A Duke’s Love (Endless Love #2)

Chapter One

August was the height of summer, given England’s short season, though there were a few subtle hints that autumn was not far behind. The sun was beginning to lower in the sky and wasn’t the brightest shade of yellow when it did come out.

Arthur stopped the young bay gelding he was walking back to the stables.

He patted the animal on his muscular neck.

“If you don’t mind, I’m going to remove my coat.

It’s gotten far too warm.” The horse, in turn, shook his head.

Arthur laughed as he came out of his dark brown jacket and laid it in front of the saddle, over the horse’s withers.

The horse having tripped and thrown a shoe, Arthur had no recourse but to lead the beast back to the stables.

Of course it had to happen on the day he decided to test the youngster out.

The bay was one he bred and was raising to sell as soon as his training was sufficient.

He picked up the reins again and the pair began walking again.

Suddenly, he heard hooves thundering across the meadow.

Looking up, Arthur saw nothing but a blurred image, unable to make out much more than the horse was a gray and the rider was unrecognizable.

Was the gray the one he and his grooms had found wandering the estate?

He couldn’t be sure, and since he couldn’t mount and ride after the interloper, he could only hope the pair came calling again.

Arthur decided he’d tell his stablemaster and grooms to be on the lookout for the horse and rider.

It wasn’t that he minded people riding on his land; he simply had a strict rule that they ask before riding.

But the more he thought about it, the angrier he got at the idea that whoever this was rode their horse as though a barn was on fire.

Reckless. That’s what it was, and he was determined to find out who this person was.

The best way to do this would probably be to visit all the neighboring estates and see if he could find the gray.

He was certain the rider and horse lived nearby.

Arthur patted the gelding and started walking towards the stables.

After about ten minutes, he saw the building come into sight and let out a sigh of relief.

Not that he minded the walk—he spent a good amount of time walking the estate instead of riding.

He could see more at ground level and things he might have otherwise missed if on horseback.

As he entered the stable yard, his stable master, Mr. Smythe came hurrying out of the building as soon as he saw Arthur and his horse walking in.

“He threw a shoe, so I walked him back,” Arthur said, handing the reins over to the man.

“I apologize, milord. Those were new shoes.”

“It could happen to anyone, Smythe. I’m just thankful it hadn’t started raining.”

He stood and watched as Smythe handed the horse over to one of the grooms. After words were spoken, the young man led the bay into the building.

“That gray came racing by us like there was no tomorrow. So fast, I couldn’t make out the rider,” Arthur said.

“Again?”

“Yes. I’m sure the pair live close by, so I’m thinking of riding to the neighboring estates and seeing if I can’t find out who they are and why they insist on riding on my land. I wouldn’t mind, but this person is reckless, and I won’t allow it.”

“That might not be a bad idea, Your Grace. No good can come of this; someone is going to get hurt.”

Arthur nodded. “Exactly. In the meantime, if anyone finds that gray loose on the estate, catch it and bring it back here. Someone is bound to miss the gray and come looking for it.”

“I’ll make sure everyone knows. Would you like me to have Midnight saddled for you, Your Grace?”

Midnight was Arthur’s latest mount. He’d found him at Tattersall’s in London, quite by accident. So impressed by the animal and his lineage, Arthur purchased him on the spot. The stallion was massive in not only build but attitude. The pair quickly bonded.

“Perhaps later. I have an appointment, but I’ll send word if I need him saddled.”

Smythe nodded and watched as Arthur turned and walked through the open doors and towards the house.

Arthur’s walk between the house and stables wasn’t far, for which for once he was thankful.

His mind was full of thoughts, mainly on this reckless and mysterious rider.

Usually things like this wouldn’t bother him, but like Smythe and he had agreed, the rider was on the path of getting hurt or hurting their horse if they continued the path they were on.

As he continued on the path towards the house, the manor came into view and about that time, a big red dog loped towards him.

