'I cannot dispute that fact but he's ignorant of the ways of ton. By his own admission he is a military man and knows no other life but that of soldiering. It's he that should follow our lead, not the other way around.'
Her sister giggled at the suggestion. 'I think that highly unlikely, don't you? He will do things his own way regardless of etiquette, fashion or the dictates of society. He is a duke and can do as he pleases, I fear we cannot do the same.'
'It's certainly going to be an interesting few weeks, my love. Are you quite certain you wish to go in search of a husband? I'd hoped to have you around for year or two longer.'
'Good grief – I don't intend to become betrothed. I want at least three Seasons before I make a decision of that sort. I know you don't like dancing, parties or anything of that sort, but I do. I cannot wait to be whirling around the dance floor in the arms of a handsome gentleman.'
'Which reminds me, I'd better look through my music and find something suitable for you to practise your steps after dinner tonight.'
*
Richard had recovered his temper by the time he reached the side door. He decided to go and examine the horse Amanda had so generously offered him the use of. He was damned if he knew why a young lady, however proficient she was on horseback, would have a stallion as her hack.
The grooms bowed low when he arrived and he nodded in acknowledgement. The stable block was as immaculate as the yard and he was confident the animals residing here would be well taken care of. There was no need for him to ask the whereabouts of the stallion as a huge black horse, ears pricked, held pride of place in the first double-sized stall.
'Well, Othello, I see why you are so named.' He pulled the silky ears and was slobbered over for his trouble. This animal might be a stallion but he was soft as butter and he understood immediately why Amanda had him as her own.
'Excuse me, your grace, I'm Sydney, head groom. Is there anything you wish to know about the horses here?'
'I have left my own beast in Corunna as I thought to be returning there. Is there someone here you would trust to fetch him for me?'
'There is indeed, your grace. Thomas, under groom here, would be ideal. The old duke always sent him all over the country to deliver and collect horses. He once went to Ireland to purchase two mares to add to his stud.'
This was news indeed. 'Is there a stud farm on the estate?'
'There is indeed, sir, and it's continued to flourish these past two years. We have two stallions at stud and half a dozen mares. Lady Amanda takes a keen interest in this venture and used to accompany his grace to horse sales and race meetings.'
'As Lady Amanda suggested I ride her horse then I take it there's nothing suitable available for me at present?'
'Not at all, your grace, I can think of two geldings that would be perfect. They are both spoken for but in the circumstances I'm sure Sir Jonathan Fitzpatrick and Squire Bottomley would be happy to relinquish their claim.'
'Is the stud farm far from here?'
'Two miles. I'll have Othello saddled for you at once. Do you wish someone to accompany you?'
'Give me directions and I'll find it myself.'
The stallion, despite his apparently meek nature, was a lively ride and he enjoyed every minute of the journey to the farm. He viewed the two animals and they were indeed exactly what he wanted. He cantered back into the yard well-satisfied with his visit.
As he dismounted the stable clock struck five. He was tardy. Despite his determination not to change his clothes to dine he could hardly appear smelling of the stables. Either way – he was going to cause offence.
He hurtled up the backstairs and into his apartment.
'Your hot water is waiting, your grace, and a fresh outfit. If you allow me to remove your boots, I can polish them whilst you wash.' His new valet was a marvel – even better than Riley.
In less than a quarter of an hour he was clean, freshly garbed and his boots were shining. As he took the stairs two at a time, he wondered why James had not set out evening wear. Was he clairvoyant or had his brusque comments about changing for dinner been overheard and repeated below stairs?
He slowed his pace before entering the drawing room, his breathing as even as if he hadn't run. The three ladies weren't pacing the floor looking irritated at his tardiness, but were conversing happily in front of the fire.
'Good evening, your grace, Amanda, Sarah. I do hope I've not kept you waiting long.'
The duchess was resplendent in a puce silk evening gown with matching feathers in her hair. Sarah had on a simpler ensemble, a pale blue gown which suited her fair colouring to perfection. However, Amanda was wearing the same outfit as earlier.
'Not at all, young man, dinner has yet to be announced.' She gestured towards his jacket and pulled a face. 'I cannot see why you object putting on evening rig but are quite prepared to put on a fresh jacket and breeches.'
He was about to explain but Amanda forestalled him. She rose gracefully to her feet and smiled warmly. 'I fear I'm the only one not to have changed into something different. I take it your visit to the stud went well?'
'Thank you for enquiring. I can see why you're so attached to your stallion. I thoroughly enjoyed our ride but am not taking him from you as I now have the two geldings your head groom recommended.'
The butler appeared at the door and they followed him to the dining room.
Chapter Six
Richard had expected to be served numerous courses and removes all smothered with rich cream sauces but the reverse was true. The food was well-cooked, simple and delicious. He couldn't remember having eaten so well for many years.
'Does Beth not eat with us?'
'She prefers nursery tea, cousin, but always joins us for breakfast and luncheon. It was kind of you to spend time with her upstairs and she seems very taken with you.'
