Chapter Three #2
As he turned onto the main road, he turned Midnight towards home and broke him into a trot, holding him back from going faster.
The stallion was still young, and his training was not finished.
He always wanted to run, and Arthur had to hold him back, so pacing him at a trot made the animal listen to what he was being asked to do.
As a reward, Arthur would let him gallop once they hit his estate’s drive.
*
“Lady Roxanne stopped by while you were riding, Your Grace,” Wilson said solemnly as Arthur opened the door to his study.
“I’m sorry I missed her.”
Wilson arched his brow, about the most expression he ever allowed himself. “She said to remind you her house party starts soon, and you’re required at dinner this evening to discuss the events.”
Arthur said nothing for a moment. He’d completely forgotten and that wasn’t like him. “What time am I required to arrive?”
“Seven.”
“Very well. I completely forgot about this.”
“She said she thought you had because you hadn’t replied to her invitation and said that was unlike you.”
“My sister is right. I forgot to reply.”
Wilson stood at the doorway. “Is there anything I can get you, Your Grace?”
“No, that’ll be all, Wilson.”
With that, the door shut and Arthur was alone in his study with Roddy.
The setter thumped his tail on the rug in front of his desk.
“You ought to consider yourself lucky. You don’t have to endure social events.
You can stay here, eat your dinner alone, and sleep.
I, on the other hand, have to go and pretend to be interested in some house party my sister is planning. ”
The dog’s tail continued to wag. Roddy was happy for the attention even if it was unusual. “Of course, this house party is merely an excuse to try and find me a wife. She can’t fool me. She’s determined to see me wed. Roxanne doesn’t listen to my opinion on the matter. It hits deaf ears.”
Sitting down at his desk, he picked up a pile of letters Wilson had placed there while he’d been out.
He thumbed through them to see if any were priority over others.
Invitations to other summer house parties.
He was sure that’s what they were because they were a favorite among the ton during the summer when everyone fled London for the countryside.
Arthur had never cared for the parties. It was too long a time to commit to, and he disliked having his days filled with silly games.
Even the hunting and fishing times were not to his liking because it was a way for the men to gossip about peers and little else got done.
Showing up at his sister’s house party would be the only one he would commit to this late in the summer, and he would pick and choose when he wanted to be there.
He would try and get a sense of who Roxanne had invited.
The guests with marriageable daughters who had come along.
It was usually obvious, daughters either with their pushy mothers or the girls in a gaggle on their own.
Either way, it was something which needed to be dealt with delicately.
No one could be offended if he didn’t pay enough attention to their daughter, but at the same time, he wasn’t going to be run over by anyone.
Arthur thought to the viscount’s daughter, Lady Daphne.
For some reason, despite her condescending attitude, he was fascinated by her.
His body reacted in ways it shouldn’t the moment he laid eyes on her.
He wanted to get to know her better. He would send flowers to her.
It was a start. After that he could invite her to go riding. He would wear her down.
Hearing the clock on the mantel chime brought Arthur out of his thoughts.
He reached across his desk and, grabbing a whiskey decanter, poured himself a glass.
He sat back in his chair and took a sip.
There was time before he needed to ready himself for his evening.
He took another long drink of the whiskey and closed his eyes for a moment.
Before he knew it, he dozed off for a few minutes.
Lady Daphne appeared, her beauty unmatched by any other young lady he knew.
He would have her, and she would become his wife.
He jerked awake, looked around, and took the remaining sip of whiskey.
Where had that come from? He was usually not so determined about a woman, but he was finding out Lady Daphne had gotten under his skin.
Now he wondered if Roxanne had invited her to the party.
If she had, he would try and participate in whatever games she chose.
Riding? Dancing? Or was she more daring and liked things like shooting or card games like poker?
He could see her playing and winning. She would be a worthy opponent.
Arthur poured another splash of whiskey, smiling at the thought of Lady Daphne out of her safe environment.
Perhaps that was one reason he never knew she was in residence.
Did she prefer her own familiar surroundings to those unknown to her?
He would make it his mission to find out all he could about her.
Arthur knew he and Graham needed to talk about their mutual interest in finding his parents’ murderer.
Nothing much had been gained lately, but he himself felt as though Crenshaw was being elusive, knowing he didn’t have long before the truth came out.
Crenshaw was being watched and Arthur wondered if he knew he was.
He had even thought of going on the same journey to India that Crenshaw offered.
He and Graham had discussed it, but it was decided the trip might not be a good idea.
Crenshaw was a complicated man and if pushed too much or if he thought he felt uneasy about a situation, he might run.
He had the means, and finding him again might not be worth the expense.
Finally, he pushed himself away from his desk and rose. He needed to start getting ready for this evening’s affair. “Come, Roddy, let’s see about getting you outside so I can get ready for Roxanne’s dinner.”
The red setter jumped up and loped to the door. As soon as Arthur opened it, he charged through. The footman assigned to the dog wasn’t hard to find. As he watched the dog leave with the young man, Arthur turned and headed to the stairs.