Page 17 of The Earl That Got Away (Sirens in Silk #2)
Chapter Fourteen
Now
England
D ismay filled Naila as she stared up at the dilapidated manor. “I simply cannot stand to see significant houses fall into disrepair. Surely something can be done.”
Along the way to Briar Hall, Kareem suggested they stop at this nearby property that he’d recently cataloged. Most of the glass in the windows was gone. Wild weeds twined around once-grand columns at the home’s entrance. Inside, grass grew through the floorboards.
“Trenton Hall was abandoned by Viscount Hastings more than twenty years ago,” Kareem told their group. “He lacked the funds to keep it running.”
“Why are we stopping to see a falling-down house?” Nadine complained. “Houses in America are new and in excellent shape. I much prefer that.”
“Can we go upstairs?” Malik asked as his older brother ran around the property.
“No, you may not,” Ghassan said firmly. He trailed after the boys to make sure they didn’t get into trouble.
Hind peered into one of the window openings. “How expensive is the upkeep on these houses?”
“A grand house like this requires many servants,” Hawk told her. “And fewer young people want to go into service at grand houses. Many have moved to cities to find work.”
“It is unfortunate,” Kareem said, “but more and more of these houses will eventually be demolished.”
“That’s horrible.” Naila couldn’t bear the thought of these historic treasures being destroyed. “Surely something can be done to save them. Didn’t you say that English nobles are wedding American heiresses?”
“Indeed,” answered Guy, who’d decided to join the house party at Briar Hall. “The young ladies gain a title and nobles get an infusion of American dollars to keep their estates running.”
Naila ran a hand over a peeling front column. “There must be a way to encourage more of that. If only there was a guide or something similar to match wealthy heiresses with impoverished lords.”
“Some things are beyond saving,” Hawk said. “We have no choice but to let them die.”
“That might be your viewpoint,” Naila said hotly, “but it is not mine. It is nothing short of criminal for centuries of significant architectural history to be lost because indolent lords are unable to adapt with the times.”
A muscle twitched in Hawk’s cheek. “It is easy for outsiders to judge impoverished lords, but the reality is that country life in England is not as profitable as it used to be.”
Naila could tell that she’d irritated Hawk. But she didn’t care. “Then maybe it’s time for people to start thinking differently.”
Hawk’s brows shot up. “I suppose you imagine that you, an American with a passing interest in architecture, will find the answer when a solution has eluded the very people who live this life?”
Guy’s chuckle cut through the rising tension. “I, for one, admire Miss Darwish’s can-do spirit.”
“Thank you,” Naila said to him. “We Americans are an enterprising lot. And Arabs have invented many important things.”
“A potent combination,” Guy murmured.
Nadine rolled her eyes. “Now you sound like Baba. You must excuse her,” she said to Hawk and Guy. “My father always talked of Arab accomplishments in history.”
Hawk regarded Naila with open curiosity. “What sorts of inventions are Arabs responsible for?”
“Too many to count. Take a man like Ibn Firnas. Centuries ago, he created a flying machine made of silk and feathers and jumped off a mountain.”
“But there are no flying machines today,” Nadine pointed out. “So what good was that?”
“There might be one day. And it will be thanks to the vision and foresight of Ibn Firnas. And Arabs created the first hospital and the first library.”
“That is impressive,” Hawk said, “but I fail to see how any of that will help save homes like Trenton Hall.”
“The ancient Arabs saw a need for hospitals and libraries and found a way to fill the need.”
“And you propose to do the same for abandoned country homes?”
“We must save these homes before they are abandoned and fall into complete disrepair.”
“Really Naila!” Nadine admonished. “The earl obviously knows more about the state of affairs here than you.”
“Maybe,” Naila said as the group headed back to the carriages.
She thought of how Raya had found a way to make Castle Tremayne solvent again.
And how their Arab ancestors came up with solutions for the key problems of their day.
If Naila racked her brain, surely she too could find a way to save these majestic homes.
Naila’s first glimpse of Briar Hall would forever be frozen in her memory.
Hawk’s home was easily the most magnificent dwelling she’d ever laid eyes on. It was mammoth in size, the rectangular main part of the house flanked by several towers, but that is not what took her breath away.
Briar Hall’s entire facade was covered by walls of glass that reflected the sunlight, a gleaming palace that looked magical in this bucolic setting.