Roddy, an Irish Setter he’d acquired after Roxanne married.

Usually, he didn’t care for dogs inside, but the house was so quiet with his sister gone, he made an exception.

Arthur bent down as the dog approached and petted him.

One of the footmen must have taken him outside, and upon seeing Arthur, the dog fled the young man.

Arthur had hunting dogs, but they were kept in the kennels.

He would have Roddy trained to hunt since setters were excellent bird dogs.

The only thing holding his training back was that he needed to mature more and also, Arthur wasn’t sure he could bear to send the dog to the kennels during his training.

He would have to focus and Casey, his dog trainer, made it clear he couldn’t do his job if his charge was being coddled when he wasn’t being trained.

In another month, perhaps two, he’d have to let the gentle giant go.

At least for the time being. For now, he’d enjoy the dog’s company.

“Come on, Roddy. Let’s see if Cook might have a bone for you.”

The dog, tail wagging, began circling Arthur before settling into his place beside his master. Arthur knew Cook would scold him for bringing the red giant into her domain, but that’s as far as it would go. She would give Arthur a slice of whatever she had baked, and Roddy would have his bone.

Arthur grabbed the setter’s collar as they approached the kitchen door, which was standing open to let some of the heat of the kitchens out and hopefully cooler air in.

Cook, her arms crossed over her ample bosom, was waiting on them as Arthur led the dog through the kitchen.

“I’m afraid you’ll have to do with a scone today. Marmalade cake is in the oven.”

“Could you have someone bring it to my study, along with some tea and Roddy’s bone?”

“Would you like a plate since you missed lunch, Your Grace?”

“You’re the best, Cook. Cheese, meats, and some bread. And scones to top it all.”

“Flattery will get you everywhere, as you well know, Your Grace.”

Arthur smiled broadly and led Roddy up the stairs to the main level and on to his study.

He’d rather be riding but had to turn it down knowing he had unopened correspondence from early this morning to read and respond to.

Opening the door, he watched as the dog went straight to the fire to lie down.

He shut the door and walked to his desk and sat down.

In front of him sat a small stack of correspondence.

He recalled seeing one from the man he and Hawksbury had hired to look into a man named Crenshaw, who had accompanied his parents on their fatal journey to India.

The two of them were convinced Crenshaw had something to do with the incident that led to his parents’ murder.

Arthur felt certain of it because Crenshaw sported his father’s ring on his hand.

One that had been in the family for generations.

Picking up that particular letter, he opened it and began reading the contents.

It seemed that Crenshaw had taken his own ship headed to India, but at the first port, he disembarked, and the ship went on without him.

Crenshaw now had returned, but was not staying in London; instead, he was in Liverpool.

An interesting change of events. The detective seemed to think Crenshaw thought too many people wanted to keep tabs on him in London.

He would keep an eye on Crenshaw and gave Arthur an address as to where he was staying and would keep Arthur updated on Crenshaw’s activities for as long as he was needed.

He set the letter aside and picked up another. He needed to send word to Hawksbury to update him on Crenshaw’s movement, but first he wanted to think it through, especially how long they needed their man to tail Crenshaw.

Except for a letter from his aunt, the rest of the letters were nothing more than updates from the accountants, and a couple of bills from London.

It was about the time he was going to put the bills aside to pay them that a footman arrived with a tray bearing his meal and, most importantly, Roddy’s bone.

He crossed the room and picked up the bone.

Roddy was now sitting up and began wagging his tail.

Arthur passed the bone to the dog and the animal eagerly took it from his master’s hand.

Arthur then turned his attention back to the cart and prepared a cup of tea and a plate of cheese, ham, and chicken.

He pulled a piece of bread from the small loaf and placed it on top of the meats and cheese.

The only sound besides the fire crackling was Roddy gnawing on his bone.

Arthur decided to sit down in front of the hearth and eat while he tried to decide what they should do about Crenshaw.