The Valet and the Stable Groom: M/M Regency Romance by Katherine Marlowe Read Free Book Online Page A

master, mistress, and two other servants lounged about on the floor, but the prospect of joining them seemed impossibly forward.
    He busied himself with herding puppies, keeping them mostly out of trouble. The puppies were moving slower now that they’d had over an hour’s worth of adventure, and most of them were now either napping or wobbling about in sleepy exploration. Clement returned as many as he could to the basket.
    It was a relief when Jane at last declared she was hungry and sent Letty to ring for lunch. Hugo gathered up the basket of puppies, including Titania.
    “She’ll need to stay with her mother until she’s been weaned,” Hugo explained. His smile was gentle and fond, and Clement paused in the process of straightening a cushion to stare. “As soon as she’s old enough to be away from Constance, I’ll bring her back, and until then you’re welcome to visit her in the stables. I don’t imagine it will be more than a week or two from now.”
    “I trust entirely to your expertise,” Jane said.
    Clement reached for the basket, wanting an excuse to stay with Hugo a little longer, in hopes that he might witness more of his smiles. “I’ll help you to the stables.”
    “Clement?” Hildebert said.
    Heart sinking, Clement put his most professional demeanour in place and turned about. “Sir?”
    “I think I will take a turn about the gardens after lunch. Will you lay out my walking suit?”
    Not allowing his disappointment to show on his face, Clement bowed. It was hardly surprising that Hildebert might require something of him after Clement had left him unattended for half the morning.
    As he walked past Hugo without a glance, he could feel the groom’s presence as tangibly as heat from a hearth, radiating good-natured warmth indiscriminately unto his surroundings. Clement’s cheeks were hot when he reached the hallway, though his hands were cold. He clasped them, hesitating for just a moment before he roused himself to his duty and strode off to obey.

Chapter 4
    I t began to rain the next day, vacillating between a spitting drizzle and a steady downpour.
    Clement spent the morning running up and down the stairs on small tasks to ameliorate Hildebert’s boredom.
    Where was the latest issue of the Gentleman’s and London Magazine? Had it been left in the carriage?
    It had not. Clement was sure of it, but the magazine could not be found, so there was nothing to be done but that Clement must run to the carriage house and check between the cushions in search of it.
    The carriage had been emptied of its luggage and accoutrements, and cleaned. The magazine was nowhere to be found.
    By the time he returned, Hildebert had found the magazine among the bed clothes after—Hildebert now recalled—he had been reading it last night.
    Hildebert wanted a walk, despite the rain, so Clement ran about fetching his oiled greatcoat, gloves, and hat. Armed with an umbrella, Hildebert got only as far as the front door before insisting that perhaps Clement should accompany him, and then there was nothing to be done but that Clement should dress himself for the weather. When they at last ventured outside, the rain had lessened. Hildebert only endured a few bursts of wind before cursing the hellish Welsh rain (sent over the border, it seemed, by Welsh conspiracy) and insisting that they return indoors.
    By lunch, Clement was exhausted.
    While Mr. and Mrs. Devereux lunched, Clement was sent out into the rain in search of Hildebert’s pocket watch. It was not in his pocket, which meant it might have been dropped outside on their brief promenade.
    Clement found nothing, and itched to make a search of Hildebert’s coat pockets. There was, however, no polite way to suggest such a thing.
    Trying to excuse himself long enough to change out of his wet things, Clement was detained several further to aid in brainstorming activities for after lunch. Only when Jane suggested cards was Hildebert satisfied, and then only once