Read At the Earl's Convenience for Free Online Page A

of people from surrounding villages formed at the door, seeking work. Selina hired a housekeeper, a Mrs. Lark, to replace the one who’d departed in despair months ago. Two stable hands and an under-groom were to work with Joseph. Four sturdy men were to assist the head gardener, as well as a new under-gardener who’d gained experience in one of the big houses in the district. Sarah was elevated to lady’s maid, and Mrs. Marshall had new staff for the kitchen. An under-butler was hired to relieve Frobisher of some of his tasks. There was still so much to do, but it was a start.
    The house became a hub of activity. Carpenters worked in the house while laborers assisted the gardeners, stripping away the vines and doing the heavy work in the grounds. Painters ventured into every room while roofers patched leaks and replaced broken slates. Samples of material were brought to the house for Selina’s approval.
    When she strolled in the gardens, she met cheery stonemasons repairing stone walls and paths while others filled the potholes in the carriageway.
    The house was so large that she decided to narrow her focus, restoring to order the reception rooms and a handful of bedchambers. The housekeeper supervised the maids with a keen eye. A villager who came to the house said Selina’s restorations had lifted the spirits of the tenants and many in the area had prospered.
    In the office, Selina spent hours paying bills and putting the accounts into order. She purchased a horse to ride around the estate. She visited the tenants, restocked the home farm, discussed the planting of vegetables with the head gardener and the menus with Mrs. Marshall. Worn out every night, she fell into bed and prayed for sleep. But slumber was long coming as she struggled with sadness and longing. Where was Devereux?
    ****
    Dressed in their American uniforms, Giles and Grant had been successfully running coded messages out of Paris without detection. But when the clergyman, Delaunay, was arrested and thrown into the Conciergerie prison, Giles knew he had to act quickly to get Grant back to England. Giles met a man Delaunay had contacted, on the stone bridge in the decorative English gardens of Parc Monceau. It was arranged for a fishing boat to be waiting in an inlet near Deauville.
    Giles left Paris with Grant at dawn the next morning. They arrived close to nightfall two days later to find the boat bobbing about on waves stirred up by a stiff sea breeze.
    Giles remained on horseback as Grant made his way to the shore. Grant swiveled. “You’re not coming, Halcrow?”
    “I hope to get Delaunay out of jail if I can.”
    Grant walked back to him. “I know of a jailer in the Conciergerie who will assist you, if you grease his palm.” He gave Giles the man’s name, tossed him a bag of coins and with a salute, climbed aboard. After the boat set sail, Giles turned his horse to ride back to Paris.

    Returning to Paris, Giles spent the next day organizing the operation. He followed Pierre Valmont after he left the prison, and approached him in a tavern. When the man agreed, Giles visited the jail dressed again in his American uniform. Using forged orders, and with the jailor’s assistance, he quickly obtained the release of Delaunay, who looked like he wouldn’t last many more days in the appalling, reeking place, the air filled with cries and groans. The hair on the back of Giles’ neck prickled as he half-carried the man out into the Boulevard du Palais. A hired carriage waited to take them to a prearranged place where his daughter waited.
    Giles once again left Paris. This time, a few miles into the countryside he wasn’t so lucky. A group of French militias had spotted him. He urged his tired horse into a gallop, but the soldiers were gaining on him. Maybe he wouldn’t deliver the dress to Selina after all.
    ****
    The trees in the park of Halcrow Hall turned gold, red, and brown, and the days grew shorter, the weather colder. The results of all