Page 69 of Under the Seductive Ladys Charm
Amanda protested, “I have no intention of torturing you with this. I was merely teasing. I do not think that you and my brother would make a horrible match. I think he is a bit old, but it is not uncommon to have such an age gap.”
“Yes, but I have known him since I was a child,” Charlotte said in a scandalised whisper. “It does not seem proper.”
Amanda rolled her eyes. “You know how much I love proper things but have it your way. Good luck finding another one like my brother, Lotte.” Amanda gave her a wave and left Charlotte alone with her thoughts.
*
Graham knew that Lord Stanhope had come to visit. The doorman had informed him before he had gone to Miss Browne. Graham had wanted to make good on his promise about what would happen on Lord Stanhope’s return to the manor, but it was Graham’s own fault that the man had come.
He had been left with no choice but to leave it up to Miss Browne if she would like to see Lord Stanhope. His hope that the young woman would send the dandy home with his hat in his hand was dashed when he saw Lord Stanhope being led into the conservatory. Graham left the house to get some air, as he had no inclination to see the man when he came out of his meeting with Miss Browne.
No matter the consequences, Graham did not trust himself to be civil to the man. He instead walked down by the fields. Edward was looking over one of the planted fields. The man raised his hand when he saw Graham.
“You have taken up watching over the gardens too?” Graham asked the steward in amusement.
Edward shrugged. “Just had some spare time and thought I would come to make sure that everything was on schedule out this way. The foreman has a tendency to not keep me informed.”
“Ah,” Graham said and clasped his hands behind his back. “Everywhere look splendid. I have been meaning to tell you, but with everything going on it has been difficult to find a moment.”
Edward chuckled and adjusted the hat on his head. “I understand that. Ladies and their dramas tend to occupy men’s minds far too much.” Edward gave Graham a curious look. “Was that a carriage I saw pull in?”
“Yes. Lord Stanhope has come to visit us.” Graham raised a hand to stop Edward as the man’s face fell into a firm frown. “He is here to visit Miss Browne. I do believe he has come to ask for her hand in marriage.”
Edward spat out the words, “Surely you would not allow that.”
“It is her choice, Edward.” Graham shook his head and stuffed his hands into his jacket. “I have no real sway over her. I agreed to put up the dowry to allow her a match of her choice.”
Edward sputtered, “But surely you have some measure of control to ensure it is a worthy match. That braggart is hardly acceptable for your sister or Miss Browne.”
“I know this,” Graham assured Edward, “But it is not my decision. It is as simple as that.”
Edward shook his head and they both looked over the field where workers were busily weeding and picking. “You are a better man than I, Boss.”
He clapped a hand on Edward’s shoulder. “I am going to walk and see if I can linger long enough to keep from strangling Lord Stanhope.”
Edward snorted and gave a nod of his head at Graham. Graham gave the field one last look before he moved on. The property went on for miles and miles, but Graham had not taken the time to make rounds of the entire estate in far too long.
He shrugged out of his jacket as he walked. The air against the considerably thinner material of his shirt felt nice on this sunny day. He busied his mind with lists of things for the gardeners to see to as he walked down a path that lay outside the formal gardens. The path wound more deeply into the property, but it also branched off to several tucked away fields and a couple of barns.
As Graham walked along one of the fence rows, some goats ran up and chattered at him noisily. “Unfortunately, I have no bits for you,” Graham told them, who carried on as if they did not believe him.
He laughed and carried on his way. He sighed up at the sky. There were fat clouds floating here and there. Perhaps the fields would get some rain.
Graham turned to the right. It was here that the path connected to the formal garden through an arch. The garden was framed like a series of outdoor rooms with tall hedges making each feel intimate and inviting.
He often pretended as a child that the gardens were the labyrinth and somewhere in its hedgerows a minotaur lurked. Graham reached out his hand and let his fingertips graze the wall of hedges as he walked. He turned into the next ‘room’ and stopped. It was the room with his mother’s rock pool.
Graham came to stand at the pool’s edge and watched the fish swim for a moment. “What a mindless and luxurious life,” Graham said in appreciation of the fish and their lifestyle. After a moment more, he turned and headed further into the garden.
His father had told him the garden covered three acres, but it had grown since then. The estimate also did not count the less formal gardens and lawns. Graham mostly did not care to figure out the exact size. He was almost afraid it might make him feel a bit pompous.
Once a year they opened the gardens to the local village and let people come in to see what they had added or improved. Graham’s mother wanted to have the gardens open without restriction all year long, but Graham had to agree with his father that it would be far too intrusive.
He finally made his way out of the hedgerows and into the less formal gardens. There were trees here, and beds of flowers that Graham could not name if he tried. The wind whipped through the trees that lined the area of the garden where he was, and he stopped walking to let it flow over him. There would definitely be rain later.
His eyes turned toward the house. Graham was some distance away from the building, but it loomed still over the trees. He was curious to know what Miss Browne’s decision would be.
He cursed himself for pulling his little stunt yesterday. If he had not done that, Lord Stanhope would be safely away from here by now. Amanda surely would have learnt the same lesson in time on her own.
