Page 26 of An Enchanting Kiss (Captivating Kisses #5)

“Lally likes flowers,” Celia said.

“Then it seems as if we all have much in common.” She led the girl from the room, pausing at the door and glancing over her shoulder. “Good day, my lord.”

Before he could reply, she was gone.

Rupert stood, placing his napkin in the chair.

He drained the rest of the coffee from his cup and left the breakfast room, heading toward his study.

For an hour, he tried to review a report Williamson had compiled of the autumn harvest, comparing it to harvests from the previous five years.

It proved to be impossible. He set the report aside and made his way to the stables, asking for Ajax to be saddled for him.

He rode the estate for a bit before heading toward the area where his tenants had their cottages.

He met with three of them, using a ladder to climb up and inspect the roofs himself.

Williamson had admitted to Rupert that those days were behind him, hinting again that he would be retiring soon.

Once he was on the ground again, he said, “I agree. All three roofs need to be replaced. I will speak to Mr. Williamson and see that the supplies are purchased. As soon as we have them in hand, we will place new roofs on these cottages.”

“You might want to look at all the roofs, my lord,” one of the men said. “It has been a while since any tenant received a new roof. Our three were simply in the worst shape.”

Returning to the ladder, he lifted it and said, “Where to next?”

Two hours later, he had examined each roof in the grouping of cottages.

Fortunately, he had brought a small notebook with him, and he drew a map of the area, drawing squares for each cottage, then marking the ones needing immediate replacements of their roofs.

He then used a numbered scale with one being the lowest need and five indicating the highest need of replacement.

“I will draw up a more concrete plan at home,” he told his tenants. “We will start replacing roofs on a rotating basis. I will keep accurate records of when we do so, and then we can rotate our schedule in the future so that a few at a time are replaced or repaired.”

As he rode back to the house, ready to visit with Williamson in his office, he decided he needed to confront the longtime estate manager and think about replacing him.

When he arrived, Williamson was hard at work, as always.

“I hate to interrupt you, but I would like to talk about new roofs.”

The steward set down his pencil. “Ah, yes. Thank you for climbing up there, Lord Cressley. My old, creaky bones are no longer fit to do so. Not that I ever enjoyed heights anyway.”

Not wanting to hurt the older man’s feelings, he said, “You have dropped hints to me that you are thinking of retirement. Is that what you wish to do, Williamson?”

Relief swept across the steward’s face. “Indeed, it is, my lord. I have been at Crestbrook since your father’s time, when you were a small boy.

My eyesight isn’t what it used to be. Stewardship is a game for a younger man.

I was ready to write to Lord Cressley in London and tell him it was time to look for my replacement—but he died—and you came.

I could not simply walk away and leave you in a bind, my lord. ”

“That was most thoughtful of you, Williamson. ”

“You are good man, Lord Cressley. You will make for a wonderful viscount. Already, you have a solid grasp on your duties. With an efficient steward, you will be set.”

“Do you have any recommendations for me? I know oftentimes positions such as these are filled by word of mouth,” he said, recalling that Lady Traywick had mentioned it to him earlier.

“As a matter of fact, my cousin’s boy is an assistant steward on an estate near Eskdale. He is nearing thirty years of age and itching to manage his own estate.”

“You believe he would be the best candidate to replace you?” he asked.

“I do, my lord. His name is Adam Holson. He is thoughtful. Dedicated. And what he doesn’t know, he learns how to do.”

“Write to him, Williamson. Say that I am interested in hiring him. If he agrees to come, have him turn in his notice to his current employer.”

The steward looked surprised. “You do not wish to interview him, my lord?”

“You have put heart and soul into Crestbrook all these years. You would not willingly turn it over to someone who is unworthy. Yes, I will meet with him—and you—when Holson arrives. I would hope you would stay on a bit to help him get his bearings.” Rupert paused.

“But if you believe he is the man for this post, then I simply agree with you.”

Williamson’s smile was wide. “Thank you, Lord Cressley. I promise that you will not be disappointed.”

He left, his step lighter, and returned to his study for a bit. When it was a quarter after three, he went to the drawing room, surprised to see Lady Lia and Celia already there.

His niece caught sight of him. “Uncle Rupert! We’re looking at the globe.”

Coming toward them, he smiled. “Celia is fascinated with the globe.”

Lady Lia nodded. “She most certainly is. We have spent the better part of an hour finding places on it and talking about them.”

Celia tugged on his hand. “I’ll show you. This is England. We live here. And this is France, where a bad man lives. He is mean and wants to take land that isn’t his.”

“Yes, Bonaparte. He is a mean man,” Rupert agreed, keeping a straight face.

His niece went on for several minutes, showing him places on the globe and naming them. China. Canada. Egypt. It surprised him one so young could remember so much.

“You have learned quite a bit today,” he praised.

“Lady Lia says I am very smart. I also practiced my numbers and letters.” She paused. “I can write my name!”

He turned to Lady Lia. “You have worked a small miracle with her today, my lady.”

“She is like an empty vessel, waiting to be filled. I knew children learned quickly, but Celia surpassed my expectations.”

“May I walk you to the stables and your horse?” he asked.

Her chin went up a notch. “That is not necessary, my lord.”

“I insist.”

She nodded. “Celia, you can stay here for a few minutes and look at the atlas. Your uncle will be back soon, and then you can have tea together.”

His niece nodded happily, heading toward the atlas. Rupert escorted Lady Lia from the drawing room. He did not say anything while they were inside the house. Only when they were outside and could not be overheard did he speak.

“I wanted to talk to you about our kiss,” he began, not certain where to go from there, especially because he had told himself this was the last thing he planned to do.

“I suppose we should clear the air between us regarding the kiss,” she agreed.

When he said nothing, she took up the reins.

“I think it only natural that sometimes there is a brief attraction between a man and a woman. You gave me my first kiss, Lord Cressley, and it was quite a good one. One which I will always treasure. But we both know that we are not meant for one another. I have shared with you that I seek a love match. You have told me that you plan to look for a bride come the spring Season. While the kiss was a pleasant experience, I do not believe either of us should make too much of it.”

Her words made sense, but they also cut him to the quick. He had been afraid he would hurt her.

Instead, she was crippling him.

“I hope that we can remain friendly,” she continued.

“For Celia’s sake and the fact that I believe you will become close friends with Tray.

But I would prefer that we spend no time alone together, my lord.

After all, we really shouldn’t have done so in the first place.

I have yet to make my come-out, and there are certain rules in Polite Society that we both should be adhering to. ”

They reached the stables, and a groom said, “I’ll fetch Orion for you, my lady.”

“Thank you.” To Rupert, she added, “I hope with my taking on Celia, it frees you up to devote time to your new duties. In the future, I can make my own way to the stables, and you must remain with your niece in the drawing room. I do not plan to come inside Crestbrook tomorrow. I will call for Celia on Orion. A footman can let you know I am here and send Celia out to me.”

She paused. “Do you have any questions for me, Lord Cressley?”

Deflated, he said, “Not a one, Lady Lia. You seem to have covered everything thoroughly.”

“Well, I am known for my practical nature. Ah, here is Orion.”

She stepped away from him and to the horse, allowing the groom to toss her into the saddle.

“I wish you a good day, Lord Cressley. ”

“And I wish you the same, Lady Lia,” he replied, his words like dust in his mouth.

Nudging her horse, she took off at a brisk canter. Rupert watched her riding away, feeling as if he had lost all hope for his future.