'And I with her. She has the face and figure of a lovely young woman in the mind of a child – a dangerous combination. I intend to appoint a companion for her before we leave. I don't wish you to be burdened with her care, Amanda. You should have the opportunity to attend as many social functions as you wish.'
'My daughter prefers to remain in the background, young man, she'll not attend any soirées, routs or balls unless you drag her there. She believes her limp means she must remain forever a wallflower.'
'Absolute balderdash! Your limp's imperceptible, Amanda, and you've yet to reach your majority. I insist that you attend as many functions as your sister.' Her eyes flashed but he continued before she could speak. 'If I'm obliged to skip about like a nincompoop then you must suffer with me. We shall stand up together and then stand glowering at the others enjoying themselves.'
Unwillingly her lips curved. 'As you put it so persuasively, sir, I can hardly refuse. You must dance with my sister as well before you're allowed to glower at the edge of the ballroom with me.' Her smile was quite delightful as she continued. 'I shall be one and twenty in July so I'm almost there.'
He pretended he didn't know it was customary for the lady of the house to rise and take the other women with her whilst the gentleman remained to drink port. He tossed his napkin aside and stood up.
'I promise to dance with you, Sarah, if your sister will play. Let's get it over with so we can enjoy the remainder of the evening in peace.' He smiled at the duchess. 'Do you play cards, your grace?'
She was on her feet in an instant. 'There's nothing I like better, sir. We shall play a few hands of Loo, or Whist if you prefer. Hurry up, girls, let us get this dancing nonsense out of the way so we can sit down like sensible adults at the card table.'
The piano was at the far end of the drawing room and Amanda made her way to it immediately. It took two footmen a few minutes only to roll up the carpet and move it to one side where no one could fall over it. He was unsurprised that the boards underneath it were as polished and clean as the area around the edges of the room.
Amanda began to play a lively tune and he led his younger cousin thr
ough a series of intricate steps and was impressed by her lightness of foot and natural rhythm. She would make any gentleman a perfect partner. Although not quite as intelligent as her older sister she wasn't a dull girl. After half a dozen dances were performed he led her to the edge of the floor.
'Do you play? I'd like to dance with your sister now if possible.'
Sarah nodded happily. 'Not as well as she does, but well enough for the purpose. Did you hear that,' she called across the room, 'Cousin Richard is going to dance with you now and I'm going to play for you both.'
He gave Amanda no option but took her hand and refused to release it. Unless she struggled, she had no recourse but to follow him onto the temporary dance floor.
'I'm a very indifferent partner, your grace, and I would have thought you'd had enough of dancing after spending so long with my sister.'
'Not at all.' He tucked her arm through his and guided her to the far end of the room where they could not be overheard whilst Sarah searched through the music for something she could play easily.
'I'm a military man, as I told you before, and not some jackanapes who's done nothing more energetic than ride to hounds or do a few rounds in a boxing parlour. I can march with my men for miles if necessary and then fight a battle and repeat the process the following day with no sleep and little to eat.'
God knows why he'd told her this – it was hardly a suitable subject for a delicately bred young lady. To his surprise and delight she stopped pulling against him and spun to face him.
'You will be the first duke in this family to have had any life outside the aristocracy. Your children will add strength to the line. I sincerely hope that your ability as an officer will transfer to the more mundane role of running the estate.'
*
His reaction to her outrageous mention of his ability to father healthy children was everything it should be. His smile made her miss her step but his arm around her waist held her upright.
'Sarah, can you play a waltz?' His voice carried wonderfully well down the length of the drawing room.
'I have the music for one here, cousin, and shall play it for you.'
Shouting back and forth in front of their parent was unheard of but she was given no opportunity to observe mama's reaction to such scandalous behaviour as she was swept away by him. She scarcely knew the steps but that was immaterial as he guided her skilfully throughout.
Being whirled around the dance floor in this way was an experience she'd never thought to have and quite changed her mind about the pleasure of dancing. When the final notes faded, she was breathless and it wasn't all related to the exercise.
He smiled down at her. 'Well, cousin, I should say that your ability to dance is no longer in question. I don't give a damn what the tabbies say, I intend to waltz with you at every opportunity.'
She stepped away and curtsied and he bowed as if they were indeed at a grand ball. 'I thank you, your grace, for the dance. It was most enjoyable. A once in a lifetime experience.' She thought this made it quite plain that she'd no intention of doing anything so silly as performing this risqué dance with him in public. He was about to reply when she continued. 'I must ask you for a second time to refrain from using immoderate language in my presence.'
Instead of being offended by her reprimand he laughed. 'I've told you more than once, my dear, that I'm a rough soldier who just happens to be a duke. In my experience someone as high in the instep as myself can do as he damn well pleases and no one will raise an eyebrow.' He reached out and pushed a stray curl from her cheek. 'I can see there are advantages to this position after all.'
She was left confused, not sure if he was referring to the pleasure of being acquainted with her, or the fact that he believed he was able to swear whenever he pleased without consideration of one's feelings on the subject.
Her mother was becoming impatient at the delay. 'That is quite enough dancing for tonight, I am waiting to begin a hand of cards.'
