Page 83 of Beauty and the Rake
Arthur scrubbed his face with one hand. “I really didn’t notice.”
“Do you think it possible? It could answer a lot of questions.”
“Anything’s possible,” Arthur replied. He polished off his whiskey and sat back.
“I agree with Graham about continuing your investigation. I think you need to find the answers, and using an investigator, you should have far better chances.”
“Agreed.” Graham nodded his head. “One of us should get word to our investigator so he can continue.”
“I can do it. I have a meeting in London. I won’t be there but for a few days, but I could definitely speak with him and give him all we found out during our meeting with Crenshaw.”
“That would be an enormous weight off our shoulders,” Graham said.
Before anyone could get another word in, dinner was announced. The men followed Roxanne into the dining room. She sat to Graham’s right as they were seated. She tried to keep the conversation light as they went through the first couple of courses. It was the entrée that got them talking. Roxanne haddecided to try the cook’s acclaimed pork roast. Graham had boasted about it when she asked if he’d tried it before. It was served with potatoes, carrots, and peas. By the silence around the table, she knew she had made the right choice.
A cheese and pear plate was next. It included Stilton, mild red cheddar made on the estate, as well as the sharp cheddar also made on the estate. She was amazed at how good the cheddars were.
As she and Graham were to visit tenants, she would give each family some cheese. It would be a nice gesture and a way for her to get to know the families who helped to keep the estate in perfect working condition. Seasons would be changing soon, and everyone would be working to make sure they were ready for the cold of winter.
“Graham, have you ever thought about selling your cheese? That is, if you make enough.” Roxanne asked.
He shook his head. “I’ve thought about it, but sadly, no. Occasionally a wheel to one of the pubs. To seriously sell it, we’d have to make more and since it’s aged, it would be a year or two minimum before it would be ready to go to market.”
“What else is there? I would like to take each family some cheese.”
“Honey,” Graham replied.
“Arthur? You should do something like this.”
He shook his head as he popped a piece of cheese in his mouth. “It’s never been done. Repairs were the only thing Father ever did.”
“Now’s a good time to change that.”
He grinned. “Perhaps once I’ve married.”
Roxanne shook her head, wagging her finger at her brother. “Oh no, you’re not going to go there and use not being married as an excuse not to do things.”
“I’m not going to discuss this with you.”
“Roxanne,” Graham said lowly. He knew this to be a sensitive subject matter with Arthur, though he knew his wife only meant well when it came to her brother. However, she was like a dog with a bone. Once she took an interest in something, that was that. All bets were off. In this case, it was getting her brother married.
“What? Can’t I be concerned that my brother has no heir and isn’t making any strides to fix the situation? He’s not making an effort to find a wife on his own. That’s why I will help.”
Arthur picked up the brandy snifter Graham had placed in front of him and swirled the dark liquid. “I need no help. I’m not going to accept a loveless union.”
“No one said you should,” she said, her lips pursed.
“Good, I’m glad to see we agree on something.”
He polished off his brandy and pushed himself away from the table. “This was a lovely dinner, sister.”
“You aren’t leaving, are you? The night’s still young.”
He nodded and stood. “I have to catch up on things I didn’t take care of earlier.”
Roxanne nodded. “I understand.”
Arthur came around the table and kissed his sister on the cheek. “Good evening,” he said before turning to follow Graham out of the dining room. As the door closed behind them, Roxanne finished off the brandy sitting before her. It was still early, and she wasn’t ready to turn in. Instead, she would go to the drawing room and relax. She could play the pianoforte for Graham, but she wasn’t sure if he’d sit through her playing. She was still not as good as she had been before Casper. He never wanted her to play when he was around and discouraged her playing by cruel means. Closing her eyes, Roxanne tried to forget Casper’s brutality.
