A discreet knock sounded at the door in advance of Pearson popping his head in. “I hate to interrupt you, miss, but he’s back.”
Unless it was someone coming to tell her an unknown relative had died and left her a considerable fortune, she wasn’t in the mood to see anyone at the moment. “Who is back?”
“Lord Brynmore.”
Just who she wanted to see. He’d been gone for almost a month, and she had hoped he wouldn’t return. It wasn’t bad enough that the annoying American wanted to buy Nimway, but the blasted man had worked his way into her dreams. Nearly every night since he’d walked into her life, he’d been present in her sleep, doing the most improper, if admittedly exciting, things. They were dreams, of course, and could therefore be ignored.
“Tell him I’m too busy to see him.”
Pearson raised a brow in that chastising way he had of not coming right out and saying she was wrong but letting her know she was nonetheless.
She heaved a resigned sigh. “I suppose refusing to see him would be impolite.”
“Nimway has always been known for its hospitality,” Pearson said. “He is a neighbor, miss.”
“For good or ill.” She really had no choice. “Very well, show him in.”
Pearson nodded and left the room. Alex gathered her lists together and shoved them in the top drawer of the desk. If nothing else, his lordship’s interruption allowed her to postpone making any decisions on what to sell. At least for now.
Pearson knocked then opened the door. “Lord Brynmore, miss.”
Alex rose to her feet and adopted as pleasant a smile as she could muster.
The butler stepped aside, and his lordship strode into the room. “Delightful to see you again, Miss Hayden.”
Was the man taller today than he’d been a few weeks ago? Were his eyes bluer? His dimples deeper? His shoulders broader? Surely not. “Good day, my lord.”
“Forgive me for my unexpected arrival.” He smiled, and her heart gave the oddest twinge. Due to those blasted dreams, no doubt. And the disarming dimples at the corners of his mouth.
“I hope I’m not interrupting anything important.”
“Estate matters that need my attention and as such are extremely important,” she said coolly.
“It must be a great deal of work to manage an estate like Nimway.” He paused. “Especially for a woman alone.”
She narrowed her eyes slightly. “I assure you, my lord, the women of Nimway have managed quite well for generations. Many of them alone.”
“I’ve no doubt of it.” He grinned. “I met your aunt.”
Alex wasn’t sure exactly what he meant. “Oh?”
“She strikes me as the kind of woman who would have little difficulty managing an estate or a country, for that matter. It seemed to me you have much in common.”
“Was that a compliment?”
He chuckled. “An observation, but yes, a compliment as well.”
“Humph.” She sat down and waved him toward the worn leather wingback chair in front of the desk. “Now then, I assume your visit today has a purpose.”
He settled in the chair and considered her for a moment. “I have an offer to make you.”
She bristled. “I thought I had made myself clear on your last visit. Nimway is not for sale. This has been my family’s home for hundreds of years, and I daresay it will continue—”
“Miss Hayden,” he interrupted. “That wasn’t the offer I was going to make. You’ve made yourself very clear on that point, and I respect your loyalty to your family and your heritage.”
She studied him closely. He did seem sincere. “You do?”
“I do.” He nodded. “I think it’s admirable.”
“Then this offer of yours is not to buy Nimway?”
“I admit I have not completely given up the idea, but that is not what I have in mind at the moment.”
“What do you have in mind?”
“Offer was probably the wrong word. Proposal is much more accurate. Of a business nature.”
“A business proposal?” She considered him thoughtfully. “I must admit, my lord, you have piqued my curiosity. What is this business proposal of yours?”
“Have you been to Brynmore Manor lately?”
She nodded. “I admit I was intrigued after your visit. I haven’t been to Brynmore since I was a girl. And even then it was more of a curiosity than anything else.”
“A curiosity?”
“Haunted, my lord. Ghosts, spirits, that sort of thing.” She smiled pleasantly. Perhaps the idea of ghosts inhabiting his ancestral home would make him scurry right back to America. “At least, that’s what children here have always thought, as well as a fair number of adults.”
“I can certainly see why they would,” he said wryly.
“I don’t think anyone has lived there in my lifetime. I stopped by a few weeks ago.” She would never admit it to him, but it did put Nimway’s problems in perspective. Although one might also see it as a warning of what Nimway could become. “It does seem to be in need of some repair.”
“Some repair?” He scoffed. “You are apparently prone to understatement, Miss Hayden. The place needs to be gutted and rebuilt. Although I’ve been told the basic structure is sound.”
“Well, that’s something, isn’t it.”
“The problem is, I can’t live there while work is being done, and I can’t oversee the work from London. If I’m going to restore Brynmore to its former glory, I want to supervise it personally. But it’s going to take some time.”
“Some?” She raised a brow. “I see you’re prone to understatement as well.”
He chuckled.
“I suspect it will take a great deal of time.”
“That’s one of the reasons why I wanted to buy Nimway. The idea of months of work on Brynmore before it’s even habitable is daunting to say the least. And I am not a patient man.”
