Page 18 of Beauty and the Rake (Endless Love #1)

T heir guests left late the following afternoon, taking with them the two horses Graham had brought for them to consider, and Roxanne spent that day going over the preparations for their next guests.

As she entered the breakfast room the following morning, she found Arthur behind a newspaper eating his breakfast as usual.

She shook her head and wandered to the sideboard where all sorts of choices for breakfast were held.

She made her selection and sat down in her usual spot to her brother’s right.

“Good morning,” she said.

That was answered with a grunt.

Agitated by this rude ritual Arthur had, she pulled the newspaper out of his hand. “Don’t be rude, Arthur. I said good morning.”

“And I answered you.”

“With a grunt and your face hidden.”

He sighed. “Very well, have it your way. Good morning, sister.”

“That’s better,” she said. “Now what has you in such a mood?”

“I received word that Aunt Violet and Uncle Charles will arrive a few days later than planned.”

Roxanne blinked and stared at her brother. “Did he give a reason?”

“Something about a carriage spring, and Aunt Violet refusing to travel any further unless it’s fixed.”

A laugh escaped her. “Can’t blame her. It would be near impossible to ride in it… I can see it now. Poor Uncle Charles.”

“Indeed. At least you get a few days’ reprieve.”

“Yes, that will be helpful. Let me know when you hear when they’ll be here.”

A knock on the door and the butler appeared. He carried a silver salver with a missive of some sort. He walked right up to her. “A bouquet of pink roses arrived. I placed them on a table in the drawing room unless you prefer them elsewhere.”

Taking the note, she opened and read it. Twice. It was from Graham asking her if she would like to have lunch with him at his estate and that he’d send his carriage for her. The last sentence mentioned something about wanting to share something special with her.

“I take it that’s from Graham?”

“Yes. He would like me to have lunch with him today. Something about wanting me to see something.”

“You’re going to go, aren’t you?” Arthur asked. He picked up his coffee cup and took a swallow, watching her face closely for any expression she might give up.

“Yes. I think I’ll go write out my response and send it directly. It would be a nice afternoon. I haven’t seen the house in ages.”

Arthur chuckled. “For someone who could barely stand to be in the same room with Graham, you’ve certainly changed your opinion.”

“It’s nothing like that. I must admit he can be pleasant company, but that’s all.”

“Uh huh, tell that to someone who doesn’t know you so well. I’ve caught glimpses of the two of you staring at the other.”

“Now you are truly imagining things,” she said with a grin.

“We’ll see,” Arthur said. He finished his coffee and put his newspaper back on the table. “If you’ll excuse me, I have some correspondence to tend to before I meet the estate manager. It seems there’s a portion of wall that’s crumbled and I need to see what he suggests.”

“Then I’ll see you later,” she said. She rose from her chair and grabbed a piece of her toast. “I best write out a response to Graham’s request.”

“That you’re going?”

“Yes. He has left me too curious.”

“I bet he has. Enjoy.”

She watched the back side of her brother as he left the room, grateful at the relationship they shared.

Other friends couldn’t say that. If their brothers weren’t married, they were more inclined to socialize and be part of the family when it suited them.

Certainly, Arthur had his moments, but after their parents’ tragic deaths he took his title very seriously.

*

The day was so nice, Roxanne decided to go outside to wait on Graham.

Even though a lady shouldn’t, she thought it antiquated since the two of them were such old friends.

She had no desire to be stuck inside on such a sunny day.

Standing in the large drive, she caught a glimpse of a gig coming closer.

She realized immediately the driver was Graham and smiled.

Like her, he was a bit unconventional when it came to some things.

He never thought twice about how he thought life should be lived.

He maintained his duties and businesses as a man of his social standing should, but when he was home, he did things his way.

The gig pulled up next to her and Graham jumped down and walked over to her. His black hair was windblown with wisps having fallen to his face. He pushed it back off his forehead.

“Beautiful day for a drive, isn’t it?” he said.

Roxanne nodded. “It is. I had to come outside to wait for you rather than stay in that stuffy old house.”

