Aimé nods, relieved his brother had not dismissed the idea out of hand. “He speaks a little, he says, but he is taking lessons and I could help him. Besides, it would not be so strenuous for me to practise my English.” He says, considering this for a moment and then offering. “Although, what better way to learn than to be immersed? I am sure he would soon learn from ourselves and the other servants.”
“Of course, it is your prerogative.” He agreed, quietly confident the young man would impress his brother as he had impressed him. “I hadn’t checked them yet, no, but I thought it would be better to see the man for myself and deem if he would be acceptable before I took the matter further.”
In fact he had not planned to at all. Tolly had seemed so perfect and had been willing to keep his secret, Aimé had been planning on offering him a job so he could introduce him to his family later. “Besides, I wanted to move quickly before we are away with the Duke at his summer lodgings. I thought it might be prudent to have a servant with me then, and that he be discreet.” He mentioned the word, knowing it would have been the one in the advertisement his brother would have wondered about. Mentioning the Duke, his newest companion whom Antoine had introduced him too, should hopefully silence that question and it had been something he had considered – it would hardly do to have a servant who would be disgusted by those sorts of goings on or might be willing for the right amount to sell the information or use it for blackmail.