Chapter Five #2
The pair began walking without a word between them. It was indeed a glorious day, in more ways than one.
*
It was indeed late when Arthur’s carriage stopped in front of his friend’s front door. It had been a long but satisfying day. He was ready to soak in a tub of hot water, read, and get a much overdue night of sleep.
His sister Roxanne came rushing out the door upon learning they’d arrived.
He knew there’d be a thousand questions, and for once he’d leave it to Graham to sort it out.
Unloading her purchases would only take the footmen a matter of minutes, so he had the opportunity to make excuses not to leave the carriage.
Graham greeted his wife, who hurried over and opened the door. “Arthur, don’t just sit there. Come in and have a brandy while you wait for them to unload my parcels. I want to hear everything.”
“I’m fine where I am, and it won’t take them but a minute. It’s late, and I’m really quite tired. Graham can apprise you of everything.”
She studied him for a moment, knowing she wasn’t going to win this one. She was quite used to getting her own way, but she’d also learned when to call a truce. “Very well. Come by tomorrow and tell me everything.”
“Like I said, Graham will tell you. I’ll come by if there is nothing keeping me at the estate.”
“Very well. Enjoy your evening, brother,” she bit out.
He nodded. “You do the same.” He felt a twinge of guilt for being short with her when there was so much to share, but he’d never get home before dawn if he stepped out of the carriage.
“Roxanne, I think you’ll like the outcome. We can finally put this nightmare behind us.”
She cocked her head but said nothing before she lifted her skirts, turned, and walked toward Graham.
Arthur sat back against the squabs and closed his eyes, waiting for the men to finish.
Finally, he heard the driver climbing up to his position.
He tapped his walking stick on the roof as he’d done many times before.
Moments later, the carriage rolled forward and headed home.
The house wasn’t lit up like it regularly was.
No one was expecting him for the next few days.
He descended the carriage and walked to the front door.
As he began to open the door, the young boy who slept in the kitchens for moments like this appeared.
It was obvious by his appearance he’d been fast asleep.
Behind him, Roddy came bounding out of nowhere, his tail wagging in excitement.
Arthur took a moment to pay the red dog attention before he noticed Wilson arriving dressed in his robe and slippers.
“Is everything all right, Your Grace? We didn’t receive word you would be arriving tonight.”
“It’s fine, Wilson. I didn’t send word. It was a spur of the moment decision.”
“I understand, Your Grace.”
“Anything I should know about that might have happened while I was away?”
“Nothing that can’t wait until morning, Your Grace.”
“Hmmm…the gray. Any sightings, or has Lady Daphne learned from her actions?”
“Unfortunately, the horse was seen with a rider racing across the meadow on two occasions.”
“That’s what I wanted to know,” Arthur replied. “I’m going to retire. I apologize for waking everyone.”
“Good night, Your Grace.”
A little bit later, Arthur lay back in the large tub his father had installed when he added running water to the manor.
It was luxurious compared to before. No need for footmen to carry endless buckets of water from the kitchen.
It was a luxury he looked forward to after being in the carriage for hours on end.
His mind flew to Lady Daphne. She was beautiful and yes, she was a pain in his arse.
Her continued arrogance, ignoring him when it came to her mare, made him want to take her over his knee and spank her.
He needed to talk with her again, but instead had an idea that might make her see the errors of her ways.
She was constantly in his dreams at night while he was away, and the dreams were not quite what he expected.
He was attracted to her. There was a pull he’d never experienced with a woman before, and surprisingly, he didn’t mind it.
One night he’d even awoken from a dream where he’d proposed to her, but the dream ended suddenly, and he had no idea how she responded.
His idea was to give her a taste of her own medicine.
He would plant a horse on her property and see how long before she realized or was told by one of her staff the animal was there.
How long would it be until the horse was returned?
Knowing her, she would send one of her staff with the animal rather than come in person herself.
It would be beneath her to do so. He would love to be a fly on the wall when she found out she’d been played.
He shook his head and immersed his head in the bath water.
No, he wouldn’t do that. Playing into her game wasn’t what he was about, and since he hadn’t contacted her father, he needed to distance himself.
He would, for now, just leave the gray to forage on its own.
Someone would surely come for it sooner or later.
He sloughed the excess water from his hair.
No, instead, he would pretend he didn’t know the horse was there.
He had more important things to deal with at the moment than a spoiled young woman’s games.
Arthur began to soap up his body. The water was cooling.
That wasn’t a problem, but it was late and tomorrow would be quite eventful getting caught up on everything that’d happened while away.
He found he’d taken himself in hand, stroking his hard cock in an effort to get relief from the effect Lady Daphne had on him.