Page 15 of The Duke of Lies
“We sold your horse,” she blurted, immediately horrified for telling him in that fashion. She’d dreaded it, but the animal had been difficult for anyone else to ride, so they hadn’t. And he’d become even more difficult, so Cuddy had sold him. “It was Cuddy’s idea.” She hated how that sounded, like she was shifting blame, but it was the truth.
He cocked his head to the side, his gaze boring into hers. “You thought I’d be angry.”
“Yes. He was your favorite…creature.” She’d been about to say person, but that made no sense, of course. And yet, he’d treated the animal better than anyone else on the estate. His dogs had come in a close second. Verity had found homes for them with tenants within the first year of his disappearance. All but the smallest hound—Falstaff—who’d clung to her skirts the moment Rufus had left for London. They’d forged a strong bond until Beau was born, and then the dog had shared his adoration with the baby too. He’d died last year, much to her and Beau’s sadness. But now they had his offspring, who nearly had their run of the castle. Along with the cats, the rabbits, and the squirrel. And soon to be goats.
“Speaking of creatures,” she said. “I told Beau yesterday that I would see about moving a goat herd closer to the castle. He was quite taken with Whist’s baby goat.”
“Baby goats are incredibly endearing. Are there several herds on the estate?”
“Yes, but I was thinking of asking Mr. Maynard. His flock is largest, and he may not mind sparing a few.”
“I shall ask him this afternoon, when I begin my tour of the estate,” Rufus said. “Would you care to join me? In the absence of a steward, I should be eager for a guide.”
She blinked at him, once more at a loss for words in the face of another thoughtful invitation.
“I’ve made you speechless again,” he said. “I seem to do that quite a bit. You think about it and let me know at luncheon.” He’d promised Beau he’d take the midday meal with him.
“It’s fine. I mean, I can tell you now. Yes, I’ll go with you.” She took a deep breath to calm her suddenly racing heart. “This is all very strange.”
“I’m afraid I wasn’t a very nice person before.” He said this almost as if he didn’t remember the horrible way in which he’d treated her. “I do hope I’m behaving better since my return.”
He was, but that didn’t mean she was ready to embrace him. “I meant what I said yesterday,” she said cautiously, afraid to poke the bear. “I don’t want to go back to the way things were.”
“Nor do I. I thought we were going to behave as if we’d just met.”
“I’m not sure I can behave any other way. After all this time, I scarcely know you. In fact, I feel as if I don’t know you at all. And yet, I can’t forget who you were before. I’m not sure I want to.” Her strong sense of self-preservation wouldn’t let her.
“That makes perfect sense to me. Please know that I have no expectations. And I want you to have none of me either.” He gave his head a small shake. “Actually, that’s not quite accurate. I want you to expect kindness, respect, and gratitude for all you’ve done in my absence. You deserve nothing less.”
“I’ll…try.” She didn’t mean to hesitate, but she couldn’t help it. “It’s going to take me some time.”
“I understand completely. And I’m delighted you’ll be joining me for the tour. Should we invite Beau?”
Probably—he’d love it so. But Verity wasn’t ready to expose him to Rufus quite that extensively yet. She wanted time alone with him first, to ensure he really wasn’t a threat to her son. “He has lessons, and I hate to disturb his routine. And don’t tell him, because he’ll try to wheedle his way along.”
Rufus chuckled softly. “To be a young boy again when we think anything is possible, even changing our mother’s mind.”
Verity found his sentiment strange. Rufus had rarely spoken of his childhood, and when he had, it was only to curse his father, who’d been cold and autocratic. She had to assume Rufus had taken after him. That made her wonder how his father and his uncle, the former duke, had been so different. Augustus had been warm and kind, though she supposed he’d also possessed an underlying sadness due to the loss of his young son at the very house party where she’d met Rufus.
“Where is this Entwhistle fellow currently employed?” Rufus asked, drawing her back from her reverie.
“Bleven House.”
“Is that far?”
She looked at him in surprise. Surely he would remember who their neighbors were. “It borders Beaumont Tower to the south.”
“Right.” He nodded as his mouth split into a self-deprecating smile. “I’ve forgotten so much, I fear.”
But he remembered his youth. A youth she didn’t necessarily recognize. Did she still think there was a chance he wasn’t actually Rufus? That couldn’t be. The likeness was too strong, and he did know certain things.
“I shouldn’t visit Entwhistle at Bleven House, but I’d like to speak with him before making a final decision regarding his employment.”
She’s already hired him, and it was possible Thomas had already informed his employer. “But you told Cuddy we already had a replacement.”
“I wanted him to be sure my decision was final.”
Hisdecision. He’d discharged Cuddy, and he’d be the one to hire Thomas. He hadn’t said as much, but she understood what he meant. “I’ve already offered Thomas—Entwhistle,” she corrected herself, “the job.”
