Andrew Q. Gordon

Today’s guest is H. Lewis Foster who’s here to talk about her new book –  A Valet’s Duty. I’m looking forward to reading this as I have a thing for historical fiction. So take a peek and if you like what you’ve read, leave her a comment at the end. -AQG

Thanks very much for having me on your blog today, Andrew—it’s great to be here.

I’m very excited about the release of my Edwardian story A Valet’s Duty, but instead of telling you all about it, I thought I’d leave it to the valet himself.

‘Hello there. My name’s Henry Simpkins and I’m valet to the Earl of Wayshaw at Taverslow in Somerset. I’ve only been working here a few months, but I’ve settled in pretty well. It’s a beautiful house and the staff have been very welcoming. Mr Fenton the butler can be a bit up himself sometimes, but even he’s not so bad.

I must admit, I was wary of moving out to the countryside. I’m a Londoner born and bred, and I’m used to the bustle of city life. All my friends live in London, too, including some who are very good friends, if you know what I mean. So it’s all been rather quiet since I moved out here—or at least it was until a few weeks ago.

The Earl’s a decent sort, but I was less than impressed when I found out his younger brother was coming to stay at Taverslow. I don’t mind being valet to another gentleman, but this one was bringing his two dogs, which I would have to look after. I can’t stand dogs, and these mutts were right little rascals. I’ve just about got them under control now, but that’s more than can be said for their master.

Rafe is like no other gentleman I’ve ever met. He’s very good-looking, but there again, a lot of these rich folks are. What makes him different is his character. He’s warm and friendly and talks to me almost as if I were his equal. I love hearing him talk about his villa in Italy, and so I couldn’t really say no when he asked me for a bit of a favour.

It seems that he was missing male company just as much as I was, so I was only too happy to provide a little manual stimulation. I haven’t had so much fun in a long time, but since then things have progressed, and not just physically. I’m afraid I may be falling in love with Rafe, and now I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to leave Taverslow, and I don’t want to leave Rafe, but I can’t carry on like this… ‘

A Valet’s Duty by H. Lewis-Foster

Blurb:

At the turn of the twentieth century, Henry Simpkins is a valet at Taverslow, the Earl of Wayshaw’s Somerset home. When the Earl’s younger brother, Rafe, arrives from his villa in Italy, Henry is given the task of caring for his mischievous dogs, Pepe and Paolo. As part of his valet’s duties, he also goes to Rafe’s room each night to tidy away his clothes.

One night, Rafe tentatively asks Henry if he would go beyond his valet’s duty to relieve his sexual tensions. Henry enjoys their increasingly intimate encounters, but he’s soon disturbed to find he feels more for Rafe than mere physical attraction. Henry faces a difficult decision. Can he bear to remain in the same house as Rafe if his affections are not returned?

Excerpt:

Henry followed Fenton through the house, its walls festooned with paintings and gilt-framed mirrors. He recalled his previous place of employment, which couldn’t have been more different. Wareham Mews had been the London abode of the Berringtons, whose family wealth had been acquired in the publishing industry. They were pleasant enough and terribly modern—they’d installed electricity in every room—but Henry didn’t share their taste in interior design. They’d taken a liking for a Mr Mackintosh from Glasgow, and while his finely carved chairs were undoubtedly stylish, they looked bloody uncomfortable.

Even so, Henry couldn’t deny he’d had some fun at Wareham Mews. The Berringtons threw fabulous parties, where women dared to bare their ankles and sometimes a lot more, as they danced to the latest American music. They even hired a ragtime band one night. When Henry had finally been dismissed, he found some entertainment of his own with the valet of one of the visiting guests. He’d thanked heaven for the relatively small staff of a London residence, as it meant he had a room of his own tucked away in a tiny roof turret. As the music continued several floors below—the party lasted into the early hours—Henry took full advantage. The bed springs had squeaked like they were about to give way and his companion cried out in such ecstasy when he came, Henry was afraid there would soon be a knock on the door to find out what was he was up to.

It had been one hell of a night, but shortly after Henry heard the Earl of Wayshaw required a new valet for his Somerset home. Henry loved living in London with all its madness and bustle, and his friends working in houses only a stone’s throw away, but Henry was rapidly approaching the age of thirty. He needed to move to a larger, more established house if he wanted to advance his career.

And so Henry found himself standing in Taverslow’s drawing room, with its ornate ceiling and sumptuous crimson furniture. Noticing a low rumbling sound, he looked around to trace its source. Two pairs of glimmering brown eyes stared up at him.

“These are your wards, Mr Simpkins.” There was no doubting the smirk on Fenton’s face this time. “Pepe and Paolo.”

“Pepe and Paolo?” Henry tried, in vain, not to laugh. “But they’re Yorkshire Terriers.”

“That they may be, but Mr Rafe spends a lot of time in Italy, hence the rather exotic names.” Fenton dropped two leather dog leads into Henry’s hand. “Just walk them, feed them, and don’t let them run off, and everyone will be happy.”

Buy Link:

A Valet’s Duty is available to buy at: https://spsilverpublishing.com/a-valets-duty-ebook-p-60427.html

Author Bio:

H. Lewis-Foster has worked with books, in one form or another, since leaving university. As a keen reader of gay fiction, she decided to try writing herself, and is now the proud author of several short stories and a debut novel Burning Ashes.

H. has lived in various parts of the UK and has recently moved to the north of England, where she’s enjoying city life, especially the theatres and cinemas. She tries not to watch too much television, but is a big fan of Downton Abbey, and while she’s writing, she loves listening to Test Match Special (where they spend far more time talking about cakes than cricket!)

Links:

Website:

http://hlewisfoster.wix.com/books

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/HLewisFoster