John fetched Eleanor thirty minutes before their appointment with the decorationist. She was coming down the stairs as he entered the hall. The pale yellow of her carriage gown showed off her creamy complexion, and the small chip bonnet did nothing to hide her golden hair. “You look enchanting.”

Smiling, she took his arm, and they walked out of the house. “You look quite handsome. Are you excited to meet the decorationist?”

He was excited for a chance to get her in his bed. “I am happy to meet anyone who can help us change the colors in our house.”

“Mrs. Rollins will do that. We meet with the architect tomorrow. Did I mention they are a married couple?”

“No.” He was surprised the person doing the work was a woman. “Did they meet while working on a house?”

“I have no idea.” He assisted Eleanor into his curricle. Once he was settled, he started the horses. “The only thing I know about her personal life is that her father is a merchant. Mr. Rollins’s father is a vicar. The fourth or fifth son of a baron, and he is the third son of his parents.”

Therefore, Rollins must make his own way. John wondered what the man’s family had thought of him marrying into the merchant class. Then again, what did it matter? The world was changing. There would come a day when bloodlines would not mean as much. “How does this process work?”

“I know what I want for the general color scheme and have an idea of the patterns I like. She will make sketches, giving us a picture of what my ideas will look like when a room is finished. I think it’s very helpful that she and her husband work closely together.”

He drove into the mews behind Montagu House. “I thought you might like to see the garden. You can also take a look at the stables, if you wish.”

“I would.” She waited for him to lift her from the carriage. “I only got a glimpse of the garden yesterday.”

Mindful of the stable servants, he resisted the urge to skim his hands under her breasts. “You will like our stable master.”

The older servant appeared immediately. “I would have been happy to send a groom round to fetch the pair, my lord.”

“I know you would have.” He turned to Eleanor. “May I introduce Fitch, the stable master? Fitch, my betrothed, Lady Eleanor Carpenter.”

“My lady”—Fitch bowed—“thank you for coming to see the stables.” John didn’t think he’d ever seen Fitch bow before. “I’ll get the rest of the grooms and coachmen.”

Getting the rest of the servants consisted of walking to the stable doors and shouting for them.

Chuckling softly, Eleanor glanced at John. “And that is the difference between indoor servants and outdoor servants.”