Naila had never seen anything like it. Beholding Briar Hall was like looking at a sculpture, a piece of art to be admired.
As with Castle Tremayne, it was hard to fathom that people actually lived in this breathtaking place.
“Welcome to Briar Hall,” Hawk said when they alighted from their carriages. Pride shone in his face. And it was no wonder. What must it be like to be master of this spectacular domain?
“My goodness.” Hind gasped, staring up at the glimmering palace. “There are more windows than walls.”
“That is by design,” Hawk explained. “Briar Hall was built at a time when glass was very precious. It was a luxury and showcased the wealth of the people who lived here.”
A few feet away, Kareem came up alongside Naila. “It’s one of the most significant pieces of architecture in this part of the kingdom.”
The sheer beauty of Briar Hall made Naila’s throat ache. “I have no words.”
Kareem chuckled. “I was also rendered speechless the first time I saw it.”
“I’ve never seen anything like it.” The thought that other gems like Briar Hall were being lost because their owners couldn’t afford to keep them up sent a fresh wave of devastation through her.
“Because there isn’t anything like it.” He smiled at her in companionable understanding. “Briar Hall is known as one of the most innovative houses of the Tudor period.”
Guy smirked. “Is it any wonder that all of the unmarried young ladies of good birth are clamoring to be mistress of Briar Hall?”
Hind batted her lashes at Hawk. “Any girl with good sense would be fortunate to call Briar Hall her home.” As always, Hind spoke with a playfulness that many people found endearing, but, in this instance, Naila did not.
Yet everyone else in their party seemed to, most cracking smiles or having a quiet chuckle.
Even Hawk smiled indulgently at her young cousin.
The kindly expression on his face made Naila’s gut pang.
There was a time when Hawk had held her with such high esteem that he barely noticed anyone or anything else.
“I am blessed to be the caretaker of Briar Hall for future generations,” he acknowledged. “One day my son will oversee this great place.” He dashed a look in Naila’s direction before quickly looking away. “And then my grandson after him.”
The thought that this glorious place might have been Naila’s home was inconceivable. “What a privilege it must be to live here, to be able to experience and admire this place every day,” she said. “It would be like living inside a masterpiece.”
“It will be even more special when I am able to share Briar Hall with a wife and family,” Hawk remarked and she wondered if he spoke of what might have been had she been brave enough to accept his proposal in Philadelphia.
Or what might still be if he decided to install Hind as mistress of Briar Hall.
Guy darted an amused glance in Hind’s direction. “All of this talk of marriage makes me wonder if we should expect to hear wedding bells soon?”
Hawk ignored the comment. “You all must be fatigued from the journey.”
He led the way into his home, where maids and manservants stood at the ready. “You will be shown to your chambers. We can reconvene later for supper.”
“I am exhausted,” Nadine said, happily following a maid, trailed by Ghassan and the boys.
A maid named Joan was assigned to direct Naila to her guest chamber.
As she followed Joan through a myriad of long corridors, Naila absorbed her surroundings.
The marbled and plastered interior of the house was as impressive as the outside, with high ceilings and immense tapestries covering the walls.
They went up so many flights of stairs that Naila started to wonder whether Hawk had banished her to the farthest reaches of the house.
When they finally reached their destination, Naila’s breath caught. She’d been assigned a room in one of the towers. Light poured in from the vast immense windows on the room’s two exterior walls. Detailed plasterwork adorned the walls.
“Oh!” She turned in a circle, taking it all in. “What an extraordinary space!”
“Yes, miss,” Joan replied. “The tower chambers are reserved for his lordship’s most prestigious guests.”
“They are?” Hawk had put her in one of the finest chambers? Or was her room assignment the work of his staff?
While Joan unpacked Naila’s bags and put away her clothes, Naila stared out the massive windows.
One wall of windows provided vistas of the estate’s rolling grassy hills and forested expanses.
The other overlooked the roof, which was one floor below.
The stone-covered rooftop, flat and walkable, was ornamented with pots overflowing with plants, garden statuary and benches where people could take their leisure.
It looked like the perfect place to spend some quiet time.
“Where is the access to the roof?” she asked Joan.
“It’s down one flight of stairs, miss. There’s a window there that also serves as the door to the roof.”
“Do people often visit the rooftop?”