Amanda exchanged a smile with her partner and then the three of them hurried to the card table.
The next few days were filled with fittings, list writing and general upheaval as she planned for the exodus of the entire staff and themselves to Town for the Season. They would be away from the end of March until the end of May – not that long really – but it required meticulous planning. She had run the household in her mother's stead for the past two years as her parent had been devastated by papa's passing and unable to function normally for the first few months.
Having handed over the troublesome business of being the lady of the house Mama had been reluctant to take it back. Reluctance must be a flaw in the Sinclair family as Richard – she refused to add the appendage cousin to his name any longer – had also proved reluctant to take up his duties.
That said, she couldn't fault his dedication now that he was actually here. He had been tramping about the Hall most days and then ousted her from the study so that he could use it for his own business. She wasn't best pleased by this arrangement as she now had to undertake her paperwork in the small library, which was neither convenient nor comfortable. The fact that it had few books only added to her annoyance.
She was there finishing her correspondence when he barged in without a by your leave and certainly without knocking.
'Amanda, come with me. I want your opinion on my plans for the Hall.'
She put down her pen, but didn't get up at his command. 'I think, Richard, that your plans are none of my concern. You are master here and we merely your chattels.'
'That's doing it too brown, my dear. I'm certain her grace and Sarah would be happy to accompany me in your stead if that's what you prefer.'
She stood up and came from her position behind the table that had been fetched in especially for her to work on. 'If you put it like that, then I've no option but to come. I'll join you outside in ten minutes.'
She flew upstairs and Mary, her maid, quickly found her cloak and bonnet. She was already wearing her outdoor boots as she found indoor slippers inconvenient and cold.
He was waiting, without a coat and bareheaded, at the front door. He held out his arm and she had no option but to place her hand upon it.
'When are you planning our departure for?'
'Not for another three weeks. Your fresh wardrobe will be here by then and ours completed too. We are fortunate indeed to have our own seamstresses in-house, and an excellent milliner not far away in Ipswich town.
'I cannot tell you how happy my mother is that you have allowed her a free hand in her spending. Even Papa, who adored her, set a limit on her expenses every quarter.'
'I cannot think why that was as there's more money in the coffers than even the most extravagant of families could spend in a lifetime. Your father was a shrewd businessman and his investments in manufactories and shipping are proving lucrative.'
This was the first she'd heard that the Sinclair family had become involved in trade. 'Mama would be horrified to hear how our income is provided nowadays, so I suggest that we keep this to ourselves. What sort of manufactories do you own?'
'Cotton mills, ironworks and brick kilns – there might be more, but those are the ones I've discovered so far. The family also has a considerable interest in the East India Company as well as a fleet of their own trading vessels. I spent time in India when Wellington was still Sir Arthur Wellesley and have a desire to visit the country again.'
'I told you that I don't travel, but that's not strictly true. I've visited our estates in Scotland and the north and thoroughly enjoyed it. I also went many times with my papa to London. I should love to experience the delights of such an exotic place. Although, I've read in various journals that English people suffer dreadfully from illnesses related to the heat in such places.'
'If the ladies wore sensible garments like the natives they would get on much better. You must accompany me when I go.'
There was no time for her to respond to his outrageous suggestion as they'd arrived at her previous ho
me. To her surprise there were two smartly dressed gentlemen awaiting them. They were introduced to her but she promptly forgot their names, but gleaned that they were the architects he'd employed.
'Your grace, my lady, we've spread the plans out on the tables in the library. We're eager to hear your opinion.'
Richard nodded and gestured that the gentlemen lead the way allowing them to talk in private.
'I've had them draw up plans for a new building entirely, as well as those for a complete refurbishment and modernisation of the existing one. You expressed dismay when I suggested demolishing the Hall and replacing it with something smaller and more convenient. Have you changed your mind?'
'Richard, much as I appreciate your wish to involve me in your decisions, we've no intention of living anywhere but the Dower House. Sarah might well find herself a husband soon and so could be leaving anyway. You're obliged to find yourself a suitable bride as soon as may be and then we would have to move out anyway. Therefore, we might as well stay where we are.'
He looked at her askance. 'Are you suggesting that I'm likely to kick the bucket soon? I think that highly unlikely. If I've come through a dozen or more battles and skirmishes relatively unscathed, I hardly think I'm likely to come to grief in the peace and comfort of the English countryside.'
'Papa was in his prime when he died. You're probably not aware of this, but the Sinclair men rarely live above the age of fifty. They have a propensity to suffer from a fatal apoplexy. From what did your father die?'
He frowned. 'I've no idea as I was already serving King and Country. But now you come to mention it, he couldn't have been much more than fifty himself.'
Instead of being concerned or dismayed at the thought that his life could also be cut short he grinned, making him look almost boyish.
'How old are you?'
He laughed at her directness. 'I am twenty and seven – my name day is in June. At your reckoning I have another twenty or so years of healthy life ahead of me so there's no urgency to set up my nursery as far as I can see.'
The Duke's Ward (The Reluctant Duke Book 1) Page 5