Page 15 of Finding Hope
Hope was the last to alight from their carriage, and she took a deep breath, trying to steal her nerves to indifference. It was only a house. He was only a man. She had to learn to be at peace with that.
Pushing herself forward off the seat, she was surprised to see a hand extended out to her.
Rotham himself was waiting to hand her out.
“Rotham,” she said breathlessly, cursing his effect on her. So much for indifference.
Many gentlemen were handsome, but his dark eyes and lean build caused a reaction similar to tinder smouldering before the spark of fire.
“Welcome to Davenmere, Miss Whitford.”
Hope did not like the change in her name since Faith had married. It sounded too formal on his lips.
Hope looked at his extended hand, which was still awaiting her grasp, and took it, ignoring the warmth she felt at his touch. She looked around once her feet were on the ground and realized the others had already gone inside. Had she tarried so long that Rotham had come looking for her?
“I am glad you came. Forgive me for being unable to say a proper farewell in London. My father is not well and desired for me to come to him.”
“I am sorry to hear it. I hope he is on the mend. Are you certain we will not disturb him?” she asked as they gained the steps to the house.
“Unfortunately, he is not expected to recover, but he is in good spirits and loves to have people around him.”
Hope did not know how to respond. He seemed quite casual about the situation, but she supposed he could hardly behave otherwise.
“I beg you to make yourself at home and avail yourself of the gardens, the stables, and anything else you wish.”
“Thank you, my lord.”
Hope tried not to gawp as she took in the opulence of the entrance hall. Her eyes were immediately drawn to the ceiling, which was covered in a mural of boldly coloured renaissance art of goddesses dancing in moonlight. The black and white marble floor was accentuated with statues of what, to her untrained eye, were Roman, or perhaps Greek relics.
“One of my ancestors was rather obsessed with Roman antiquities. He found a mosaic on the estate, which is now surrounded by a bath house to give it its proper setting. Then he decided the entire house needed to be a shrine to those who came before,” Rotham said, his voice laced with amusement.
“A real Roman mosaic?”
“I will show it to you sometime. I can only be thankful that they chose some of the less outrageous Roman names to add to our heritage.”
“Dare I ask what your siblings’ names are?”
“My full name is Maximus, my elder sister is Diana, my younger sister is Claudia, and my younger brother is Augustus.”
“Those are not too outrageous,” she agreed.
“Had it been my father who was the antiquarian, the names would have been more interesting.”
Hope laughed. “I look forward to meeting him.” The old ease was there, and it almost made things worse. Part of her had feared she might be ignored.
At that moment, the housekeeper came down the stairs. She was dressed in severe black wool, with her silver hair pulled back into a cap and a ring of keys dangling at her waist.
“Here is Mrs. Watson returning from showing the Dowager and your sisters upstairs. You would probably like to join them to refresh yourself. I believe there will be a light repast on the back terrace at four.”
Hope didn’t want this time alone with him to end, but there was little she could say that would not make her look ridiculous.
“My lord,” Hope said in farewell.
The housekeeper bobbed a curtsy to Hope. “Your chambers are ready, Miss Whitford. Shall I take you to them?”
Hope instantly felt insecure with this woman. She might be a servant, but she had served a duke and duchess for most of her life, Hope assumed. Was this her normal demeanour or had the Duchess poisoned the servants against her? Hope scolded herself. Very likely the Duchess thought Hope so far beneath her that she had not given her a second thought. Many servants of grand houses thought they were superior. That was probably all it was. The housekeeper at Halbury had been so kind and loving to them that she had assumed all country housekeepers were the same.
Hope followed the woman up the grand staircase, then beyond several large drawing rooms, a music room, and what looked to be a library. They turned down a hallway that overlooked a courtyard, and then another hallway before embarking on another set of stairs to a different wing. Hope tried to remember landmarks so she did not become lost. When they stopped before a pair of large, panelled doors withbutterflies carved upon them, the housekeeper took out her keys and unlocked them.