“Patience is a virtue, Lord Brynmore.”
“One that I don’t have.” He shrugged. “So I want the restoration of Brynmore to move as rapidly as possible. It won’t if I remain in London.” He paused. “I thought perhaps you would be willing to allow me to stay here. For a generous fee, of course.”
She uttered a short laugh. “I’m afraid you’ve mistaken Nimway for a hotel.”
“Not at all.”
“You may not be aware of this, but there is an inn in the village.”
“A very small inn,” he said. “I will have my secretary, solicitor, architect, and various other employees here on a regular basis, as I will need to manage my business affairs from Somerset. There are simply not enough rooms available, and I would prefer to reserve the inn for them.”
“Yes, I can see your dilemma.”
“Besides, Nimway is much closer to Brynmore than the village.”
“Not substantially.”
“Miss Hayden,” he said firmly. “What I’m offering is nothing more than a business arrangement. However, I would consider it a personal favor if you would allow me to stay here. I spend a great deal of my life in hotels. Nimway feels like a home should feel.”
“Well, yes, but—”
“Furthermore, as I know no one here, I am in need of a consultant, for lack of a better word. Someone to direct me toward the right people. I want to use only local workers. I am new here, and working with an area resident will go a long way toward establishing my relationship with the community.”
“Very clever.” It was in fact a brilliant idea. He would provide work to people who needed it and, in the process, gain their trust.
“I also need someone to help me decide exactly what to do with the house. I can oversee the rebuilding, but I have no idea what to do then—paint, paper, furnishings, that sort of thing. My sister says I have no taste. Again for a generous fee.”
“I really don’t think—”
“This is what I’m offering.” He pulled his card from his waistcoat pocket, took a pen from the rack on her desk, wrote o
n the back of his card, and placed it, face up, in front of her. “For room, board, and your assistance in restoring my family’s heritage.”
“While I’m sure your offer is quite generous, I really have neither the time nor the desire—”
“It shouldn’t take a lot of your time,” he said quickly. “I suspect there will be days when your assistance isn’t needed at all.”
“Even so …” Having this man live under the same roof did not strike her as particularly wise. Why, his last visit alone had brought on dreams that she could scarcely get out of her head, no doubt exacerbated by Aunt Viv’s letter revealing his unmarried status. If he were here, in her own home, day and night—God only knew what might happen. She stood. “Lord Brynmore, while I appreciate your dilemma, I don’t think this is a good idea. In terms of propriety at the very least. You understand.”
“Not really.” He rose to his feet, his gaze locking with hers.
For a moment, the memory of some of her most provocative dreams swept through her. Gazing into his eyes and being in his arms, never fully clothed. His touch, his kiss, the overwhelming presence of the man … A palpable sense of something arched between them. Awareness? Desire? Good Lord, what was wrong with her?
“No.” She cleared her throat. “As I said—”
“Miss Hayden,” he said. “I know you are having financial difficulties. I know exactly how much you owe and to whom. In return for a place to stay and help with rebuilding my house, my offer will provide you with funds you sorely need.”
“You know how much I owe?” The man looked into her finances? What nerve! How dare he. At once, whatever was in the air between them vanished. “I’m not at all fond of people I barely know snooping into my financial affairs.”
“I said it was a proposal of business.” He shrugged. “In business, one uses whatever means are necessary to achieve the desired ends.”
“Well, this time, your means have not achieved the ends you wanted.” She clenched her teeth. “I believe you have overstayed your welcome.”
He looked like he was about to protest but thought better of it. “Good day, Miss Hayden.” He nodded and turned toward the door.
She snatched his card off the desk. “And take this with you.” She glanced at the figure and froze. Bloody hell. “Is this by the week or the month?”
He turned. “Since I have no idea how long it will be before I can move into Brynmore, I thought a week-to-week basis would be best.”
It was an absurd amount, but then apparently, the American could afford it. She did a quick calculation in her head. In the first month alone, she’d be able to repay her loans and the majority of her bills. She could take care of the taxes with the second month. Should he still be at Nimway for a third month, she’d have enough for a new roof. From what she’d seen of Brynmore, it would take far more than three months to bring the manor back to a habitable condition. Only a fool would turn down this kind of money.
She considered the idea. There was certain to be gossip about an unmarried man and woman living in the same house. Still, there were enough servants living at Nimway to negate that. Somewhat, anyway. At least this time, the gossip wouldn’t be about her latest failed engagement. Fortunately, she’d never been all that worried about propriety. Her reputation was of minimal concern, and she’d already resigned herself to the fact that she’d probably never marry. The monetary benefits of allowing the American to stay at Nimway far outweighed the risk to her reputation.
Alex had hoped for magic or a miracle. She never imagined financial salvation would come in the form of an arrogant American next door. Nonetheless, it would have to do.
“Well, then, my lord.” Alex favored him with her brightest smile. “Welcome to Nimway.”
