Page 16 of Beauty and the Rake (Endless Love #1)

The house loomed above them and both walked the steps to the terrace and into the drawing room.

“I’m going to check my correspondence and try to start planning this visit. Let me know when our guests will arrive.”

Arthur nodded with a cheeky grin. “I’m afraid Graham will need to be invited to dinner. There are a couple of animals he raised that are of interest.”

“Meaning he’ll be around more than usual?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll try and be on my best behavior, but you know how he can be.”

“Methinks the blame lies with both of you.”

Roxanne arched a brow before taking her leave. “I’ll pretend I never heard that. By the way, have you heard anything about his daughter? What his solicitor might have said. He’s been rather tight-lipped about it all.”

“I know he’s become her legal guardian, at least for the moment. They’re trying to locate the mother.”

“Has he decided where he’s going to raise her?”

“Not at the moment since she’s a babe.”

“Sounds like things are proceeding, even if slowly. If you’ll excuse me, I shall see you later.”

There was too much to do, and she really didn’t want to waste any more time. There would be a lot to do to prepare for this, and this was to be her first official dinner party. She left Arthur staring after her.

*

The Marquess of Norfolk’s carriage came to a stop in front of the house the following morning.

The dark, ominous skies had opened with a vengeance earlier in the morning.

The carriage door was opened and a young woman with hair the color of buttercups descended.

She stared at her surroundings as an older gentleman, her father, the marquess followed as the footmen held out an umbrella to try and help keep the water at bay.

Roxanne stood at the door and greeted both guests and showed them into the front hall. Their outerwear was immediately taken from them. She then introduced herself.

“Your brother? I would have expected him to have been here to greet us when we arrived,” the marquess’s daughter, Lady Prudence drawled.

“There was something that required his immediate attention. He sends his apologies.”

“While we’re waiting for him, I require a hot bath.”

“More than happy to accommodate whatever you need.”

Her father, for the most part, had remained quiet, saying little. “I would like to freshen up after that carriage ride.”

“I’ll have a footman escort you to your room. If my brother hasn’t returned by then, I’ll show you to the library since the weather isn’t going to break anytime soon.”

“Thank you.”

“I expect you to show me to my rooms, and I’ll require some hot tea as well.”

Roxanne tried not to show any emotion to the demands of this spoiled girl. It would do no good and it humored her that she would talk down to her given Roxanne’s station.

“Very well. Follow me, please.”

The pair walked in silence until they stepped into the guest room. Lady Prudence immediately made her way to the windows and looked out. The room looked out to a luscious green meadow with a small forest at the far end.

Lady Prudence sniffed and looked around. “This won’t do.”

“I apologize, but what did you say?”

“I said, the room won’t do. I abhor the colors and I need accommodations that have less light.”

Thinking for a second and wondering if anything could please this young woman, Roxanne contemplated the surrounding guest rooms.

“There is a nice room nearby. It is done in shades of periwinkle. It’s a bit smaller, but I’ve always liked it for its coziness.”

“Show me,” she said.

Lady Prudence followed Roxanne and stepped into a room a mere two rooms down. She knew the moment the young woman stepped into the room that she liked it.

“This is perfect, and I don’t mind it being smaller since I probably will be out anyway, riding potential mounts and such.”

Trying to maintain her poise, Roxanne glided over the carpets to a table and rearranged a couple of books placed there. “I’m glad you like this one. I can have the room refreshed if you like, though I know the staff did so a couple of days ago in readiness for your visit.”

“Some flowers might be nice, but I’ll be fine for the rest of the day. If someone could find my maid and let her know where I am, I can bathe.”

“Very well. I’ll go in search of your maid. I’ll be downstairs should you need me.”

“Thank you.”

Roxanne was never so grateful to leave the company of such a spoiled young lady.

She needed to be taken over her father’s knee and spanked, but the marquess didn’t seem the sort.

The man would do whatever he could to give his daughter what she wanted.

Even if she was rude. At least the girl had enough to keep her busy for a couple of hours. It would give her time to breathe.

She wondered how her brother and Graham would react to Lady Prudence’s behavior.

The young lady would probably be on display for the evening so the men would fall under her spell.

Then she would show her true colors. They both would be eating out of her hand by the time the evening was through.

Young ladies such as her had a book on how to play their attention seeking game to their advantage.

Roxanne also wondered if marrying a rich, well titled husband might be on her agenda as well.

Her father was quite well off financially and Roxanne was certain his daughter’s dowry was large beyond words.

Surely Graham and Arthur were smart enough to see right through her game and see her for who she really was.

Neither were that na?ve, at least she didn’t think they were.

They might be flattered by the attention she would lavish them with, but in the end that’s as far as it would go.

Sighing, she went in search of the housekeeper to get the girl’s maid.

She was sure the young woman expected to be tended to immediately and that no excuse would do.

A clap of thunder caused her to startle.

She hadn’t been expecting it. Roxanne hated weather like this, especially the thunder and lightning.