“I agree. We get too many cloudy, rainy days as it is.”

He helped her up on to the gig, then rounded the front, checking the horse’s harness before climbing up next to her. He clucked to the bay to move forward.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“Remember I told you I had something to show you?”

“Yes.”

“We’re going there now. After, I thought we could ride out to my lake for lunch.”

“That sounds perfect, though you’re certainly being secretive about what you insist on showing me,” she said.

“No, that’s just your imagination.” He grinned.

His smile reminded Roxanne of when they were young. It meant mischief. But for one of the first times, she couldn’t read him. They rode along in quiet until his family home appeared. Then she heard him begin to hum a tune.

“I don’t know what you’re up to, Graham.”

He grinned again. “Can’t I be in a good mood? It’s a beautiful day, and I’m with one of my most favorite people in the world who happens to be a great kisser. What’s not to be happy about?”

She arched a brow. “And as I’ve told you, that was a mistake. A one-time incident which I promise will never happen again.”

“Never say never,” he said as he guided the gig into the round drive.

There was a large bed of various perennials which encircled a statue of some past earl.

As he brought the gelding to a stop, a young stable boy appeared seemingly out of nowhere.

Graham jumped down and gave the boy instructions before helping Roxanne out of the gig.

By the time they neared the front door, the butler opened the door and let them pass into the main hall.

Roxanne had always loved the pink and gray marble floor.

Staff had kept it clean and well maintained over the years. It was the original floor.

Graham took her hand and led her over to the staircase. “Come follow me.”

Snatching back her hand, she stopped. “What are you doing?”

“Taking you upstairs to see something.”

“Why? Why not bring it to the drawing room?”

He let out an exasperated sigh. “You certainly ask a lot of questions.”

“Curiosity is part of my make up.”

“Roxanne, just follow me. I promise I won’t do anything inappropriate.”

She smoothed the front of her dress and silently counted to ten. “Very well.”

Extending his arm, he waited for her to start up the stairs.

She passed him without so much as a glance at him and began to climb the stairs.

At the top were the main rooms: one of the drawing rooms, a ballroom, and a multitude she couldn’t remember.

Roxanne climbed the next set of stairs which she remembered led to the bed chambers.

Once on that floor, Graham took her up the stairs that led to the nursery and storage rooms. Beyond the end of a short hallway was a shut door.

On the other side were the staff’s quarters.

Turning to Graham, Roxanne realized why he brought her here.

His ward, his infant daughter lay inside the nursery.

Entering the nursery, she noted the walls were freshly painted in a pale yellow.

In a corner just right of the fire was a cradle.

Immediately Roxanne walked across the room and gazed down into the cradle.

The babe was swaddled in blankets, and the only thing she could see for sure was a shock of black hair. Just like Graham.

“You can pick her up if you like,” he said.

She shook her head. “Your nanny and nurses would be quite unhappy with me if I were to wake her.”

“Bloody hell if they’ll voice any sort of opinion as to who can hold the babe and who can’t.”

“Very well,” Roxanne said as she leaned down and picked up the tiny bundle. The babe was deep asleep and the only sound she heard was that of herself breathing. There was no mistaking this child was Graham’s.

“What do you think?”

“She’s beautiful. She looks a lot like you.”

“Yes, she does. She seems to be a good-natured child.”

“You’ve decided to raise her here?” Roxanne asked.

“Yes. It’s close to town and I can be here relatively quickly if I’m needed.”

She gently rocked the child. “You’ve thought this through quite a bit and you’re happy with your decision.”

“Yes, I am.”

“She’s at some point going to need a mother figure in her life.”

“I know. And of course her mother’s family. They might try to take her.”

“I thought your attorneys were working on this,” she said as she gently placed the infant in the cradle.

“They are. I’m not worried about them. I’m merely concerned of the babe being raised without a mother.”

“Perhaps you’ll find the perfect woman to marry who will love the cherub as much as you do.”

He walked to the window and back in deep thought. “Are you ready to continue our afternoon?”

“I certainly am, and thank you for sharing this moment with me.”

