Page 2 of Beauty and the Rake (Endless Love #1)

Her father’s other reason for calling her in was her inability to act like a lady and how it sometimes drove her mother to stay in her bed.

She simply couldn’t understand why her daughter thought riding in trousers was perfectly acceptable or for her to spend hours in the library reading things a young lady shouldn’t be interested in.

All that was in the past. A month after her marriage to Casper, Arthur had inherited the dukedom after their parents had been killed in a mysterious accident while on a voyage to India.

Details had been sketchy about the incident, and to date, they had no acceptable answer.

Their bodies had never been recovered, making the incident even more dark and mysterious.

She shook the cobwebs from her head and knocked, then opened the door. Arthur was seated at his desk, mulling over some papers. He glanced up at her and smiled. “Feel better?”

“Much.”

“Would you like a brandy?”

“Only if you’re having one,” she said, sitting down on the opposite side of the desk.

She watched as he poured two snifters from the decanter which had been sitting on the corner of his desk. “What was it you wished to see me about?”

“Who said I had anything to discuss?”

“Because you invited me here instead of the drawing room or library.” She flashed him a smile as he handed her a brandy.

He sat back in his chair with his snifter and thoughtfully observed her. “You’re welcome to stay here as long as you need or wish to stay. I wanted to propose something to you.”

“I’m grateful.”

“You’re my sister, my only sibling, and I’d never turn you away. My thoughts are to see that horrid house Casper left you sold and find something in a better neighborhood. That is, if that’s what you want.”

“Can you do that?”

“My man is looking into it, but yes. If you want to wait to purchase something else, I’ll put the money aside for you. When you find something or decide you’re sick of me, we’ll make it happen.”

“That is too kind, Arthur.”

“It’s the least I can do. You’ve had some rough years married to that foul man. I want to help turn things around for you.”

“Arthur, I appreciate all of this, but you need to think about finding a wife. You need an heir.”

“I know. It’ll happen, I’m sure of it,” he said with a mischievous grin. “Besides, I need to entertain more in order to find a woman worthy of being my wife. You could act as my hostess. Interested?”

“I’ll have to give it some serious thought. I would need to be able to go over guest lists, decide on the meal. The usual.”

“Whatever you want.”

“Very well, but only because you’re my brother.”

He ran his hand through his dark-brown hair. “Excellent. You can start tonight. I believe you know my guest, Graham Hawksbury, Earl of Otley.”

She arched a brow. “Who could forget having a worm thrust down the front of one’s dress? Is he still as naughty as he was as a child?”

“He’s quite settled compared to then, though I’m sure he might make an exception for you.”

“Married? Children?”

Arthur snorted. “Not married. He was engaged but she called it off for someone else. Poor Graham was not expecting that. It threw him off balance for a time.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

Rising from his chair, Arthur came around his desk. “I’m afraid I have an appointment, but I’ll be back in a couple of hours. Feel free to go over things about tonight with the housekeeper and Cook.”

“I’ll be fine. I think once I’ve visited the kitchen, I’ll write some letters, let some friends know where I’ll be.”

Roxanne watched her brother as he left the room.

Though this hadn’t been what she hoped for, it was far better than staying in that house.

Arthur always tried to make sure she was taken care of.

Even when she was married to Casper, he would stay in touch by letters and checked in on her as often as he could.

He had disapproved of his father’s choice of a husband for her but was ignored.

Their father did what he wanted, without regard to the fact he was ruining his daughter’s life.

Money and status were more important. It always had been, and he expected those around him to obey him.

He ran his family like he would a business.

He cared little for anyone’s feelings; he expected nothing less than total loyalty from everyone around him.

His family, his staff and business partners.

Friends were treated little better than anyone else.

The past was the past, and she had a wonderful opportunity to go forward in her life. As a widow she had far more opportunities than others. For now, she would settle back into society thanks to her brother. She could do things on her own terms and at her own time.

She walked into the drawing room and continued to the far wall where a writing desk was placed overlooking the terrace and gardens.

Noting the writing paper and pens to one side, Roxanne sat down and chose one of each.

She would write Georgiana first and let her know where she was and her immediate plans.

Her dear friend was also a widow but had found love again.

Her first husband had been similar in character to Casper, which was one more thing that drew the two women closer.

Roxanne kept writing her friend, hoping she and her new husband were happy and content.

That was a silly thought. She knew Georgiana would never remarry if she wasn’t madly in love with a man.

For Roxanne, she wasn’t sure what love was.

She hadn’t lived it yet because according to her father at the time he announced she would marry Casper, he told her love was made from fairy tales.

Marriages like what she was about to embark on were typical to those who came before her.

Marriage was to bring powerful families together.

No love, no affection, only respect. Things would be different this time around. Whenever that time would be.

She was eternally grateful to her brother.

She needed to help Arthur find his perfect duchess.

Perhaps while staying at the family home she would be able to do that.

Once she settled in and began to be invited to social functions, she would be able to meet young women and hopefully find one worthy of becoming Arthur’s wife and duchess.

She had kept in contact with others who in turn might point out potential women for Arthur.

Beyond the ducal estates, Arthur’s business interests were many.

She knew he’d sold two businesses belonging to their late father because they hadn’t been performing as well as they could have.

He’d taken that money and reinvested it.

Though she was not completely familiar with how he did so, she could see how much happier he was not having to manage a business that bled money.

Roxanne wondered if Graham had anything to do with it.

Or was his appearance for dinner simply as it appeared?

Two friends sharing a meal and catching up on each other’s lives.

Time would tell, beginning with tonight.

Sealing the letter to Georgiana, she exited the drawing room in search of a footman. The sooner her friend got the letter, the quicker they could see each other.