Page 33 of Beauty and the Rake
“Now you are truly imagining things,” she said with a grin.
“We’ll see,” Arthur said. He finished his coffee and put his newspaper back on the table. “If you’ll excuse me, I have some correspondence to tend to before I meet the estate manager. It seems there’s a portion of wall that’s crumbled and I need to see what he suggests.”
“Then I’ll see you later,” she said. She rose from her chair and grabbed a piece of her toast. “I best write out a response to Graham’s request.”
“That you’re going?”
“Yes. He has left me too curious.”
“I bet he has. Enjoy.”
She watched the back side of her brother as he left the room, grateful at the relationship they shared. Other friends couldn’t say that. If their brothers weren’t married, they were more inclined to socialize and be part of the family when it suited them. Certainly, Arthur had his moments, but after their parents’ tragic deaths he took his title very seriously.
*
The day wasso nice, Roxanne decided to go outside to wait on Graham. Even though a lady shouldn’t, she thought it antiquated since the two of them were such old friends. She had no desire to be stuck inside on such a sunny day. Standing in the large drive, she caught a glimpse of a gig coming closer. She realized immediately the driver was Graham and smiled. Like her, he was a bit unconventional when it came to some things. He never thought twice about how he thought life should be lived. He maintained his duties and businesses as a man of his social standing should, but when he was home, he did things his way.
The gig pulled up next to her and Graham jumped down and walked over to her. His black hair was windblown with wisps having fallen to his face. He pushed it back off his forehead.
“Beautiful day for a drive, isn’t it?” he said.
Roxanne nodded. “It is. I had to come outside to wait for you rather than stay in that stuffy old house.”
“I agree. We get too many cloudy, rainy days as it is.”
He helped her up on to the gig, then rounded the front, checking the horse’s harness before climbing up next to her. He clucked to the bay to move forward.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“Remember I told you I had something to show you?”
“Yes.”
“We’re going there now. After, I thought we could ride out to my lake for lunch.”
“That sounds perfect, though you’re certainly being secretive about what you insist on showing me,” she said.
“No, that’s just your imagination.” He grinned.
His smile reminded Roxanne of when they were young. It meant mischief. But for one of the first times, she couldn’t read him. They rode along in quiet until his family home appeared. Then she heard him begin to hum a tune.
“I don’t know what you’re up to, Graham.”
He grinned again. “Can’t I be in a good mood? It’s a beautiful day, and I’m with one of my most favorite people in the world who happens to be a great kisser. What’s not to be happy about?”
She arched a brow. “And as I’ve told you, that was a mistake. A one-time incident which I promise will never happen again.”
“Never say never,” he said as he guided the gig into the round drive. There was a large bed of various perennials which encircled a statue of some past earl. As he brought the gelding to a stop, a young stable boy appeared seemingly out of nowhere. Graham jumped down and gave the boy instructions beforehelping Roxanne out of the gig. By the time they neared the front door, the butler opened the door and let them pass into the main hall. Roxanne had always loved the pink and gray marble floor. Staff had kept it clean and well maintained over the years. It was the original floor.
Graham took her hand and led her over to the staircase. “Come follow me.”
Snatching back her hand, she stopped. “What are you doing?”
“Taking you upstairs to see something.”
“Why? Why not bring it to the drawing room?”
He let out an exasperated sigh. “You certainly ask a lot of questions.”
