Page 6 of A Scoundrel All the Way
Thomasand his wifeFrankiehad invited family and close friends, includingLucy, to the family home inSussexforChristmas.
“Sinceyou have yet to reply to their invitation,Frankieexpressly asked thatIpersuade you to go,”Katiesaid with a smile. “Andyou know how stubbornFrankieis.Shewon’t take no for an answer.”
“Dosay you’ll come,”Paulasaid. “Itwouldn’t be the same without you,Lucy.It’llbe so much fun, and only people we like.”
“I’mnot sure…”Lucyhesitated.
“Rememberhow difficult it was for me to go out afterWendel’spassing,”Katiesaid softly. “Andyou were always there for me,Lucy.Butyou don’t have to hide away anymore.You’rean independent woman now.”
Anindependent woman.Itruly am, aren’tI?Shehad gotten so used to avoidingSocietyfunctions, even ones with friends, that she hadn’t stopped to think that she no longer had to do that.Shewas free to do as she pleased.Perhapsthat meant freedom to finally begin enjoying herself too…“Verywell.I’llgo.”Shewould even splurge on a few new gowns.Forthe first time in her life, she was actually looking forward to the future.
CHAPTER TWO
DECEMBER 8, 1826 ~ LATHAM MANOR, SUSSEX
Rowanset his valise down on the bench at the end of the bed and looked around the guestroom atLathamManor.Itwasn’t the first time he’d been to theLatham’scountry home, but it had been several years.Frankiehad made many changes and improvements—not only to the furnishings but to the colors.Thediverse shades of blues, whites, greens, and yellows created a cheerful and bright ambiance throughout the home.Hewondered ifFrankiewould be open to offering him some advice about his neighboring estate.Thenagain, he suspected that his mother and sisters would want to participate in theSussexproperty and might be upset if he asked another.
Rowansighed as he noted that his shaving accouterments were neatly laid out next to the wash basin in the bathing closet.Histrunk had been tucked into the corner next to the armoire where all his clothes were hanging—pressed and organized according to form, function, and color.Hisvalet,YardleyConners, had arrived a day ahead, along with his trunk.Rowanwas still getting used to the efficient young man with the perpetual smile who seemed to be one step ahead ofRowanwhen it came to seeing to his needs.Hismother had insisted that he hireConnersas befitting his new station in life.Itstill made him uncomfortable.Rowanhad spent years roughing it on military campaigns to operating with only a cook and a maid while he was an agent inFrance.Occasionally, having a valet made him feel like he was a young boy again whose mother picked out his clothes.However, as his responsibilities grew, so did his appreciation forConners.
Rowanpulled back the dark green silk drapes covering the windows and surveyed the grounds below.Itappeared the yard had already been set up for a game of croquet.Thegrounds were beautiful.Hollybushes of every size and shape, lush with red berries, lined various corners of the grounds outside his window.Dottedamong them were tasteful white winter roses, as well as other colder-season flowers and shrubs, all in full bloom.
Hewatched asFrankieandThomaswalked outside, holding hands.Hefelt his chest tighten with a pang of regret as he observed the happy couple.Hewondered what it would be like if he had the kind of wife who could bring the same warmth and comfort to his home asFrankiedid forThomas.Atrue partner to shoulder life’s burdens as well as joys…Buthe reminded himself decorating was hardly a reason to marry.Besides, he’d had years of experience behind him, recruiting and training soldiers and agents, leading missions, and conducting investigations.Hecould certainly manage his own homes.
However, he found out that when it came to coordinating his clothing, he was hopeless—especially when it came to choosing colors beyond black or brown.Hismother had warned him years ago to be cautious about mixing those colors.Rowanimmediately took a liking toConners, a young valet hired by the old earl for theLondonTownhouse.Yet, judging fromConners’sconstant disapproving muttering under his breath wheneverRowanmade any clothing choices, it was clear thatRowan’slack of taste persisted.
