Page 8 of The Duke’s Bride (The Duke’s Alliance #6)
She rarely noticed what she was wearing; she left her choice of garments entirely in the hands of her very efficient abigail as she had absolutely no interest in her appearance.
Hughes had been appointed by her husband and was not someone she particularly liked.
However, the woman was efficient, did not bother her with idle chatter and knew her place.
She ran lightly down the staircase, but instead of dashing in to confront the gentleman who had invaded her house she paused in the shadows to study him more closely.
He was sitting, relaxed, his long, booted legs stretched out towards the fire, drinking coffee.
She would have expected him to be pacing anxiously, not lounging about as he was.
He wore his dark hair fashionably short; his eyes were some shade between blue and green; his features were regular, aristocratic even; and as he swallowed the strong column of his neck drew her attention.
She was sure that his topcoat was from Weston’s, his boots from Hobbs – but then why should they not be as he was a wealthy man?
Then to her horror he looked directly at her. ‘My lady, do you intend to lurk out there indefinitely or are you going to join me in a cup of your excellent coffee?’
One would have thought she would be embarrassed at being caught staring like an urchin, but for some reason she laughed. ‘I beg your pardon, sir, I was lost in admiration at your ability to behave as if you had every right to be here and were not an uninvited guest.’
He rose smoothly to his feet and bowed. His eyes were glinting with amusement. ‘I apologise for my intrusion, my lady. Can I pour you a cup?’
‘That would be splendid, thank you. Do sit down; you are looming over me. Being so small myself I find overlarge people quite intimidating.’
He folded his considerable length elegantly back onto the chair before speaking. ‘Then I apologise a second time for being too tall. I shall do my best not to loom in future.’
His hands were strong, lean and sun-browned as if he had spent some time in a hot country lately. ‘Are you recently returned from India?’
His smile was warm and she responded to his charm despite her reservations.
‘No, I am not a nabob if that is what you were thinking. I was travelling for some months in Spain last year.’
‘I see. It is none of my business and I apologise for…’
‘Enough, we have both apologised sufficiently for one visit. I would like to explain what happened.’
‘There is no need, sir, my son told me what transpired. I do not agree with any form of physical punishment, which is why I was so angry when I came to collect my son.’
‘In that case if you ensure that Lady Elizabeth does not accompany Lord Thomas then can I expect him to come tomorrow morning? Although we only spent a short time together today it has served to reinforce my opinion that he is a very special boy. I believe that I have a modest talent for both playing and composing, but your son is quite extraordinary. He can hear a piece of music once and then replicate it note for note.’
‘I had no idea he was that good. Yes, of course he must continue to come to you. My daughter will not be best pleased but it is time she learned she cannot always have her own way.’
‘Perhaps there is something that she shines at? She is a most intelligent child. There must be an interest she has that you could encourage her to pursue?’
‘She loves to read the driest things. Books of boring sermons seem to be her particular favourite at the moment.’
He smiled. ‘That is exactly what she selected from my library when she was there yesterday. Does she write a journal? If you provided her with a suitably important-looking ledger she could record her thoughts in that every day.’
‘I think that an excellent notion. Your mention of a ledger has given me an idea. She is also better at computation than I am myself. I shall give her the household accounts to oversee – that should keep her busy.’
He looked at her as if she was an escapee from Bedlam. What could she possibly have said to cause him to look at her like that? Surely, he had not taken her suggestion seriously?
‘Are you honestly intending to allow your eight-year-old daughter to see how much is paid to each number of your staff, or how much you donate to charity, and then be able to compare it with the amount you spend on yourselves?’
He sounded so outraged she could not hold back her laughter. ‘I think it will be an excellent lesson for her. With any luck she will become a radical and give her inheritance away.’
‘I beg your pardon, I honestly thought you were making a genuine proposal…’
‘I thought we had abandoned further apologies, Mr Sheldon. You do not know me well enough to realise whether I am being sincere or not.’
‘That is something I hope I can remedy over the coming weeks. I am, as you know, recently arrived in the neighbourhood and having no wife to make morning calls and leave cards for me I have no notion to whom I should extend an invitation to dine.’
‘I would suggest that you make no push to become acquainted with anyone locally.’ She hesitated, not sure if it was right that she told him about her husband. ‘No doubt you will hear all this from your staff so I might as well tell you myself.’
When she had finished explaining the true state of her marriage, the character of her husband and the fact that all the families locally were supporters of his, he looked appalled. For a second she thought it was because she had been so indiscreet.
‘If I had known the true facts, my lady, I would have treated your daughter differently, however hard she had kicked me. You are well rid of him. If you have an adult brother, why did he not step in and deal with the matter?’
‘I told no one until after the earl was dead. Do you think I wished my brother to dangle at the end of a rope on my account?’
He ran his hand through his hair, making it stand on end.
He now looked less formidable, more approachable somehow.
‘You are the most courageous woman I have ever met. I suppose you were taken in by his appearance, wealth and charm and did not realise what you were stepping into until it was too late.’
‘That is exactly how it happened. My papa, who died four years ago, had always dreamed of bringing his family up in the world. He was a very wealthy man but his money came from trade. This estate is only in such good heart because of my inheritance. When I arrived, matters had been sadly neglected.’
He leaned forward, his eyes intent. ‘How on earth did you persuade the earl to use the money in this way?’
‘Papa had it written into the agreement. Half the amount was to be used at my discretion; the other half he was free to do as he wished with.’
His brow creased as he digested this extraordinary statement. ‘All I can say, my lady, is that your father was a wise man. Forgive me for being impertinent, but might I enquire if your brother is now in charge of the family and estates?’
‘Legally he is, but he is far too busy managing the family businesses to bother himself with us. He is a loving brother, a good uncle and son, but we see too little of him. I am sure that if I requested his assistance he would make time for me.’
He nodded. ‘I have outstayed my welcome by a considerable amount. Thank you for being so open about your situation.’
He was on his feet now and a smile played around his lips.
She could not take her eyes from it. ‘You do understand how this changes our circumstances, my lady? If I am not to make the acquaintance of anyone else in the vicinity, then there is only yourself and your family I can entertain at my home.’
She too rose and as before she found his size rather intimidating. He sensed her unease and increased the distance between them. ‘Is that a roundabout way of asking me to invite you to dine here?’
‘I should be delighted. When am I to come and at what time?’
‘Would tomorrow be convenient, Mr Sheldon?’
He half-bowed. ‘Time?’
‘We keep country hours here, so four o’clock.’
‘I prefer to eat later so when I return the invitation, you will be dining at six o’clock. Would that be a problem?’
‘I cannot see why not. It will mean travelling in the dark, but it is no distance to Elveden Hall so I doubt I shall come to any harm.’
‘Then I shall see you here tomorrow at four, my lady.’ He turned and strode out. He had a military bearing – she wondered if this travelling overseas that he had mentioned could have been with the army on the Peninsula.