Page 41 of Beauty and the Rake
The breakfast room was quiet as it normally was. It was one of her favorite rooms in the house because she could look out over a meadow where she loved to ride when she didn’t want to wander too far into the estate. She made her way to the sideboard and picked up a porcelain plate and chose toast and marmalade.
Once she was settled in, she picked up one of the papers and began scanning the page for anything which might be of interest to her. She smiled to herself and shook her head. This was how she spent her breakfasts when married. Alone. She had grown used to it, the solitude she faced. One day she hoped things would change but for now, she accepted what hand she had been dealt.
Her mind wandered to Graham and the intimacy the two of them shared after all these years. There was a deep attraction,and neither could deny it. It certainly was not a one-time thing. There was something more and they were both going to have to stop making excuses for their obvious feelings.
She picked up a piece of toast and spread marmalade on it. As she took a bite, the butler entered the room. He carried with him a large bouquet of assorted flowers. He handed her a sealed envelope. “These just arrived for you. I’ll have them placed in water.”
“They are gorgeous. Have them placed in the drawing room so everyone can enjoy them.”
The man nodded and turned and left her to read the note in privacy. She already knew the flowers were from Graham because she had seen these exact flowers at his estate and had remarked to him how lovely they were. After rereading the note, she slipped the letter into the pocket of her skirt. She would send him a note thanking him for the flowers. It would be rude to do otherwise.
Her thoughts turned to Graham’s daughter. If things were to progress, what would happen? Would she be expected to help raise the child as her own? Questions flooded her head. What had his people been able to find out? Would the babe go off to live with her mother’s family, or would she stay to be raised as an earl’s daughter? This needed to be addressed and soon.
Roxanne had always wanted more children, but after her son and his defects that led him to an asylum, she had closed the door to any further children. Her husband refused to share a bed with her after Thomas’s birth. In Casper’s eyes, she had been responsible in bearing a devil’s child.
“It’s awfully early to be so deep in thought,” a voice behind her said.
Turning in her chair, Roxanne noted her aunt Violet standing in the doorway. Her aunt was still a striking woman despite her advancing years. Though her hair was light as snow and herface carried more lines than previously, Violet continued to carry herself as the regal woman she always had been.
“Good morning. Please join me,” Roxanne said.
Violet walked toward the sideboard and instructed the footman what she wanted before turning and sitting at the table.
“Beautiful day, isn’t it?”
A pang of guilt swept over Roxanne. How could she have been so negligent of her dear aunt? “It is. Is there anything you’d like to do today?” She watched as her aunt began to thoughtfully smear marmalade on a piece of toast.
“You don’t have to entertain me, Rox. I can keep myself amused if needed.”
“I wouldn’t be much of a hostess if I did such a thing. I simply wasn’t sure how tired you’d be after your journey. I know you tire easily after long distances such as this. I simply didn’t want you to feel forced to do anything if you indeed needed more time to recover.”
“I’ll be fine just taking a walk or something simple like that.”
“I have a couple of things to go over with the housekeeper and answer a couple of letters. Then I’ll be free.”
“I need to tend to some letters myself as well. When should we meet and where?”
Roxanne smiled. “Two hours in the drawing room?”
“Perfect.”
Two hours went faster than Roxanne anticipated, but she was finding she could accomplish quite a lot—a lot more than she first believed when she accepted Arthur’s offer. Remembering something she picked up in Paris for her aunt, she returned to her rooms to get the new embroidery threads. She remembered when she was choosing colors for herself that her aunt loved to embroider and was quite good at it. Besides, Violet rarely bought anything for herself. Not that she and her unclecouldn’t afford luxuries like that. That wasn’t a problem. Her aunt always put others above herself.
“This is for you,” Roxanne said as she handed a small parcel wrapped in tissue.
“You didn’t need to go to any trouble,” Violet replied, accepting the package and studying it intently.
“I can assure you it was no trouble at all. I was in Paris for a couple of days. I wanted to shop, of course, and saw these and couldn’t resist.”
Violet began ripping the tissue from a small bundle, squealing in delight as she laid eyes on the threads for the very first time. She picked up a dark green from the top of the pile and fingered it. “These are exquisite. Thank you.”
“I’ll give you the name and address of the shop. You may want to visit them while you’re in Paris.”
“I would be most appreciative.”
“I’ll give you the other shops for dresses and such. They are willing to ship your purchases to you.”
Placing the threads to one side, Violet nodded at Roxanne’s statement. “That is good to know. I’m hoping we’ll be there long enough so I can be fitted with one or two new dresses.”
