Page 5 of The Duke's Gamble
“How can this be?” she whispered, slowly getting to her feet as she held out the letter before her, trying to read the words once more as though to make quite certain they were exactly as she had said aloud. “The house belongs to someone new? That cannot…” Closing her eyes tightly, she shook her head, feeling a trembling take a hold of her frame. “Henry cannot have given the manor house to another, Mama! He simply cannot have done!”
“It seems he has,” her sister whispered, also getting to her feet and holding out her hand for the letter as though she toowanted to make quite certain that everything Florentina had read was exactly as Henry had written it. “Oh, what will become of us now?”
Florentina handed the letter to her sister and then bent down once more to take her mother’s hand. Shock was coursing through her veins, leaving her feeling cold and unsteady. “Mama,” she said, softly. “What are we to do?” She had no doubt that one of the riders she had seen was the new owner of Haddington house and that, within only a few minutes, he would be announced into their presence. They had to find some strength of both mind and body so that they could present a strong countenance to this as yet unknown gentleman.
Lady Haddington said nothing and there was an emptiness in her eyes that sent a chill down Florentina’s spine. Clearly, her mother was at a loss as to what they ought to do, leaving Florentina feeling utterly lost. She wanted to tear up the letter and declare that they were quite safe and that nothing was amiss, but in truth, she knew that she could not. Nothing would take back what Henry had done. It seemed that, despite her hope that Henry would take care of them, despite the trust that both she and her sisters had placed in their brother, he had broken their trust in the worst possible way.
They were strangers in their own home. They might be turned from it whenever this gentleman chose; and where would they go then? There was the Dower house, but she could not even be certain that her brother had not given that away also! Fear and dread plunged deep into Florentina’s heart and she closed her eyes, struggling to find even a modicum of calm to which she might cling.
The door opened and the butler’s voice carried towards them, his words quiet and seeming to come from far away. Florentina let out a shuddering breath and forced herself to her feet.
He had come.
Chapter Two
“It is a pleasant situation, certainly.”
Samuel looked up at the manor house, taking in the large windows, the stonework and the pillars that seemed to support the front of the house as it leaned towards them in what he felt to be a welcoming manner. Ivy had made its home on one side of the manor house wall, climbing upwards as though it wished to reach the sky, and the green leaves were a welcome contrast to the otherwise grey and brown colours of the house. The sun shone through the clouds for a moment, reflecting off the windows and making them gleam, sending a broad smile across his face.
“I think I have done marvelously well,” he continued, speaking to his companion who now looked up at the house in much the same manner Samuel had done.
“I do not think this is wise, my friend,” came the reply. “You are already the Duke of Dartmoor and have a great deal of wealth! Why then should you seek to take this away from Lord Haddington?”
Samuel sniffed, ignoring his friend’s concern. “It is hardly my fault that Lord Haddington would not heed advice and cease his gambling,” he replied, shrugging. “He was much too in his cups, I admit, but why should I let his poor decisions affect my potential happiness?” He laughed aloud but his companion, the Marquess of Crawley, did not join in. Instead, only a wry smile tugged at his lips. It was clear to Samuel that Lord Crawley had conflicting emotions as regarded the situation at present but Samuel did not care.Hewas the one who had won the manor house from a very drunk Lord Haddington and, given that he cared very little for the thoughts and feelings of others, he did not even consider what Lord Haddington might now feel.
“He has his title still, that is good enough.” Sending a sly grin towards his friend, he lifted his shoulders. “The staff may not yet know of the change in circumstances, and I am unsure what to say or do if they haven't been informed! Let us hope we shall be welcomed.”
His friend did not smile. “It is not likely that they will simply accept your word,” he agreed, as they both began to make their way towards the house, still astride their horses. “Mayhap you ought merely to state that you are here at the behest of Lord Haddington and that he will shortly be returning to the estate as well.”
At this, Samuel nodded. “A wise consideration,” he agreed, “but mayhap I shall just tell them quite frankly that I now own this particular manor house and that they are required to obey me just as they did Lord Haddington.” He grinned back at Lord Crawley, betraying once more the lack of willingness to even consider what anyone else might offer by way of advice. “Lord Haddington is only two days behind us so it will not be long before he is able to state outright that all I have said is quite true.”
Lord Crawley said nothing, but gently pulling on the reins, brought his horse to a stop. Jumping down, he looked up at the large wooden door that was the front entrance, finding it a little imposing but still very pleasing. Samuel did the same, letting a small smile touch his lips as he took in the house. It was very large and very pleasing, he concurred. He had to hope that there would be just the same pleasure within the house, that there would be no parts of the manor house requiring repair or the like. That would be a frustration in its own way.
“My lord?”
A small, slightly wizened man appeared, having moved soundlessly across the gravel path and, given his quiet approach, startling Samuel a little.
“Might I take your horse, my lord?” the man asked again, keeping his eyes downcast. “And yours also?”
Clearing his throat, Samuel relinquished the reins easily enough, practically throwing them at the older man who caught them with more deftness than he had expected. Lord Crawley, on the other hand, offered his to the fellow with a good deal more care, glancing up at the front door again before returning his attention to the stable hand.
“What staff does Lord Haddington keep?” he asked, as the fellow inclined his head in deference. “Is it a full complement?”
“To be sure, my lord,” came the reply.
This brought a frown to Samuel’s face, glancing to his friend. “Even when he has been away from his estate for a good many months?” he asked, as the old man dared a glance up towards him and then to Lord Crawley. “Surely there is no need for so many staff when the master is away?” He frowned and then rolled his eyes in Lord Crawley’s direction. “They will have grown complacent, I fear!”
A slight frown crossed the older man’s face as he glanced from Lord Crawley to Samuel and then back again, before tilting his head just a little, seeming now to be filled with a little more confidence. “I do not mean to contradict you, my lord, but the staff are working just as diligently as ever,” he replied, his frown increasing all the more. “There is simply not as much to be done as there once was, with only her ladyship and her daughters still at home.”
Samuel suddenly went very still, feeling a coldness wash all through him. He blinked rapidly in an attempt to disperse it, clearing his throat gruffly as he did so. Looking at his friend, he saw Lord Crawley staring back at the old man, his face a little pale. There was no smile emblazoned on his face nor even a hint of mirth flickering in his eyes.
It seemed Lord Haddington had forgotten to mention that he had dependents.
Trying to take a hold of himself, Samuel closed his eyes briefly and then opened them, looking directly at the old man. “Do you mean to say,” he began, his voice a little hoarse, “that Lady Haddington, wife to the late Lord Haddington, still resides here?”
The old man nodded, shrugging his shoulders as he did so. “But of course,” he replied, as though this was something that Lord Crawley ought to have known. “Where else would she be?”
“The Dower house?” Samuel retorted, explosively. He threw up his hands, shaking his head furiously, sweat now breaking out across his forehead. “I would have thought the dowager might have retired there, now that her son is the new Earl!”
