Page 57 of Beauty and the Rake
Neither said another word as they continued to walk. It was as though nothing needed to be said between them. They were that relaxed each with the other.
“I forgot to mention I had the photographic equipment I bought for you moved here. Why don’t we head back to see it?”
“I hope this isn’t too hard to learn.”
“You are an intelligent woman. Never doubt yourself.”
“I try not to.”
Their walk took them back to the house. He led her up the steps where he took her hand and led her back into the house. The staircase came into focus, and he led her up to the top where they ended. A separate set of stairs led up to the third floor. This was where the nursery was located. To the right, they went down a hallway painted white. Doors leading to other rooms were all closed. Graham stopped at one door and pulled a key out of his pocket. He unlocked the door and walked in. Roxanne hesitated a moment but quickly joined him. There were crates and crates, all sitting unopened. She walked closer and spotted toward the back of the crates a single open box. As she peered closer, she noted a camera sitting on the straw of the crate.
“Look, there’s a camera,” she said, pointing in the direction of the item.
“Yes, there is. I must have opened the crate when it arrived.”
“Perhaps we can have it all unpacked so we can look at all of it.”
He grinned. “I can do you one better. The proprietors of the shop where I purchased this offered to come and set everything up and give some lessons on how to use the camera and how to develop the plates.”
“That would be wonderful, but will they work with a woman?”
He arched a brow as he heard the frustration in her voice. “Yes, they will. I informed them this was all for my intended and it didn’t appear to bother them at all.”
“If they’re as good at their trade as you say they are, they aren’t going to be able to bear anyone possibly doing harm to their lifelong passion.”
“Good point.”
“Why don’t you arrange it with them. See if they’d come to Kent after our wedding. We’ll have it all moved there since that’s where we’ll be.”
He nodded. “I think that’s an excellent idea. There will be no end to what you can take pictures of.”
She gazed up fondly at him. “I’m sure it’s getting late so I probably should return home.”
“Don’t worry about etiquette. You’re a widow and a dowager. The same rules don’t apply.”
“I know, but I just want to make sure I’m not monopolizing your time.”
“You could never do that.”
She giggled, holding her hand over her mouth.
“What’s so funny?”
“The idea that you’re so worried about tainting my reputation. We’ll be married in a few days and none of this will matter. I remember there was a time in the not so recent past where you wouldn’t have thought twice about any of this. You had a devil may care attitude.”
He barked out a laugh. “You know me far better than you let on or I give you credit for.”
“I take it that’s a compliment?”
Graham nodded. “Yes.”
She could tell with the way the shadows were lowering that it was late afternoon, an afternoon she would never forget. “We still need to plan out Wednesday. There are some things we’ve not touched on.”
“Would you like to discuss this over tea?”
“That would be nice. There isn’t much to talk about, but it would help me especially.”
Graham swung his head around. There was a strange knock on the door. The butler. Graham ordered tea for the two of them. He guided her to a gold settee and chair arrangement as they waited on tea.
