Page 8 of The Secret Love of a Gentleman
He rested his elbow on the arm of the chair and his chin on his fist, and watched Caroline, wondering…
‘You are miles away, where are you?’ Rob’s Uncle Robert, the Earl of Barrington, occupied the chair Caroline had vacated.
Rob leaned back, and his ankle lifted to rest on his opposite knee as he smiled. Uncle Robert was his favourite uncle, his father’s brother. Rob was named after him.
‘I did not know you were coming,’ Rob said. ‘I thought you were returning to Yorkshire.’
‘Jane wanted to spend some time with your mother and father before we go home. I gave in to her coercion.’
Aunt Jane was sitting at the pianoforte, in the company of Rob’s cousin, Margaret, sorting through music.
Rob was close to Uncle Robert because he and Harry had stayed with their uncle often in their childhood. Rob had been good friends with his cousin Henry then. Henry was his uncle’s eldest son, and his heir.
Henry was like Harry now. They were still close friends, and currently standing to one side of the room drinking wine and laughing about something.
‘Have you decided what you will do?’
‘No, beyond finding rooms in London during the summer.’ Again, he did not mention the House of Commons, he did not trust anyone to leave him alone to earn himself a seat.
‘The tenants are due to leave the estate which used to belong to Jane’s father. If you would be interested in renting that property, I would be happy for you to take it over and cut your teeth managing the farm.’
His father had managed all of Uncle Robert’s estates. Rob had a different plan for his life. It did not include following in his father’s footsteps and being dependent on his family. ‘No, thank you.’
‘It is only an offer, Robbie… not an insult.’
He had answered too bluntly and sounded rude. ‘Thank you, I am grateful for the offer.’
His gaze travelled to where Caroline stood. Again, she was watching him. She looked away.
An odd cramp-like pain clasped in his stomach, gripping at his solar plexus.
‘If you change your mind, write and let me know. I willprobably not re-let it for a few months; there is some work to be done on the house.’
Rob looked at his uncle. ‘Will Henry not want it in a couple of years?’
‘Henry will have plenty to occupy him on my other estates and Henry is not you. My son is reckless and self-absorbed. He will not settle to anything that requires sobriety or forethought, at least not for several years. All he is currently interested in is racing his horses.’
‘Racing is Henry’s weakness,’ Rob stated. Women were Harry’s.
‘What is your weakness?’ His uncle lifted an eyebrow.
Rob’s family believed he had none. Harry constantly teased Rob about his spotless, or rather his boring, reputation. Rob had been too busy hauling Harry out of scrapes to get into any of his own. It was true he had no vice, but he did not think himself dull.
He drank excessively once, then woke up with no memory of the night before and hated not knowing what he had said or done. He had not drunk that much again. He had gambled at a card table once and lost half his allowance. That had taught him that gambling was a fool’s game.
Perhaps his weakness was idealism. He thought everyone should live by correct morals. But in truth, right now… ‘A lack of inspiration,’ he said, his expression mocking himself.
He had this great plan, but really it was no plan at all, it was a fanciful wish, he did not have a method by which to achieve it.
‘Something will come along to give you purpose. Wait and see.’ His uncle smiled.
‘We are going to dance, will you dance with me, Papa?’ Uncle Robert’s eldest daughter joined them. Julie was fifteen. She smiled at Rob.
‘Julie.’ Rob bowed his head in greeting.
‘Robbie.’ She smiled brightly and bobbed a shallow curtsy. It was unnecessary but she was practising for her debut next year.
Uncle Robert stood. ‘I shall be honoured, young lady.’
