Page 35 of An Amiable Foe
He squinted at the sight of a liveried footman, who seemed oddly familiar, then shot a glance at the crest on the carriage. Curiosity turned to apprehension as Lord Steere stepped down from the coach and lifted his head to scrutinize Brindale Castle. His uncle had come.
No sooner had he rid himself of his friends than his uncle would arrive with set expectations of being entertained and catered to. Perry remained frozen for a moment, staring at the unwelcome sight through the window before coming to his senses. He had no choice but to go and greet his uncle and make him welcome, even if it was the last thing he wished to do. Groaning under his breath, Perry exited into the main hall and plastered a welcoming smile on his face before opening the front door.
“You’ve come, Uncle,” he said as he strode outdoors to greet him. “I did not expect to have this pleasure. What has brought you to Kent?”
“Surprised you, boy, did I?”
Lord Steere handed his hat and cane to the new footman, who had hurried forward. “As you might’ve guessed, handing the keys to Brindale Castle was your test. I wanted to see if you were fit to step into my shoes at Mulgrove Estate. Granted, there’s not much I can do regarding the title,” he said, walking toward the front entrance, “but there are many pieces of land I can choose to will to someone else should I find your style of management not up to snuff. I wanted to see with my own eyes how things fare here.”
Perry was well aware he needed to win his uncle’s approbation, but it didn’t make the words any easier to hear. Was simply trusting him with the task too difficult a thing to do? He forced his tone to be conciliatory.
“Please come inside. Shall I offer you some brandy?”
“A small glass would be welcome after my journey, but I’m eager to have a look at the land I handed over to you.” He scowled at Perry. “Not that I regret it, mind you. This was not such a large estate that I would suffer if you ran it into the ground, and I’m a man who knows what he’s doing. Still, I’ve come to look over your management.”
Perry kept his tongue between his teeth, applying every ounce of self-control he possessed so he could appear as though his uncle’s surprise visit were a pleasure. Once they entered, he sent Charlie to bring some brandy to the drawing room, while Brindale’s newer footman Albinus hurried to bring Lord Steere’s belongings into the room Lorry had just vacated. Perry pulled the newest maid aside and asked her to see that the room was cleaned and fresh sheets put on at once.
“Dismal drawing room here, isn’t it?” Lord Steere took a seat, the paunch of hisembonpointspilling over onto his pantaloons. “I don’t know why you didn’t start with renovations in this room.”
Perry looked around, now feeling quite the opposite. The drawing room was spacious, and a coat of paint in a fresh color would more than likely lighten the room sufficiently. “This was not the most urgent of things that needed to be done. The roof on the north side had a leak.”
“You did not mention it in your letters.” Lord Steere’s eyes brightened as the footman arrived with a bottle and two glasses.
“I didn’t wish to burden you with mentions of all that needed to be done. You were quite explicit in saying that this was my affair to deal with. But the roof was in need of urgent attention, and that was where I put the first bulk of my funds.” He accepted the glass from the footman, who had learned by now to serve him very little.
As his uncle took the refreshment, they spoke of the changes Perry had already put into effect. Then, as soon his uncle had finished his brandy, he stood.
“Well, we’re not likely to have many more hours of daylight left. Why don’t we get started on the outdoors first? You can show me what you’ve done so far and what you plan to do. I trust you’ve been using your time well.”
Perry stood, realizing what a close call he’d just had. If his uncle had arrived when his friends were still at Brindale, he would have assumed Perry had not taken his ownership of the estate seriously. Perhaps he had not at the time he’d invited them, but he did now.
He hoped his uncle would be impressed with what he had done, but doubt made him fear it was not enough. Everything was so new. Yes, the timbers were fresh, but the clay tiles had not been installed. The apiary was in its beginning stages, and it needed to be left completely alone for the hive to get settled. There was therefore nothing to see yet. He had still to speak to Marianne’s blacksmith about renting out his smithy, and he’d only just spoken with the steward about getting the livestock project up and running.
“Right this way,” he said with an optimism he did not feel, leading his uncle out-of-doors. He decided to show him the stable first, which was well kept and was one of the nicer outlying buildings. They could then visit the apiary, and he could explain what he was doing there.
“Where is the young miss who had been living here before you inherited? What have you done with her?”
Perry walked forward without missing a step, but his insides froze. He didn’t like the way his uncle had referred to her, as though she were a dog in need of a new home. Lord Steere must form a good impression of Marianne. It was so early in his courtship, Perry couldn’t quite spell out the reasons, even to himself. He just knew it was necessary.
“As a matter of fact, Miss Edgewood was bequeathed the cottage on the edge of the estate. I helped her to move her belongings there.” He was about to say more but his uncle interrupted him.
“A cottage? That was not in the attorney’s report. There was no mention of an outlying building other than the stables and house adjoined to it.”
“That’s because her portion had been sectioned off before the property came to you. But I assure you, it is hers.” Perry continued forward, desiring to protect her at all costs.
Lord Steere resumed the walk, frowning. “I shall want to have a look at that document of hers. So she’s living there now, is she?”
Perry pinched his lips together before shaking his head. He would have to tread carefully. “There was a break-in at the cottage, and I had her brought back to the castle as a temporary measure. She has been occupying the master bedroom in the southern wing, which is why I didn’t put you there.”
“My boy, I hope you’re not doing something foolish like developing feelings for her.” Lord Steere turned to Perry and studied him. “She’s been raised in the country, and it’s not for a gel like her to become the wife of a baron. You’ll need to look much higher when you make a match.”
Indignation rose in Perry’s breast, which led him to speak with more honor than truth. “Sir, I’ll have you know that Miss Edgewood is perfectly respectable. She has had a genteel education and is a lady in every sense of the word.”
A loud series of grunts and squeals interrupted the rest of what he would have said, and Perry turned toward the sound, his jaw dropping in dismay. Coming up from the field toward the stables was Marianne, wearing one of her oldest dresses, her hair half undone, but that was nothing compared to the filth that covered the front of her dress and extended right up onto her face. Her mouth was set in determination as she pushed the ornery Buttercup in the direction of the pighouse.
“I swear, Buttercup, if you do this to me one more time, you’ll be ‘rashers of sindg’d bacon on the coals’ by morning.”
CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
