Page 38 of Beauty and the Rake
Riding as fast as she thought safe, Roxanne soon arrived at Graham’s stables. A single lamp shone, and apart from that, she couldn’t see anyone. As she swung her leg over her mount’s back, a stable boy appeared out of nowhere. His face looked as though he’d been crying.
As she headed for the open door, the boy spoke up. “You don’t want to go in there, milady.”
“I’m here to see…”
“He’s at the house.”
“Oh, my,” she whispered half to herself. “Thank you.”
She walked toward the house. Deciding to enter by the kitchen, Roxanne pulled the door open. There were a few gathered at a table in the room. All heads rose upon seeing her enter.
“I’m sorry to disturb, but I’m looking for Hawksbury,” she said.
“You’ll probably find him in his study, poor man,” a man she recognized to be one of Graham’s footmen said.
“Thank you. The stallion couldn’t be saved?”
All heads shook. “No.”
“I was afraid of that. Don’t let me disturb you any further,” she said, heading to the stairs that led up to the main floor.
There was no response when she knocked on the door to Graham’s study. After pounding a third time, she heard a voice telling her he didn’t wish to be disturbed. Well, like it or not, he was going to be disturbed. She hadn’t ridden out at this time of night just for him to push her away.
She opened the door slowly and walked in. The only light was coming from the hearth. Sitting in one of the well-worn brown leather wing-back chairs sat Graham, a glass of brandy in his hand as he stared into the flames. As she walked closer, he still did not acknowledge her presence.
“I came as soon as I heard,” she whispered.
He nodded ever so slightly. “You didn’t have to. He went down and no one could get him up. You know he’d have never recovered once that happened, so I made the decision to put him out of his misery.”
“I know that had to be the hardest decision to make.”
“It was the only decision at that point.”
“Look at it this way, he’s out of pain and misery,” she said, sitting in the chair next to his.
“He is, but it still wasn’t an easy decision to make. I’ve had him all his life. He’s known no one else.”
“I know,” she said, watching his face closely. She stood. “If you’d rather I leave, I can.”
He glanced up at her and shook his head slowly. “No, I’m glad you’re here.” He set his snifter down and unfolded himself from the chair. “Would you care for a brandy?”
“Yes, yes I would.”
Taking his glass, he poured them both a glass of the amber liquid. When he neared, he handed her a snifter. “Sit,” he said.
Roxanne held the crystal with both hands and sat down again on the chair in front of the fire. She took a swallow of the smooth French brandy. Graham always kept some of the best liquor from the Continent.
“How is the babe?” she asked.
“To be honest, I don’t know. I got so caught up in Zeus’s ordeal that I never made it to the nursery. I’m sure she is fine.”
“That’s understandable.”
“Humph.”
“Would you like me to go to the kitchen and see what I can find for your dinner?”
He shook his dark locks. “No, not right now. I’m enjoying your company. Thank you for coming.”
