Page 48 of The Earl's Wrangler
Randall chuckled.“You’re suddenly very up on your British titles.I didn’t think you cared about that sort of thing.”
“I don’t.Not really.But it seems to a lot of people here that titles and addressing people properly is a big thing.Everyone calls you your Lordship.”
“Yes, they do.It goes with the title.George gets called your Grace.That’s the proper address for a duke, and a duke’s wife is addressed as duchess or her Grace as well, depending on the situation.It’s all very confusing a lot of the time.”
“I’m just going to call him George.”All this was enough to make his head spin.“I guess I want to know if people are going to start calling me your Lordship.Because that’s not what I want.I just want to be me, Sawyer Kincaid.”
“I hate to say this, but there will be people who might do that, especially after we’re married.That is if you want to get married.”Suddenly Randall seemed unsure of himself.
“Let’s talk about that down the road.There’s no need to rush.But I don’t want anyone calling me your Lordship.”
“Fine.Then what should they call you?”Randall rested his head on Sawyer’s shoulder.“There isn’t another title for earl, and no provision was made for same-sex couples.”
“That’s great.I’ll just be me and that’s the end of it.”
Randall lay still for a minute and then lifted his head, those incredible eyes filled with mischief.“I’ve got the perfect title.You can be the earl’s wrangler.I admit, it’s a bit of a mouthful—”
Sawyer tightened his hold on Randall.“Maybe, but that I can live with.”And he intended to do just that for a very long time.
Epilogue
RANDALL PULLEDhis coat tighter around him to keep out the winter chill as he and Sawyer walked up the drive from their morning ride.The last six months had been pretty amazing for both of them.Randall had eventually broken down and agreed to a trial run of Sawyer’s afternoon tea idea.He had limited it to twenty people besides himself and Sawyer.The spaces had sold out in less than an hour, and in the end, Randall had enjoyed it much more than he thought he would, so they were working on a schedule for the next season.
Sawyer took his hand as they walked the garden paths toward the house, pulling Randall out of his thoughts.“What are you stewing about?”
“The tea thing,” Randall admitted.
Sawyer snorted.“Again?”That mischievous grin was back.“You need to let it go and admit I had a great idea.Mrs.Cook is going to run the entire thing, and it’s only once a week.She loves the idea, and all you need to do is show up and be the handsome, amazing man I fell in love with.”
Randall couldn’t argue with Sawyer, not when he looked at him like he hung the moon.
“What’s this?”Sawyer asked as they approached the house.A black BMW sedan was parked off to the side of the drive.Sawyer stayed with Randall as the car door opened and a man climbed out.
“Arthur,” Sawyer said happily and checked the time.“Did I forget about an appointment?”
He shook his head.“I’m sorry to drop in unannounced, but I was in the country and received some news, so I headed right out here.”They shook hands.
“Come inside,” Randall said, ushering them all into the great hall and then through the maze of sheet-covered furniture to their living quarters.“I know it seems kind of forlorn, but everything would be caked with dust otherwise.”
Their rooms were warm, and Randall offered Arthur a seat.Poppy, the Yorkshire terrier they had rescued from a shelter, jumped up and settled next to Sawyer.He sat on the other side of the man he loved with everything he had, girding himself for whatever news Arthur had to deliver.“I didn’t want to speak about this over the phone.”
“All right.”
“As you know, your father had filed a petition against your uncle’s estate, and that held things up in probate, but all that has been cleared now.”He bit his lower lip.
Sawyer nodded.“I understand that.Do you know where my father is?”Sawyer asked, slowly petting Poppy.
“Yes.He’s somewhere in Florida at the moment, probably still dodging debt collectors.”Arthur smiled.“One of the people he owes money to actually filed a claim against any proceeds he might get with the probate court.That convinced them that your father was still gambling, so the estate has been cleared and the assets have been released to you.I will make arrangements for the money to be transferred to your account.I have a list of his other assets.You can look them over and decide what you wish to do with them.”
“Thank you,” Sawyer said somberly.“I wish I’d had a chance to know him.That’s what I really would have wanted.”
Arthur pulled out a case from his bag and handed it to Sawyer.“Your uncle requested that this be given to you.It was found among the papers he kept with our firm.There was one for your father as well, but in accordance with your uncle’s wishes, that disk has been destroyed.”
“So my father is actually still alive,” Sawyer said.
“Yes, but we know little more than that.Has he contacted you again?”Arthur asked.
“Not in months,” Sawyer answered.“Is it wrong to say that I’m relieved?”