Chapter 6
“What do you think?” Lord Brynmore asked when they reached Brynmore Manor. The moment Alex agreed to let him stay at Nimway, he had requested she accompany him to take a look at the manor. The man was impatient to get started and had entirely more enthusiasm than was palatable. He was like a small child with a new toy.
Studying the forlorn appearance of Brynmore Manor, Alex could understand why he was so eager to begin. One more day and the building would probably fall down on its own. “I think it’s a good thing you’re a wealthy man.”
“I might not be when this is done.” He grinned and slipped off his horse, then circled around to help her dismount.
His hands around her waist were warm and firm and entirely too familiar—thanks to her dreams. Familiar and horribly exciting. The moment her feet touched the ground, she moved out of his embrace.
“We should probably make a list,” she said, more to herself than to him. Repairs needed on the outside of the building alone would no doubt fill a small notebook. She had studied the manor for only a few minutes on her previous visit.
“Tomorrow.” He started toward the door. “Shall we?”
“I can hardly wait,” she said under her breath and followed after him.
He grabbed her arm when she stumbled on the steps leading to the front door. “Careful, Miss Hayden.”
“Thank you.” His steadying hand was strong and sure, and the thought struck her that his strength was not merely physical. That in spite of his arrogance, his apparent amusement at everything, and his somewhat ruthless nature when it came to business, he was a decent sort. The kind of man one could count on. She brushed the idea aside. Robert Curtis, Viscount Brynmore, was her boarder and her neighbor. Nothing more than that. “That should go on the list.”
He chuckled, and they walked into the house.
“This is the grand foyer.” He waved his arms in a wide gesture. “Great proportions, don’t you think?”
“I’m sure whatever’s been living here has appreciated that.” Good Lord, the place was a disaster. From the hole in the ceiling to the stained and cracked plaster, there was little worth saving, although the marble floors might be salvageable.
“Let me show you the rest of the house.” His lordship led the way, and she trailed after him, watching her step carefully.
They moved quickly through the building. There wasn’t a single room that didn’t need extensive repair. The library seemed to have fared better than the rest of the house, although she had no idea why. Still, if one had an excellent imagination, one could dimly see what the house had once been. And possibly what it could be at some distant point in the future.
“So what do you think?” he said when they were once again in front of the manor.
“You asked me that when we arrived.”
“Yes, but now you’ve seen everything.”
“Well …” She chose her words carefully. “Now that I have seen everything …”
“Yes?” Eagerness rang in his voice.
“I can’t say I’ve ever seen anything like it.” She smiled weakly.
“Exactly what I thought.” He gazed at the forlorn structure with what sounded very much like pride in his voice. “The place has excellent bones. According to my information, the house dates back at least a hundred years, although the property itself did not belong to my father’s family until some eighty years ago.”
“Might I ask you a question?”
“Of course.”
“According to a letter from my aunt, you are a prominent man of business in America. Why are you going to all this trouble and expense to repair a house you don’t intend to live in aside from occasional visits?”
“I’m not really sure.” He thought for a moment. “Obviously, this is not what I expected to find when I came here. If all I wanted was a house in the English countryside, it would be easier and far less expensive to purchase an estate.”
“You did want to buy Nimway.”
“Still do.” He grinned. “Should you change your mind—”
“I won’t.”
“I know, but maybe this is your fault. All that talk about your family history and legacy. It made me think about mine.” He stared at the house for
a long moment. “We knew nothing about my father’s family, his title, and Brynmore until he died. My mother was furious. She would have liked to have been Lady Brynmore.” He slanted her a quick smile then returned to his perusal of the house. “Apparently, when my father left England, he left everything behind.”
“I see.” She didn’t but had no idea what else to say.
“Do you?” He shook his head. “I don’t. But my father was never one for sentimentality. Probably why he was so good at business. He never let a little thing like affection or emotion or even family affect his actions.”
“You’re not like him, are you?” she said without thinking.
“I try not to be. For that, I credit my mother. Family is important to her. And to me.” He paused. “I want this place for her and for my sister and brother. For all of us. Whether we knew about it or not, this house, this estate is our heritage. I can’t simply let it fall to ruin.”
“And you won’t,” she said firmly.
“With your assistance.”
She mustered a weak smile. “I suggest we return to Nimway and discuss how to begin.”
He nodded, and they started toward the horses. “I’ll accompany you back to your house, then I have to return to the village. I need to collect my things, and I have a few telegrams to send.”
He helped her into her saddle. She stared down at him. “So you intend to begin your stay tonight?”
“Unless you object.”
“No, I suppose not,” she said faintly. No reason to put it off, really. And the sooner he took up residence, the sooner she’d be paid.
“Good.” He circled around her horse then mounted his own. “I know you have an estate to run, so I don’t want to take up too much of your time. I thought we could return here first thing in the morning to make that list you mentioned, then I’ll start arranging for workers. Mr. Wilcox struck me as someone who might be well suited as a foreman. Do you agree?”
THE LEGEND OF NIMWAY HALL: 1888 - ALEXANDRA Page 6