“But she lost—”
He held up his hand for silence as a footman brought in the tea tray. He was more appropriately called a footboy given his youth—barely into his teens—but he was strong enough for the work even when his gaze seemed to hop all over the room in his nervousness.
“Who are you?” Aaron demanded.
“Don’t be mean,” Clara snapped. “This is Rogers. He’s new. Lilah recommended him and he’s—”
Young.
“—Learning his duties very well.”
The boy straightened up and then flushed bright red to the tips of his ears. “I’m here to serve, my lord.”
He sounded like he was reporting to the military, but Aaron had the grace to realize his surliness should not be poured over this young man. “Very well, Rogers,” he said with as much warmth as he could muster. “There’s going to be extra work until I can find a suitable butler—”
“I’ll do that!” Clara exclaimed.
Aaron ignored her. “I’ll be watching to see if you know your responsibilities.”
“Yes, my lord,” Rogers snapped. And again, it felt like he was responding to a commanding officer.Good enough, Aaron thought as he waved the man away.
Meanwhile, Clara started to pour tea, but her expression was mulish. “That is my job, Aaron. I’ll not have you doing it.”
“Well, I’m changing your job,” he said. “I’m an earl now, and I can’t have a butler threatening me and a boy serving tea.” He matched her stubborn expression, glare for glare. “It’s time for us both to step into our proper status.”
“What does that mean?” she cried.
“It means that I’ll oversee the getting of a proper housekeeper and butler. It means that you won’t go writing midnight letters to gentlemen so you can visit a gaming hell. And it means said gentleman won’t be sleeping in our front parlor!”
“I was frightened for you!” Clara cried. “I got an escort and arrived disguised. You, on the other hand, let them banty Lilah’s name about while she lost all her money!” She leaned forward. “I’d wager you’re the one who acted badly, not me.”
She had a point, not that he was going to listen to it. “I’m a man and an earl. I’m allowed to be an idiot. You’re an unmarried lady in want of a husband.”
“I am not!”
“You are.” His voice was hard. “I’ve let you run wild here, hoping you would settle down. And what do I find? A gentleman sleeping in my parlor!”
He wasn’t even looking at Lord Loughton. His glower was completely reserved for his sister, but at that last statement, Loughton exhaled in a loud, long breath. Almost like a bull preparing to charge. “I’m getting a wee bit tired of being the villain in all this.”
“It might surprise you to know that I don’t care. It’s not proper for a man to sleep—”
“She asked me to! She was frightened for Miss Rees,” Loughton interrupted. “And worried about you, though I cannot understand why. You seem churlish enough to do well in that crowd.”
His gaze narrowed on the Scotsman. “Have a care, sir. You have to go through me to get her.” It was a threat, spoken low and angry, but the bastard met his growl with a firm jaw and a challenge of his own.
“Do I? Are you sure?”
“Oh my God!” his sister declared, suddenly dropping her teacup onto her saucer. Her tones were dramatic and horrified.
Aaron blew out a breath. Now what?
“Clara?” Lord Loughton prompted.
“This is a hangover, isn’t it? That’s why he’s acting like this, right?”
“What?” Aaron snapped. “Don’t be ridiculous.” He certainly did have a sore head, but that wasn’t affecting him in the least.
“But you’re never like this. Punching servants and ordering me to become proper. That’s what Mother used to do, and you swore you’d never treat me like that.”