Page 94 of A Rogue to Resist
Katherine turned in his arms, her expression thoughtful as she met his gaze. “We were opponents then, weren’t we? Both so certain of our rights, so protective of our respective domains.”
“And now?” Drake prompted, enjoying the play of emotions across her expressive face.
“Now we’re allies,” she said simply. “Partners in all things, not just Greythorne’s management.”
The truth of her words settled comfortably between them. Their marriage had indeed transformed what had begun as adversarial into something far richer and more complex—a union that encompassed Greythorne’s affairs but extended well beyond into every aspect of their lives.
They began walking again, hand in hand through the orchard that separated the main house from the western fields. The apple trees, heavy with ripening fruit, created a natural canopy above them, dappling the sunlight that warmed the late summer day.
“Speaking of partnerships,” Katherine said after a comfortable silence, “Mr. Collins approached me yesterday about expanding the drainage project to include the north fields. He believes the system we implemented in the western section could be adapted.”
Drake nodded, considering the proposal. “It’s worth investigating, though the north fields present different challenges due to the underlying clay soil. Perhaps we should consult that agricultural journal from Yorkshire—the one that detailed the new drainage techniques being used in the heavy soils there.”
“I’ve already sent for it,” Katherine confirmed, a satisfied smile touching her lips. “It should arrive with next week’s post.”
Drake chuckled, squeezing her hand affectionately. “Always three steps ahead of me, Countess.”
“Someone must be,” she retorted, though her smile belied any actual criticism. “Especially since you’ve become so distracted with the new stable design that you nearly missed the quarterly accounts review yesterday.”
“A momentary lapse,” Drake defended himself good-naturedly. “And the stable designs are important. The current structure is barely adequate for half our needs.”
“I’m not disagreeing with the necessity,” Katherine assured him. “Merely noting that between the stables, the mill repairs, and the tenant cottage renovations, we may need to pace ourselves somewhat. Rome wasn’t built in a day, as they say.”
Drake sighed dramatically. “Always the voice of practical restraint. Can’t a man dream a little?”
“Dream all you wish,” Katherine replied. “Just remember that dreams require coin to become reality, and even your American fortune has its limits.”
They had reached the edge of the orchard, where a small stone bench overlooked the gently rolling fields beyond. Drake gestured toward it, and they sat together, shoulders touching in comfortable intimacy as they surveyed the land they jointly managed.
The western fields—once the source of such contention between them—now symbolized their partnership more than any other part of Greythorne. Under their collaborative stewardship, the yields had increased beyond even Katherine’s previous successes, the innovative farming techniques they’d implemented drawing attention from agricultural societies throughout the county.
“I received a letter from Captain Halston yesterday,” Drake mentioned, recalling the correspondence that had arrived with the morning post. “He’s been promoted to admiral and will be stationed in Portsmouth for the foreseeable future.”
Katherine raised an eyebrow, curious but not concerned. “Does he still harbour hopes of inheriting Greythorne?”
Drake smiled, his hand finding hers once more. “If so, he gave no indication in his letter. In fact, he offered surprisingly sincere congratulations on our marriage.”
“How civilized of him,” Katherine remarked with mild irony. “Though I suspect he still watches the calendar, counting down the months of your first year of marriage.”
The reference to the entail’s conditions might once have created tension between them, but now Drake merely shrugged. “Let him watch and wait. The entail’s requirements are no longer my primary concern.”
“No?” Katherine’s tone was light, but Drake detected a subtle undercurrent that caught his attention. “I thought securing Greythorne’s future was of paramount importance.”
Drake studied her face, noting the slight flush on her cheeks that couldn’t be entirely attributed to the summer heat.
“Greythorne’s future is indeed important,” he agreed carefully. “But my definition of that future has evolved considerably since we met.”
Katherine nodded, her gaze dropping to their joined hands. “As has mine.”
Something in her manner—a mixture of nervousness and suppressed excitement—raised Drake’s curiosity. Katherine was rarely hesitant in expressing her thoughts, particularly not with him.
“Is everything all right?” he asked, concern creeping into his voice.
“Yes,” she assured him quickly. “More than all right, in fact. I simply... I have news of my own to share, and I’m uncharacteristically uncertain about how to proceed.”
Drake’s concern deepened. “Whatever it is, Katherine, you can tell me. We face everything together, remember?”
She smiled at that, some of the tension visibly easing from her shoulders. “Yes, we do. Very well, then. Direct as always.”
