They entered through the French windows in the morning room and found Lumner in the hall. “The man for the cook’s position is here in the kitchen. Would you like to have him sent to you?”

“No, thank you.” Eleanor had already decided she wanted to speak with him in the kitchen. It was important to see how he got along with the staff. “Is Sissy there as well?”

“Yes, my lady.”

“Excellent.” John held open the green baize door. She went through it and down the stairs.

When they arrived Sissy was showing the man around. “My lady.” She curtseyed. “This is Guillaume”—she stumbled over the name, and Eleanor was pleased to see he took it good-naturedly—“Martin for the chef position.”

He bowed. “It is a pleasure, my lady, my lord. My uncle Jacques said you required a chef de cuisine. I have been working under . . .”

By the time he had finished telling them his qualifications, Eleanor had decided to hire him. For a week now, poor Rennie had been responsible for seeing the household was fed. As good as Sissy’s baked goods were, one could only eat so many of them.

She had had the forethought to have a copy of Jacques’s contract delivered to Montagu House so it could work as the basis for the new cook’s contract. She discussed the terms with Guillaume, as he preferred to be called, and he agreed. “When can you start?”

“If you like, my lady, I will bring my belongings here today and I will begin tomorrow morning. I would ask that additional kitchen workers be hired.”

She was glad he had not seen the kitchen as it had looked before. “I agree. The contract will be ready to be signed.”

She and John used the servants’ stairs to reach his study. The second they entered, he picked her up and twirled her around. “We have a cook! The only problem is that I will no longer have an excuse to dine at Worthington House.”

“Perhaps your mother can invite my family to dine here.”

John laughed. “That is a wonderful idea.” He pressed his lips to hers. “Now, decide on the coverings and we can find something else to occupy our time.”

The best part of her day was when she and John could sneak off to what would be their bedchamber and make love.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Three days before the wedding, Eleanor went to look in on her twin. Alice had been in bed with a head cold for the past five days. “Are you feeling any better?”

“A little.” She sneezed into her handkerchief. “Grace says seven days.”

“She would know.” She had taken care of all of them for years. “You must be well by my wedding. I need you with me.”

“I will be. If you are going shopping, will you stop by Hatchards and pick up the books I ordered? They should be in.”