Page 61 of From Rakes to Riches

“Lord Hawke? Might I have a word?”

Lady Anne was hurrying across the room toward him, and he paused at the doorway to wait for her. “Of course, my lady. How can I help?”

“Oh, but you’ve already done so, my lord!” She came to a breathless stop beside him. “I couldn’t let you go without thanking you once again for your generosity in loaning Hawke’s Run for the fete. My poor aunt has been beside herself all week, certain we’d have to cancel it, but you’ve arrived home just in time to save us, it seems.”

“It’s my pleasure.” He offered her his arm.

She took it, smiling up at him. “Yes, well, we’ll see if you’re still pleased once the decorating committee descends on you. Permit me to offer my most sincere apologies for Lady Codswaddle in advance, Lord Hawke.”

He laughed, and escorted her outdoors. They waited by the entryway, chatting amiably until Lady Goodall, having finally escaped Lady Codswaddle’s clutches, came to fetch Lady Anne and take her home.

By the time he’d handed them into their carriage and reached the churchyard, Helena was already gathering up the boys. “Come, Ryan and Etienne. It’s time to resume your lessons.”

“Aw, but Miss Templeton!” Etienne’s lower lip poked out. “We’ve hardly had a chance to play yet!”

Adrian raised an eyebrow at that. Hardly a chance? Surely, they’d been trapped inside that church with Lady Codswaddle for the better part of the last century?

“At once, if you please, gentlemen,” Helena called, waving them over.

That was all. She didn’t bargain, or plead, or even scold, only issued that one calm command, and the boys fell into line at once, albeit reluctantly. “Alright, but can we race, Miss Templeton?” Ryan begged. “Etienne told Freddy and Ian he runs faster than me, but he doesn’t, and I’ll prove it, too!”

She cast a sidelong glance at him, her lower lip trapped between her teeth, but the inevitable reckoning was upon her. She knew it well, and let out a sigh. “Yes, alright, but don’t go so far ahead we can no longer see you, if you please.”

“We won’t!” Ryan tore off with Etienne right after him.

Adrian bided his time, holding his tongue, and they walked for some time in silence until he began to fear for the wellbeing of her abused lower lip, and cleared his throat. “That was quite a clever scheme, Miss Templeton. I never even saw it coming. Bravo.”

“It wasn’t a scheme at all, my lord, merely a suggestion!” He raised an eyebrow at that, and a guilty flush flooded her cheeks. “You might have refused, if you wished to.”

“What, and have every benevolent lady in Steeple Barton cursing my name? No, indeed. I daresay it wouldn’t be the first time Lady Codswaddle has called curses down on a man’s head.”

He angled his face closer to hers, hoping to catch her gaze, and was rewarded by a glimpse of blue-gray eyes and the quirk of a red lip. “You surprise me, my lord.”

“Do I? I don’t see why.” Though it was only fair if hedidsurprise her, given she’d been turning him inside out since she’d thrown that bunch of mistletoe in his face.

“It’s just…does it matter to you, what the people of Steeple Barton think of you?”

“Of course, it does.” The words tumbled out before he’d even considered them, but it was the truth, wasn’t it? Prior to his return to Hawke’s Run, he might have said hedidn’tgive a bloody damn what the fine citizens of this village thought of him, but then he hadn’t given a damn about much of anything then, had he?

It was different now.

He’d spent some of the happiest years of his life here. Perhaps he could be happy here again, someday. “This is mycountry seat, Miss Templeton. My family has lived in Steeple Barton for generations, and I’m well aware of my obligations to the people here.”

“Of course, Lord Hawke. I beg your pardon. I meant no offense. I think it’s a lovely place, myself.” She gave him a shy smile. “Ryan and Etienne seem happy here.”

“Yes.” He glanced at the boys, who were some yards ahead, sliding over the patches of ice as they raced home. Their wild shrieks of laughter split the air, and his throat tightened. “Yes, I think they are.”

They didn’t speak again until the pathway let out into the stable yard at Hawke’s Run. Ryan and Etienne were there, waiting outside the stable door. “Ah. It must be time for feline husbandry.”

“Felinehusbandry!” She let out a surprised laugh. “Is that what you call it?”

“Er, well…perhaps I do, but only to myself, and occasionally to that trying feline you have penned up in the stables.”

“Trying? What’s she done?”

“She’s a greedy little opportunist, that’s what. She refuses to have a thing to do with me unless I bring her treats.”

“Oh, dear. Thatisa sad failing, isn’t it?”

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