Page 15 of Beauty and the Rake (Endless Love #1)

T wo days later, the funeral for Thomas was held.

As per Roxanne’s request, no one outside of herself, Arthur, and Graham attended.

The vicar had met with her the day before and was quite understanding of her wishes after they talked over tea.

He had been at the local church for as long as Roxanne could remember.

He was a kind man who treated all his parishioners as equals.

To him, it mattered not what a person’s social status was, or how much money they did or didn’t have. Everyone was equal in the eyes of God.

At Roxanne and Arthur’s request, the vicar and his wife walked to the house with them where luncheon was waiting.

Given the fact the vicar had been given no notice about presiding over the funeral and burial of Lady Roxanne’s son, it was the least they could do.

That and a significant donation to the parish in their parents’ memory.

Her mother had done what she could, participating in various projects the women kept going.

She was very proud of whatever she did, especially for those less fortunate.

She had tried to instill those qualities in her daughter, and Roxanne liked to think her mother had done herself proud and she would beam at her daughter and how strong she was.

Refusing to give into grief, Roxanne decided to enjoy the afternoon outdoors in the garden.

The vicar left, and she had made it quite clear she was not to be disturbed.

She took a novel she’d been trying to read for the past week but had not gained much ground in.

Today might not be the day to try, but she had to try.

She couldn’t let this consume her; what others thought was of no consequence to her.

She walked to the center of the gardens where a fountain sat, water moving in a rhythm.

She sat on one of the benches overlooking the fountain.

Laying her book aside, Roxanne closed her eyes momentarily to listen to the soothing sound of the water.

Finally, she opened her eyes and watched the water splash.

This had also been her mother’s favorite place to come when she didn’t want to be disturbed.

But then she heard an all-too-familiar voice to one side. Graham. How did he seem to know exactly where she was at any given time? A recent development, and it could be annoying. If she didn’t watch herself, she’d be telling him just that.

“I’m not disturbing you, am I?” he asked. It was hard for her to tell in this light, but she assumed he’d changed from what he’d been wearing earlier.

“Would it matter if it did?”

“Probably not since I come bearing gifts.”

“Really? To what do I owe the pleasure of a gift?”

“Nothing, no strings attached. I’ve seen the photographs you’ve taken, and you’re quite talented. I thought I’d take the liberty of helping you set up your own studio.”

Roxanne tried hard to keep her tongue in check, but lately with this man, she found it increasingly hard. Could it stem from what they shared in the carriage?

“Why? Why would you do something without consulting me first? I have my own money. I can afford to set my own studio up if that’s what I choose to do.”

He’d come closer to where she was sitting. His face was bordering on anger. She hoped she hadn’t pushed him too far.

“You are the most ungrateful woman I know. You weren’t raised to be, but with all you’ve been through, you’ve become a hardened version of yourself.”

“How dare you speak to me like that!”

“No, how dare you.” He flung a key at her. “If you’re interested, everything is set up in the attic. Frankly, I don’t care what you do with it.”

With that he turned and stomped off.

She shook her head and yelled after him, “You’re a pompous ass, Graham!”

If he heard her, he didn’t acknowledge her remark.

He just kept walking until he was out of sight.

How dare he? Staring down at the key, she wrapped her hand around it and put it in the pocket of her skirt.

Knowing Graham, he would think she would be trotting right up to the attic to see what he’d left.

She wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction.

She would wait for the right time. When he wasn’t here.

Since his own estate was very close, she knew he wouldn’t be spending the night.

He’d return to his own home to lick his wounds. Served him right, the arrogant rake.

She would admit since she was forced to marry Casper, she’d become a hardened shell of herself.

He made her that way. She hadn’t known who to trust, and he couldn’t be trusted.

He lied to her, talked down to her, until Thomas’s birth, and he sent her to his farthest estate so he wouldn’t have to look at either of them.

She couldn’t open up to anyone, and that included Graham.

He would get over their row eventually. Graham was moving too fast, and he needed to be reminded of that.

If he didn’t, it would be sad, but then she had no interest in remarrying.

