Page 28 of Beauty and the Rake
Arthur watched the foals one last time before pushing away from the fence. “Well, I was going to go for a ride myself, but the sky looks as though it’s going to drop rain.”
“You’re right. I had not noticed the clouds moving in. I’m going to walk back to the house.”
“I’ll join you. I’ve got lots to keep me busy in my study.”
“It’s a never-ending job, isn’t it?”
“It can be if you let it get out of hand, if you don’t keep up to date on the estate’s ledgers. Lucky for us, we have an estate manager who is quite competent. He brought me the ledgers for me to review, first thing this morning.”
“Mr. Mawbry has always been good at what he does. He’s been around for as long as I can remember. Doesn’t he have a son who will take over from him when the time comes?”
“The elder Mr. Mawbry had a series of strokes while you were in France. When it became clear he could no longer function as estate manager, I brought in Felix. I gave his father a pension and a cottage to live in for the remainder of his days,” he said.
“That was kind of you.”
“He was born on the estate and inherited the position after his father died. That was at the end of Grandfather’s life.”
“Amazing,” she said. “How does Felix seem to be doing since he took over?”
“Extremely well, but then he learned from the best,” he said.
The house loomed above them and both walked the steps to the terrace and into the drawing room.
“I’m going to check my correspondence and try to start planning this visit. Let me know when our guests will arrive.”
Arthur nodded with a cheeky grin. “I’m afraid Graham will need to be invited to dinner. There are a couple of animals he raised that are of interest.”
“Meaning he’ll be around more than usual?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll try and be on my best behavior, but you know how he can be.”
“Methinks the blame lies with both of you.”
Roxanne arched a brow before taking her leave. “I’ll pretend I never heard that. By the way, have you heard anything about his daughter? What his solicitor might have said. He’s been rather tight-lipped about it all.”
“I know he’s become her legal guardian, at least for the moment. They’re trying to locate the mother.”
“Has he decided where he’s going to raise her?”
“Not at the moment since she’s a babe.”
“Sounds like things are proceeding, even if slowly. If you’ll excuse me, I shall see you later.”
There was too much to do, and she really didn’t want to waste any more time. There would be a lot to do to prepare for this, and this was to be her first official dinner party. She left Arthur staring after her.
*
The Marquess ofNorfolk’s carriage came to a stop in front of the house the following morning. The dark, ominous skies had opened with a vengeance earlier in the morning. The carriage door was opened and a young woman with hair the color of buttercups descended. She stared at her surroundings as an older gentleman, her father, the marquess followed as the footmen held out an umbrella to try and help keep the water at bay.
Roxanne stood at the door and greeted both guests and showed them into the front hall. Their outerwear was immediately taken from them. She then introduced herself.
“Your brother? I would have expected him to have been here to greet us when we arrived,” the marquess’s daughter, Lady Prudence drawled.
“There was something that required his immediate attention. He sends his apologies.”
“While we’re waiting for him, I require a hot bath.”
