Page 62 of A Bluestocking for the Wicked Duke

William went out of the bathroom as the steward entered. He waited till the steward left before he undressed and got into the bathroom to shave and have his bath. When William was done he wore the cotton shirt and leather short he had just removed and walked out of the room. William walked out of the house into the garden. He remembered the topiary he had seen at Norfolk.

They are amazing to look at.

He saw the gardener under the big apple tree. The man was dozing; he was desperately struggling to keep awake but he was losing at it. His mouth was open and his head kept drooping. William stifled a laugh; the man must have been very tired. He walked quietly to him and raised his hand to wake him. He intended to ask him if he knew about topiary and if he could make some. But he empathized with the man’s current state.

I guess topiary can wait.

William walked back to the house. He got into his room and picked up his time piece.

“A few minutes past eleven,” William read out.

James isn’t coming today. If by this time tomorrow he doesn’t show, I’ll go to Eusten myself. Something is going on.

William wore a jacket on the thin shirt and walked out of the room and into the stable. His chestnut stallion neighed on his entrance, as if to signify to him that it was ready.

“I know you have been waiting for me,” William said to the horse in a babyish voice.

He saddled it and led it out of the stable before mounting it and riding out of the compound. The sun was high and the rays stung but the flowing breeze that swept into his face and through his clothes as he rode took away a lot of the bite in the rays. William felt himself warm up and cool down at the same time. It felt great.

After a bit more than half an hour, William got to Norfolk. He rode to Esther’s house and smiled when he saw the huge forest behind the house spread open as if to welcome visitors. He rode into the compound and saw a carriage in front of the staircase. The driver was sitting in front and looked ready to leave. William rode his horse beside the carriage and saw the woman he had thought to be the warden, the Countess, sitting inside. She saw him too, smiling when their eyes met.

William turned his horse to the carriage and dismounted. He walked to the carriage and held the Countess’ outstretched hand, kissing it as he bowed.

“Your Grace, your carriage in simplicity endears me to you,” he commented.

The Countess smiled.

“Esther told me of your mistake Mr. William although I had already guessed that was the case as I went up to call her,” she replied.

Her voice was cheerful but firm. William found himself agreeing with Esther’s assessment of her mother. She would be a very nice person to be with.

“I am sorry for my lack of discernment, Your Grace, now I know,” he replied.

She brushed his apology aside by a flick of her left hand as if to say, “Don’t worry about that.”

The driver looked inside the carriage and asked her.

“Should I move now Your Grace?” he asked.

“Yes, we can go,” she replied before turning back to William.

“She is inside, just go in and send a steward to her.”

William bowed again as the carriage rode slowly away. He smiled when it left the compound.

A very simple minded woman indeed.

He looked back to the house and saw Esther on the first step. Her gown was short, obviously one to be worn indoors. The pink colour radiated warmth from where she stood. His gaze followed her slim thighs up into the coverage of the skirt. She had unblemished white skin that made his heart race.

Or was it her smile?

She was smiling broadly as if she had been expecting him for days. William smiled back and walked to meet her on the stairs. He gave the reins of his horse to a steward who came to collect it before he climbed the stairs. On getting to the top he bowed stiffly to her before kissing her on both cheeks.

“You could have allowed me to come meet you inside the living room,” William said to her.

Esther held him still in a close embrace as she responded to him.

“I missed you a bit, so let me say I’m eager to see you. But secondly, this was a chance to send a very public message about us. I took the chance,” Esther replied.