Not even to him. She had come to enjoy her newfound freedom in France after Casper died.

Unable to find any solace from the fountain after their confrontation, she rose and began to walk to the garden’s edge.

Walking towards the stables, she decided watching the two newborn foals run about on their unsteady new legs was better than too much thinking by herself.

The babes were carefree, ignorant to the ways of the world.

As she approached, she noted her brother leaning against the fence to the small paddock where they’d been put with their mothers until they were a little more steady on their feet. He was laughing at something they were doing and didn’t hear her as she drew near.

He turned his head towards her as she joined him at the fence. “What did you do to anger Graham this time? I passed him coming here, and he stalked right by me without so much as a word.”

“It’s not important. He’ll get over it.”

“Roxanne, tell that to someone else. I’ve known the man for most of his life, and it takes a lot to anger him like he was when he marched past me.”

“He does things without consulting me. Did you know he… never mind. Of course you know he purchased cameras and other equipment and put it in the attic. He could have at least spoken to me about it first.”

“Here’s some free advice. Accept his gift and move on. You’ve made it very clear you have no interest in any sort of relationship. Stay friends with him. You never know when you might need one.”

She giggled and pointed to a black youngster who was in the middle of the grass, running circles around his mother. Kicking his heels up, they landed on his mother, which prompted the mare’s ears back and teeth bared as she reprimanded him.

“I won’t apologize,” she said, still watching the horses.

“Of course you won’t.”

“Please, give me some time. Since I’ve returned, I have done very little for myself. My visit to see Georgiana was cut short. Thomas died unexpectedly, and I haven’t had time to accept anything new.”

“Well, I should tell you, the Marquess of Norfolk will be coming with his daughter for a short visit. He is looking for a couple of saddle horses. Graham also has a few he wants to look at as well.”

“Do you know when?”

“They are scheduled to arrive next week. The nineteenth.”

“Find you how long they intend to visit, so I can plan menus and other things.”

He smirked. “Of course.”

“Do you know how old his daughter is?”

“I believe she’s ten and eight or thereabouts. Why?”

“I don’t want to plan activities for a child if she’s older.”

“She loves horses. One of the horses her father purchases will be for her.”

“I suppose we could ride about the estate,” she said.

Arthur arched a brow, turning to look closer at his sibling. “You could, but I know how riding has never been one of your favorite things to do.”

“It’s not, but if it helps you secure a sale, then I will do what I can to help.”

“Thank you for that. I know if the lady wishes to ride one of the horses her father deems suitable, he or myself will have to ride with her,” he said.

“She might choose to act inappropriately on a horse she does not know?”

He nodded. “I understand her mother died when she was quite young. Her father indulged her, and the result is a spoiled young woman.”

“I understand,” she said. “You needn’t explain any further.”

“I knew you’d know what to do, given the circumstances.”

“Yes. Make sure I know the details of their stay as soon as you hear. In the meantime, I will see the housekeeper and Cook now so they may begin readying the house.”

Arthur watched the foals one last time before pushing away from the fence. “Well, I was going to go for a ride myself, but the sky looks as though it’s going to drop rain.”

“You’re right. I had not noticed the clouds moving in. I’m going to walk back to the house.”

“I’ll join you. I’ve got lots to keep me busy in my study.”

“It’s a never-ending job, isn’t it?”

“It can be if you let it get out of hand, if you don’t keep up to date on the estate’s ledgers. Lucky for us, we have an estate manager who is quite competent. He brought me the ledgers for me to review, first thing this morning.”

“Mr. Mawbry has always been good at what he does. He’s been around for as long as I can remember. Doesn’t he have a son who will take over from him when the time comes?”

“The elder Mr. Mawbry had a series of strokes while you were in France. When it became clear he could no longer function as estate manager, I brought in Felix. I gave his father a pension and a cottage to live in for the remainder of his days,” he said.

“That was kind of you.”

“He was born on the estate and inherited the position after his father died. That was at the end of Grandfather’s life.”

“Amazing,” she said. “How does Felix seem to be doing since he took over?”

“Extremely well, but then he learned from the best,” he said.