving this house until my deathbed!”
    Will just looked at him and shook his head. When he spoke, his voice was soft and sad. And that tone, more than anything else, seemed to shake the aged man to the core.
    “You shame me and the Crowle name, Ransey. With every botched message, with every bad odor, you show that the Crowle rot infected everything. Not just my father and his father, but the staff, the town, everything. That not a one of us can do our jobs with the strength and the stamina of a true man. You are the head of the house staff, man. Everyone takes their lead from you. Show yourself to be a true butler to his lordship, or for God’s sake, step aside and let Hank do the job.”
    “Hank!” the man gasped. “Hank is a boy!”
    “But he knows how to do his job. Do you?”
    The man swallowed, his eyes rimming red with tears that he would not shed. Will didn’t compromise his stance. He couldn’t. He couldn’t let a man who had been a father to him risk his livelihood pursuing a dream of bygone days. And in the end, Ransey proved himself to be a man worthy of respect.
    “I will do you proud, Master Will.”
    “Thank you, Ransey.”
    The man nodded, took another moment to gather himself, then walked stiffly to the door. “I will show you to Lord Lawton now, sir. If you would please follow me?”
    Will knew the way. Of course he knew the way. He’d grown up here. But protocol had to be observed, so he followed as if he were… well, as if he were exactly what he was: a steward to Lord Lawton, here to report to his employer.
    Ransey escorted him to the library and announced him in sonorous tones. Lord Lawton was there, along with the damned Scot. Will walked in with his hat in his hand. Meanwhile, Ransey followed him, walked to the library’s corner and grabbed a large potted plant. Will didn’t help the old man as he lifted the heavy thing. That was presumably the source of the sour milk scent that permeated the room. He merely stepped out of the way as the man shuffle-stepped out of the room.
    “What the devil are you about Ransey?” asked Lord Lawton.
    “The plant has gone bad, my lord. I thought to remove it.”
    Lawton frowned. After all, the thing looked healthy enough, but surely he knew it was the source of the sour milk smell. A moment later, he proved that he was no fool because he simply nodded and waited for the door to close. Then he leveled a hard look at Will.
    “So can