Page 27 of Drowned in the Pleasure of a Devilish Baron
Felix nodded seriously. “I understand.”
“I know you do.” He took a drink of his tea. “And that brings us to our final rule.”
Felix folded his hands, listening carefully.
“Your bride-to-be has surely been taught that when she is married, it is her role to love, honor, and obey you. She will have been told, likely by her mother, that if you are difficult, if you do things that hurt her, she is to keep silent and hold her counsel, to trust that you know best. Though that may be true, it is also your job to limit those occasions.”
A maid poured more tea into Felix’s untouched cup. He kept himself from peering around her, so intent was he on hearing this final rule.
“Just because you can, does not mean that you should. If you are having a bad day, if something is making you angry or upset, go for a long ride. Come to me or my son and hash it out. But do not take it out on your wife, simply because you can.”
Felix thought on this. His parents had died eight years ago, so he had not been a child. However, he also had not been old enough to have seriously considered what marriage was, or to fully understand all of the responsibilities his father had upheld. These were conversations he was sure his father had planned to have with him a year or two down the road. But he had twenty years of watching his parents’ marriage in action, and could see the proof of the Earl’s words in his memories.
I never saw Father speak down to Mother, nor did he ignore her words or treat her cruelly. In all things, they were a partnership, united together to create our family.
He nodded. “Your counsel is much appreciated.”
“Who is the lady you are so bent on making your wife? Who has you so focused on being a good husband?”
“I would rather not say just yet. Her family does not approve.”
“Oh, stuff! How could they not approve of a gentleman like you? The lady will be lucky to have such an honorable partner.”
“If I become an honorable partner, it will be partly caused by your advice, and the example the two of you have set over the years.” He stood. “I should take my leave. It is time for me to get to work if I aim to make a family.”
“And get some plans going. When you’re ready, I want to be a part of it. You are going to be a success at whatever you put your hand to, son.”
“I will.”
Now I just need something to put my hand to. But what?
Chapter Thirteen
Felix rode Acorn to his next stop. It was time to speak with his brother-in-law.
Thankfully, Juliet was out for a walk with the baby and nurse when he arrived at their manor. He wanted to speak with Leonard in private.
Leonard had him brought to his office. He was seated at his large desk, back to the window, his sleeves rolled up and a stack of papers before him.
“Felix! Sit, sit. I’m glad you’re here. I could use a bit of a break from all of this.” He gestured to the pages in front of him.
“What are you working on?” Felix crossed to the chair in front of the desk and settled into its richly comfortable leather seat.
“Orders.” Leonard put a weary hand to his brow and closed his eyes.
“All of those are orders? You must be pleased, then. Whitfield Wines is really taking off!”
“It won’t take off if we can’t meet demand. My land is at its capacity. We can’t possibly meet all of these orders. I’ll have to turn half of them down.”
Felix lifted the pages from the desk, scanning through them quickly. “But many of these are for months in advance. This one here is for Christmas.”
“Many members of thetonlike to get their orders in for balls and events as early as possible. But it doesn’t matter. No matter how much time I have, I simply cannot supply this much wine. I don’t have enough land.”
“You could buy more?”
“I could, but I won’t. It’s hard enough balancing the land I have and ensuring the quality of the wine created here, where I can oversee everything I need to. If I buy more land and leave it to people I do not know or trust, I cannot be sure it will be done properly. There is no point in expanding the business if it will only water down its quality.”
Felix looked down at the pages before him, with their neat columns quantities requested and profits. Slowly, he looked up at his brother-in-law. “What if you found someone you trusted to help you expand?”
