Laurie Brown by Hundreds of Years to Reform a Rake Page A

her list of questions and crossed off those that pertained
     to his life before death. She was interested in the now. How did he renew his depleted energy? Did he sleep?
    “Where is that butler? I rang for tea at least five minutes ago.” Amelia set aside her gardening magazine and stood. Rather
     than use the bellpull again, she picked up the phone. She paused before pushing the button to call downstairs. “What’s his
     name? Higgins? Hiddens?”
    “Higdon,” Deverell provided as he appeared in his leather chair. “He will be along soon.”
    Amelia set down the receiver.“I’m afraid he isn’t working out.”
    “Give the lad a chance.”
    “But he doesn’t know his job.”
    “He’ll learn. If fact, I’ve written out instructions.” He pulled several sheets of paper from his breast pocket, and Josie
     could not suppress a groan of empathy for the younger man.
    Amelia did not take the papers.“Perhaps we should get a replacement from the employment agency...”
    “I did not hire him through an employment agency,” Deverell muttered.
    A sudden horrifying thought occurred to Josie. “Did you transport...”
    “No, I did not transport him from another time or place.”
    Josie sagged back into her chair in relief—as if she’d needed further proof that Deverell could not do what he said he could.
    “Then where did you find him?” Amelia asked. Deverell shifted in his chair as if uncomfort- able having to explain his methods.
     “I did call an agency that specifically handles butlers and was told, quite rudely as a matter of fact, they do not take temporary
     assignments. After I thought about it, though, it made sense. Since we only needed someone for a week, I was forced to think
     creatively.”
    “So where did you find him?”Amelia asked again.
    “Through a theatrical agency.”
    “An actor?”
    “For a young man he has quite an impressive resume.”
    “You hired an actor to play the part of our butler? Oh,my. The cost must...”
    “I am not unmindful of your pocketbook, my dear. Higdon is doing it for room and board. He is, and I quote, up for a major
     part in a film. According to our phone interview, he thinks on-the-job training will help him nail the motivation.Though it
     is beyond me why anyone would make a film about a butler named Jeeves...”
    Amelia coughed.“Obviously you haven’t gotten to the W s in the library. Jeeves is...”
    “A gentleman’s gentleman.Yes, I am aware of that and also quite aware of the difference between that and a butler, hence the
     extensive list I’ve provided for his edification.”
    Josie was about to ask Deverell about the differences when there was a knock on the door.When Amelia called permission to
     enter, he went into his aura state where other people couldn’t see him, though for some reason she still could.
    “You rang?” Higdon said in a sonorous voice reminiscent of Lurch, the butler on The Addams Family .
    “We’ll have our tea now,” Amelia said.
    “Very good.” He bowed and reached for the handle as he backed out the door.
    “Before you go, here’s a list of some things you may need to know.” Amelia held out the papers Deverell had prepared.
    Higdon stepped forward. “Thank you.” He scanned the pages.“Oh,wow! This is way cool,” he said dropping his formal persona.
    “Perhaps you can study those in private,”Amelia suggested, not unkindly. “After serving tea?”
    “Yes, of course.” He stuffed the pages into his pocket.“My apologies. I’ll be back in a jiff. I mean, very good, madam.” He
     backed out the door in a proper fashion, although he could not entirely erase the smile from his face.
    “That was very nice of you,”Josie said to Deverell.
    “Thank you,” Amelia answered.
    Deverell nodded his head in recognition of her compliment, and Josie thought she detected a slight blush as he rematerialized
     so that Amelia could see him, too.
    “Now that we’ve taken care of that, we can get back to the