My Ellie (The Perfectly Paired #1)

Chapter 8

Colton

Lord Chamberlain’s study is just as fancy as I thought it would be. There are leather bound books lining the bookshelves, paintings that might be older than the United States of America hanging on the walls and a polished wooden desk sits before a grand window. With the amount of reading material in this one room, I’m not surprised it’s called a study—you could probably learn all kinds of things from these dusty books.

I run my hand over a couple of the spines, the leather soft under my calloused palms. How long has it been since I read a book?

The sound of a door opening pulls me from my thoughts, and I straighten as the double doors to the study are flung open.

Wyatt and I took some time to research Lord Chamberlain and his estate before I accepted this job, so I recognize the man as soon as his eyes meet mine. I remove my hat as he peers at me through small, rounded spectacles, taking in every detail before his eyebrows rush to the top of his head.

“Ahh,” he says in a gravelly, weathered voice. “Colton, my boy.” He’s striding towards me in an instant, grasping my hand in a tight handshake. He’s not a large man, he has to be closer to five feet tall than six, but he’s got a presence that eats up all the air in the room. It could be the money, I guess, but he’s got a nice way about him that makes me return his beaming smile.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you in person, Mr.—Lord Chamberlain.” I correct myself with a nod of my head. He releases my hand and gestures to the chairs that sit in front of the enormous desk.

“Yes, yes.” He nods enthusiastically, “Please, sit.” He says before moving around to the back of the desk, taking a seat in his chair just as I lower myself in mine.

“How was your flight? Are the accommodations up to scratch?” He leans forward, placing his elbows on the desk.

“Everything has been, well just perfect, sir. I can’t thank you enough for all the hospitality.”

His face lights up again, happy to hear that I have no complaints.

“Wonderful, wonderful! Now,” he clasps his hands together on the desk, “As previously discussed, you will be working with my sons, George and Edmund—they are just so excited about this, by the way. They can’t believe we’ve managed to snag you for the whole summer! The youngest rodeo rider inducted to the hall of fame at just twenty-four years of age, correct?”

“Yes, sir.” I nod as he sits back and peers at me through his spectacles. “Twenty-four when I got indicted, twenty-seven now.”

“Spectacular, spectacular—ah, you probably want to hear a little more about the boys. Well, they’re two years apart but so similar that I often get them mixed up, honestly. I have been trying for years to get them into something we can connect over and finally they’ve begun to take an interest in horses. Of course, they’re interested in an area that I have absolutely no expertise in—they couldn’t have chosen racing or hurdles. I have upwards of fifty racing thoroughbreds here that I own, and they couldn’t give a single toss—but that’s why you’re here! Their mother,” he pauses, nostrils flaring and face turning sour as he continues, “She’s managed to get them hooked on skiing, and of course they love to join her on her extravagant holidays and shopping trips—spending my hard-earned alimony, mind you!” He scoffs, shaking his head in disgust.

Wyatt and I had read that the Lord’s marriage to his much younger wife had ended four years ago—and badly, apparently, since the wound appears to be unhealed.

“She’s constantly shipping them off to Switzerland, France, Milan. Barely steps foot in this country any more, and good riddance I tell you. An oxygen thief if there ever was one.” He laughs with another shake of his head, I nod as I force a smile.

This is... uncomfortable, but I’m being paid a lot of money by this man, if I have to listen to him complain about his ex-wife for the next two months—I’ll do it with a fake smile on my face. I take a small amount of comfort in knowing that my own father would never have said a bad word about my momma. She could have spent every last penny we had, and he still would’ve looked at her as if she hung the moon.

“Anyway, all of that to say — a couple of hours a day, Monday through Friday should be more than enough to keep them entertained. There will be some days where they book themselves up with other engagements, and there will be a couple of weeks here and there where their mother will fly them out to whatever beach club she’s frequenting that month.” I see him react to the thought, head twitching to the side as he fights to collect himself, “And you’ll be paid once a fortnight, into the account we’ve set up for you here—international transfers are free with the bank that we use, so you can send money home at any point. I’m told Rory has shown you to the horses?”

“Yes, sir. They’ll be perfect for what I have planned for your sons, and my mare is just great. I took her out when I arrived yesterday.”

He smiles at that, likely happy that I approve of the horses he spent a small fortune on.

“Excellent, well you’ll have full use of the facilities on the estate during your time here. Just be mindful of the British Equestrian Team, they’ll be staying here for their summer training program. They mostly practice in the mornings, but there are more than enough arenas for you all to have your own space.”

The British Equestrian Team? Is that what Ellie was doing at the Estate, was she an elite British rider ?

“Those are the other people staying in the coach house.” I say aloud, more of a statement than a question as I piece everything together.

“Yes,” Lord Chamberlain says with a smile, “Some really lovely riders amongst them, my nephew Peter is part of the Dressage squad, we’re all hoping he scores a spot on the Olympic team for next year. Have you had the chance to meet any of them yet?”

“I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Peter yet sir, but I believe I have met a few of the ladies—they all seem real great.”

“Well, since you’re boarding in the coach house, I’m sure you’ll all get to know each other very well. Did Rory tell you about the eating arrangements?”

“Yes, sir. Breakfast was delicious.” And I’m not lying, Wyatt couldn’t believe it when I sent him photos of the food on offer in the coach house kitchen this morning. There was a spread of eggs, cooked meats, pastries and fresh fruit laid out over the large marble island. A full-bodied woman, who had insisted I call her Chef, was also on hand in case anyone had wanted a different dish. I’d been hoping to run into Ellie, but it had just been Rory and I seated at the unbelievably long kitchen table. He told me that he doesn’t usually eat in the coach house, that there are caterers up at the main house, but this exception was allowed because he was showing me the ropes .

Chef had laughed at that and then laughed even harder when Rory tried to request a full Irish breakfast . After that, he’d filled me in on George and Edmund, telling me all about their time at boarding school. I couldn’t believe it when he told me the boys spend ten months of the year at a school up in Scotland, Rory just laughed when I asked him if they were sent away as a punishment or something. I learned that it’s normal for wealthy British people to send their kids away for school, from the age of four years old.

“Well, speaking of breakfast,” Lord Chamberlain sits back in his chair and rests his hands on his stomach, “I think it’s almost time for mine.” He lifts an arm to check his wristwatch just as the double doors to the study open once more.

Two ladies dressed in pristine aprons approach the desk and set down a plate of bacon, grilled tomatoes, toast and a healthy helping of baked beans. I resist the urge to ask if I can snap a photo of the plate, knowing Wyatt would love to see a plate filled to the brim with British beans. One of the apron-wearing ladies pours a steaming stream of tea into a dainty teacup, pausing as she looks towards me.

“Can I interest you in a cup of tea, Mr. Brooks?” Lord Chamberlain asks as he reaches for a slice of toast.

I place my hands on either side of my chair, “Thank you, Lord Chamberlain, but I should get moving and set up the arena. Day one of cowboy training and all.” I place my hat back on my head with a nod as I stand. “Thank you again sir, for this opportunity, I’ll make sure your boys have a great summer.”

Lord Chamberlain sips delicately from his teacup, peering at me over his eyeglasses. “I have great faith in you, Mr. Brooks.”