rground kitchen was boiling hot. Steam rose from mass

k off his gray jacket. He wore only a white button-down shirt.

as Agnes, the old stable master's niece. She was trying to lift a massive heav

c. The heavy bucket tipped backward

under the bucket. His bicep flexed tight against his shirt

She looked up at Emmett's fa

you," she

show off. He just lifted the bucket eas

ext time," Emmett said. Hi

s now!" Chef Fabre screame

d her shoulders up to her

a potato and started peeling. The knife moved in fast, sharp circles. Th

es. "Are you Emmett?" she whispered. "The

action of a second. The rumor h

oked at Agnes with a soft

I don't have much formal schooling. I don't u

he instantly believed him. She smiled bac

ocent smile. A dark memo

ought he was charming. He thought his handsome face made him special. That stupid arrog

tred hit him so hard his stomach rolled. He gripped

potato into the sink. It hit the water with

walked toward Emmett. She stopped right next to him. She

strong, Emmett,

his weight and took a half-step to the

for you?" Emmett asked. His voice w

he turned around and grabbed a breakfast tray. "You're as

a brick wall. Until Kearney arrived, Emmett had to be

ound. He saw Emmett quietly peeling potatoes, ignoring the girls, j

enu. Lady Philippa is returning to the manor t

into chaos. Pans clat

his wet hands on a towel. He stared

er. The war for the money was about to begin. Emm