Page 72 of Beauty and the Rake
“This is beautiful. The view is outstanding.”
“It is, isn’t it?” Graham offered a hand and walked her over to the door that adjoined the two suites.
The earl’s quarters mirrored the countess’s rooms. Apart from the furniture, the two rooms were laid out the same. Of course, there was the matter of the color choices in the countess’s rooms. It seemed the previous occupant, Graham’s mother, had a fondness for shades of pink.
“This is very much you,” she said, walking around the earl’s room. The colors, which were shades of green and gold, were quite masculine, but Roxanne could see spending a lot of time here. The room itself was welcoming, which was more than she felt in the countess’s rooms.
“I thought so as well. As a child I was rarely ever allowed in here or my mother’s chamber.”
“Same with me. Arthur and I had a standing weekly appointment to spend about an hour with our parents, and it was held in the music room. My mother, though, would have us brought to her room. She would have treats for us and allow us to pretty much be children.”
He took her hand and kissed the back. “Come, I’ll lead you back so you can change. How about I meet you in the drawing room in an hour?”
“That will work.” She looked around the bright and bold room and cracked a smile.
“I know the colors are a little too pink and bright. If you want to make any changes at all, please feel free. That includes the wall coverings and paint. This is your space, and I want you to enjoy it.”
“Thank you.”
“See you in an hour,” he said, planting a kiss on her lips and disappearing into his own set of rooms.
When she met up with him an hour later, Graham looked refreshed. He’d also changed clothes. The trip had been dusty despite having had rain recently. This was a time of year when the weather was never predictable. Some years there was no rain and others it did nothing but rain the entire month.
“I understand Mr. Foster is working on cleaning up the fruit tree orchard. We can walk there and on the way, I’ll take you by the greenhouses.”
“He has a crew to help him?”
Graham nodded. “Yes. The estate is self-sustaining. Part of what tenants receive in addition to a small pay are things made or grown on the estate like cheese, fruit, vegetables, honey. Each year I give each tenant a wheel of cheddar. It’s efficient and they can concentrate on their tasks when they know where their next meal is coming from.”
“That is remarkable.”
“If tenants are happy, it shows in how much they can work.”
She nodded and put her hand on his arm. “There is a lot more than that that could be done.”
“I agree. My mother used to see children on the estate and village had shoes and coats for the winter. At Christmas, every family receives a goose or whatever is plentiful.”
“Amazing. Does this continue?”
“Yes, but I’m not sure to what extent. You’d have to ask Cook or the housekeeper.”
“I would like to be part of this. As countess I should be involved in these.”
He stopped near one of the greenhouses. “This is the one I thought you’d like for your use for your plantings or seedlings. It’s a bit older than the other but this has a working pineapple stove.”
“Really? Now I’m intrigued.”
“Come, why don’t I show you?”
Leading her over to the glass door, he let her pass in front of him. The interior was humid and hotter than outside. For some species, it was far better for them to grow.
“Once this is cleaned up, it will be perfect,” she said.
They departed the greenhouse and began to walk outside toward a grove of trees of various shapes and sizes. “Once we get you settled in, you and I will spend a day introducing you to the tenants.”
“I would enjoy that. Can it be done in just a day? The estate is huge.”
“Yes. I can use the time seeing if they have anything needing done, like a new roof on their cottage. Things that must be done now before winter arrives.”
