Page 67 of An offer from the Marquess (Necessary Arrangements 4)

“She said it’s not scandalous as long as it’s with family.”

Something twisted in Rhys’s gut. Had his little girl just called Lady Isabel family? He only hoped his wife was worthy of that.

“She is right,” he murmured and caressed his daughter’s cheek.

“Why are you dirty?” Millie asked with a grimace but then erupted in giggles.

Rhys let out a chuckle. “I had to clean a lot of dirt this week, moppet.”

Millie smiled and burrowed further under her covers. “Will you sing me a song?”

Rhys nodded. “Of course, my darling girl. That’s what I came here for.”

He tucked her tighter in her bed and started her favorite lullaby.

* * *

Rhys exited the house with the bundle of clean clothing and towels that his valet prepared for him and sauntered toward the stream. He used to clean himself there all the time in the summer after a hard day of work with the farmers, but the weather was still cold in the spring, and the water was almost freezing.

Still, he had no choice if he wanted to wash off the dirt of the day and go to bed in a relatively clean state.

He took off his clothes and entered the stream. The water was so cold that he had to rush to ensure his limbs didn’t fall off from the cold. Once he was done, he donned the fresh clothing and hurried back to the house, wishing for a hot cup of chocolate or milk by the fire.

Hell, forget the drink and fire. All he wanted was to burrow inside his covers and sleep in a warm and cozy room until morning, uninterrupted.

He reached the house rather quickly and ascended the stairs taking two steps at a time. He finally opened the door to his room and… froze.

If he stood there long enough, he’d freeze quite literally.

Rhys entered the cold, dark room, trying to figure out what was wrong.

He peeked into the hearth only to realize that the fire was doused!

What the devil?

Why hadn’t anybody lit his hearth before his arrival? To top it off, his windows were open. He stalked toward one of his windows and tried to lock them, but the frame was too stiff. Vane shivered from either cold or irritation, possibly both, and pulled the servants’ bell.

His valet showed up a moment later with a candle in his hands.

“What happened here, David? Why is my hearth dying, and the windows open?”

David, Rhys’s valet, brought his candle closer to the walls. “Didn’t you know? Your walls were being painted. And since it smells awful, the windows should be open for a few days after.”

“And when did they finish painting my room?” Vane growled.

David swallowed. “They didn’t. It should take a few more days.”

A few more days and then a few more to air it out?Vane gritted his teeth. “And where am I to sleep while this atrocity is going on?”

“I am sorry, my lord, I thought you agreed to have your room decorated.”

Rhys heaved a sigh. “I did, but I would still like to have somewhere I can sleep.”

“Her ladyship ordered another room to be prepared for you, but we did not expect you this soon. The maids didn’t have enough time to do so. Do you want to turn them away?” His lips twitched, and there was a strange glint in the servants’ eye. He knew full well that Vane was not about to turn anyone away for the slight mistake.

“No, but I would like for you to find me another chamber to sleep in. Preferably one not as cold as this one.”

David pursed his lips. His behavior was getting stranger and stranger by the moment. What was he up to? “Well, all the other rooms on this floor are either being painted or are not suitable for anyone to spend the night in.”

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