Adam relaxed only the tiniest bit once they were safely inside. Maids would be coming soon with brooms and buckets to clean, fresh sheets and possibly a fresh mattress. Adam wanted to direct all of it, though he also needed to tend to Ronan himself.

"I don't know what else there is to tell," Adam said, leaving off the 'sir' with difficulty. "I have worked here as an under-footman since you left. My parents retain their former positions." That was going to be especially difficult, trying to give them orders in order to get what Ronan needed. "You'd be better off getting the news from your brother. There's very little that reaches my ears."

Setting down only one of the bags, Adam started up the ladder with the rest. He wasn't about to let Ronan carry his own bags, especially not if someone walked in on them. The servants would talk, and it would come down on Adam's head.