Ashe continued to stare out the window, a black coach and four drove up and stopped in front of the manor.Afootman opened the door to the carriage, and a young woman emerged, followed by her maid.Evenfrom this distance,Rowan’ssharp eyes could see every detail about her.Hershoulder-length brunette hair framed her delicate face in airy, loose curls.Shewore a deep purple velvet pelisse that covered a coordinating satin dress.Althoughshe was petite in height, he couldn’t help but admire her slender curves as she moved.Thepurple shade of her ensemble enhanced the rich coffee color of her dark hair.Hereyes were dark as well, fringed with thick lashes, as she gazed about her in curiosity.Thewoman, although young, seemed more mature than a typical debutante, which made him wonder if…Bollocks!He’dbeen here less than an hour, and he was already trying to decide who might be his next conquest.Although, in this case, she didn’t exactly seem the type.Toowholesome.Thekind of woman a man would marry.Andhe was certainly not in the market for a wife.
AsRowancontinued to observe her, he heard high-pitched squeals of delight followed byKatieSorenand her cousinPaularushing out to meet the brunette and enveloping her in a tight hug.Rowan’sbreath hitched as he watched her transform from pretty to stunning.Shebeamed at her friends; her smile was radiant, her laughter lilting.Aftera few moments of excited chatter, the women linked arms and made their way to the entrance.Thebrunette was clearly a dear friend of bothKatieand her cousinPaulaGowans.Intrigued, he wondered who she was.Hewould find out soon enough.Hesmiled to himself as he turned away from the window.
Anhour later,Rowanhad washed and changed into a riding jacket and breeches thatConnershad laid out for him.Theyoung valet had relayed a message fromLathamandSlice, saying they had decided to take a ride sinceNelsonand the other guests wouldn’t be arriving until much later.TheyaskedConnersto tellRowanthey would meet him near the ruins of the old castle at the north end of the estate.
Eagerto feel the wind in his hair and the chill in the air, he headed to the stable, ready for an invigorating ride in the crisp winter weather.Smiling, he remembered that just beyond the castle was a cavern with a lake,a good place for a cold morning swim.Heand his friends used to visit the spot when they came home fromEtonon breaks.They’dtie up their horses and swim in the cold lake.Ifhe missed them at the ruins, he’d still count the ride as a win.
Twentyminutes later, he spottedSliceandLathamheading towards the cave.Spurringhis horse on,Rowansoon caught up to them.
“IfiguredI’dfind you two here,” he said, grinning and leaning down to gently rub the neck of his stallion. “Anyidea how cold the lake is today?” he teased.
“Ifyou’re thinking of jumping into that frigid water,Iwill stand here and watch you…and tell whoever has to dive in after you where you disappeared,”Lathamreturned, laughing.I’dhave a hard time explaining my wet self to my wife.”
Sliceheld his hands up. “Katiewould wring my neck.”
“Samegoes forFrankie,”Lathamadded.
“You’reboth declining because of your wives?” he baited. “Whathappened to your sense of adventure?”
“Yes.We’reno fools.Weget plenty of adventure with our wives,”Lathamlaughed. “Iplan to enjoy myself whileI’mhere.”
“However, if you’re eager to go for one of your ‘icy swims,’ be our guest,”Sliceadded. “Butdon’t ask us to warm you up if you catch a chill.”
“Wivescertainly come in handy for that.”Lathamwinked. “It’sbrisk out here andFrankieinsists we’ll get snow.”
Rowanrolled his eyes at his friends.Forsome reason, he couldn’t help but imagine the sweet brunette beaming up at him, those brown eyes crinkling up at the corners as she wrapped her arms around him after a swim.Damn.Hehadn’t had any female companionship since well before he leftFrance. “Allright.Itprobably wasn’t the brightest idea.Although,Idisagree about the snow.Theair feels too dry.”
Lathamshrugged. “I’venot knownFrankieto miss on a snow prediction yet.Shesaid last night’s moon had a halo around it, and she noticed birds flying lower to the ground and livestock clustering closer to the barns and similar places for shelter.”
“IsupposeIwas just feeling restless, and this place made me think of the fun we had in our youth.Besides,Connerswill probably never let me forget it ifIruined this pair ofHessians.IdoubtI’dwant to foxhunt in my dress pumps.”Besides, it had been his experience that women were keen observers of things that men barely noticed.Andhe’d never known his mother or twin sisters to get caught outside in a snowstorm or a downpour.Theykept a wary eye on the weather when it appeared to be changing.
“Iwas wondering,”Rowanbegan, wary of how his query might appear to his friends. “Isaw a woman arrive earlier, a brunette with curly hair, petite, wearing a purple pelisse…