“There is no one I’d rather have shared this with than you.”

A short time later they were on their way to the lake on Graham’s estate.

The lake had been off-limits to them as young children, but the rules changed as they grew older.

It had originally been a small pond, but Graham’s great-grandfather had it enlarged and deepened.

In the middle was a small “island” with a statue of Graham’s great-grandmother.

It seemed his family liked having statues made of family members.

Finding the perfect spot to sit and eat lunch, Roxanne found a blanket in the back of the gig and laid it on the ground a few feet from the shoreline.

Graham followed with a basket his cook had prepared.

He set it to one side and began to sit down.

As Roxanne unpacked their lunch, he picked up a bottle of wine he’d had the cook include.

There was a plate with ham and roasted chicken, red cheddar cheese, fruit, freshly baked bread, and butter.

“This looks quite inviting,” she said as Graham passed her a glass of red wine.

“It does, doesn’t it? I thought this would be a nice spot. The lake has always been one of my favorite places on the estate. I used to come here frequently when I needed some time alone. A perfect place for contemplation.”

She prepared a plate and passed it to him. “I imagine it would be a perfect place to come and read.”

“I’ve done that a few times, but I find coming here if I need to figure something out lets me do it with fewer distractions.” He took a sip of wine, followed by a slice of bread.

“We all need to have at least one place like this.”

“Indeed,” he said. “Do you have such a place?”

Roxanne pushed the chicken and ham on her plate around as she attempted to decide how to respond. “Not since I was married off to Casper. When I was growing up I either went to the attics or sat in an old apple tree if it wasn’t raining.”

“If you need a place, you’re always welcome to come here.”

“Thank you, but I don’t want to intrude.”

He reached out and took her free hand. “You wouldn’t be intruding. You’re more than welcome here.”

“You’re too kind.”

“It’s not an act of kindness. I have concluded that I’ve fallen madly in love with you.”

“Graham, it’s not nice to tease.”

“I’m not. Despite both of us declaring there was not the first bit of feelings between us, there is.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“Say nothing. Let’s just see what develops.”

She arched a brow. “Is that why you brought me here? To meet your daughter and get swept off my feet by you?”

“Of course not. My feelings for you are real, always have been. Bloody hell, Roxanne, I want to marry you and spend the rest of my life together with you.”

“Like you said, let’s see what happens. I’m not saying no, and I’m not saying yes. Give us some time to get to know each other as a couple.”

“I can live with that, but if you break my heart, I don’t think I’ll ever recover.”

She laughed and tilted her head, so she wasn’t looking directly at him. “Must you be so melodramatic?”

The next thing she knew, he was so close to her she could smell his shaving soap. Musk with a hint of citrus. Gently he pushed her down on her back and began kissing her passionately.

Suddenly, Graham broke their kiss, and he leaned on one elbow, gazing down upon her. She couldn’t play his games. “What the bloody hell, Graham?”

“As much as I would like nothing more than to make love to you, I want our first time to be private and personal.”

She grinned up at him for his thoughtfulness. “So do I, and anyone could come riding upon us and see what we’re up to.”

He responded with a hearty laugh. “I promise it won’t be long.”

“You know, my aunt and uncle will be here in a day or two. We could share that we’re courting once they arrive.”

He nodded. “I suppose I should speak with your brother, so he won’t be surprised.”

“I don’t think he’ll be surprised, but sharing with him first will mean the world to him,” Roxanne said. “I wish he could find someone.”

“What about any of your girlfriends? Any you could match him up with?”

“Perhaps, but we should concentrate on us first, though I will keep prospects for Arthur in the back of my mind,” she said.

“That’s what I want to hear come from your lips.” He smiled. He righted himself and looked toward the basket. “I could have sworn I saw some of Cook’s delicious chocolate cake.”

“I think you might be right. Would you like a piece?”

He nodded and situated himself to pour two more glasses of wine while Roxanne retrieved the cake out of the basket.

She tried to concentrate on the task at hand and not what they had just discussed, because if she were truthful with herself, she would have to admit to Graham that she had been in love with him for years.