Chapter Nineteen
Arthur was sitting at the table, enjoying his breakfast and a newspaper when Daphne joined him. He looked up as she entered. She was as beautiful as always. Her face seemed to have a glow to it, but their night of what seemed to be endless lovemaking might have something to do with that.
She walked over to the sideboard where breakfast items awaited and made her choices. Turning, she joined her husband at the table.
“Good morning,” he said quietly.
“Good morning,” she replied, holding up a folded paper. “Roxanne and Graham will be joining us for dinner tonight.”
He picked up his half-empty cup of coffee and took a sip of the hot, black beverage. “Excellent.”
“Yes. I always enjoy their company.” Picking up a piece of toast, she slathered it with marmalade before taking a bite. “I asked Cook to serve something special.”
“Cook does well at adapting. Her meals are all lovely regardless of how many people are here.”
“Yes, she’s good at what she does,” she replied.
“I’ve got to take care of some things as soon as I finish here. Do you have any plans for the day?”
“You mean, do I have any plans while you’re working?” She smiled briefly.
He nodded. “Something like that.”
“I was thinking of having my mare saddled and going for a ride. It’s a beautiful day and it would be a shame to waste it by sitting indoors.”
“Take Roddy with you. He can always use the exercise. I’ll join you if I finish in a timely manner.”
She smiled. “That would be nice. I’ll look forward to seeing you later. I thought I’d go through the meadow and up the hill. It has to be beautiful on a day like this to look down, and I imagine it’s even more breathtaking when it snows.”
Putting his newspaper aside, Arthur contemplated his reply. “It’s the highest point on the estate, and yes, it’s beautiful when it snows.”
She didn’t answer right away, and he noticed she was moving the eggs around on the plate and not eating them. “Are the eggs not to your liking?”
Daphne stopped and looked up at him. “No, they’re fine. I guess I’m not as hungry as I thought.” He watched her eat a forkful. She made a face. “Could I get them a little more done?”
A footman came right away and took her plate. “Of course, Your Grace.”
“All you have to do is ask,” Arthur replied.
“I know. I’m not fond of runny eggs. Not that runny anyway.”
“Remind Cook in case a kitchen maid helped her. She can inform her staff so that it won’t happen again.”
“I’m sure she’ll know when she sees my plate of eggs being returned.”
Moments later, a fresh plate of eggs were placed in front of her. This time, they were fluffy and firm like she preferred them. Biting into a forkful, Daphne sighed in pleasure, closing her eyes as she enjoyed the eggs.
Hearing her sigh like that made Arthur’s cock come to attention. He had no control when it came to his wife and knew he needed to excuse himself.
“I’m going to leave you to enjoy your breakfast. The sooner I start with my day, the faster I can join you.”
“I’m going to check in on Sam before I go upstairs and change into more appropriate riding apparel.”
Pushing his chair away from the table, Arthur unfolded his tall frame. “Hopefully, Sam is beginning to settle in.”
“Yes, that would be nice.”
He bent over to kiss her on the cheek. “Enjoy your ride.”
“I shall, but it’ll be made more enjoyable when you join us.”
He walked to the door which a footman opened. Breathing a sigh of relief, Arthur continued on to his study.
A short while later, Daphne walked through the front door and down the stairs to her mare who had been saddled and brought to her.
Roddy ran around in huge circles in pure excitement as he waited for his mistress to begin their trek.
Moments later, she was walking the mare towards the meadow.
Without looking back, Daphne knew there was a groom riding with her a safe distance behind her.
Arthur insisted she not ride the estate alone.
As a compromise, Daphne agreed, but only if a groom followed her a discreet distance behind her.
Far enough back that she could lose him with little effort.
As the meadow came into view, she urged the gray to pick up speed.
Clucking to the mare, she set off in a gallop, Roddy leading the way.
Though the day was sunny and clear, the temperature reminded everyone winter was upon them.
Moments later, she turned her mare into a large circle as she contemplated how to enter the tree line and lose her chaperone.
Nearing the trees, Daphne slowed the gray down to a walk as she followed one path leading to the small lake.
Moments later, she was able to pick up a new lane which would take her to the top of the hill.
Roddy ran about, sometimes veering off the path if he picked up the scent of a rabbit or other small game.
Small branches snapped under her mare’s hooves as they continued.
It wasn’t long before she came upon a clearing and the path leading to the highest point on the estate.
She marveled at the view when she finally stopped.
She could see why Arthur loved to come here.
It had to have been used as a lookout point at some time in the past. A way to alert residents of intruders.
The spot would have been perfect to build a manor home on, but Arthur’s ancestors probably didn’t want them to be that exposed.
Regardless of what happened in the past, Daphne felt this was a special place to visit and she would continue to do so, especially when she needed to reflect on her life or something taking place.
Smiling, she wondered if the groom had figured out he’d been tricked. If he didn’t find her, he’d never let anyone know he’d been duped by a woman. She didn’t want him to get reprimanded, so if need be, she would just say they got split up and she hadn’t realized it for some time.
She called out to the setter who came running from out of the tree line.
Evidently, as always, there were a million things for him to discover.
She enjoyed having him keep her company.
Not only was he funny, should anything bad happen, she knew she could depend on him to guard her or go find help, hopefully in the form of Arthur.
“Come on, let’s go back to the house. It’s cold out here and I’m beginning to feel it. I’m sure you’d like to lie by a fire and warm up yourself.”
Roddy barked as though he understood, wagging his feathery red tail. He jumped up to let her know he was ready. Daphne clucked to the mare and followed the setter to the trail leading down to the meadow. The grade was a gentle slope, making it quite easy to make the downward journey.
Arthur must have had more needing his attention than he originally thought.
That was not unusual, and with him getting ready to take his position in Parliament, she knew things would only get busier.
She was proud how he took things in stride and never seemed to let anything get him out of sorts.
The only thing that even came close was the trial of the man responsible for murdering his parents.
With the man being found guilty, Arthur had washed his hands of the matter.
He wanted nothing further to do with it.
Their relationship had blossomed. Still getting to know each other, she had no doubt the bond they were forming now would be with them for a lifetime.
What she got when she married him was exactly what she expected.
He was kind and patient with her, which was amusing considering how much of a pain in the arse she’d been when they first met. She had certainly tested his patience.
As she neared the bottom of the trail, she heard Roddy barking playfully. To one side at the entrance of the meadow stood the young groom assigned to accompany her. From first glance, he didn’t appear to be too put out with her. He simply nodded.
“Your Grace.”
“I didn’t know where you’d gone so Roddy and I made the rest of the trek up to the clearing. It’s lovely up there,” she said. “It seems to be getting colder so I believe we should return to the house.”
“As you wish, Your Grace.”
Making her way towards the stables, her groom rode a comfortable distance behind her.
Daphne knew he was upset with her for deliberately ditching him.
She was the duchess, and he was to cater to her.
The only time she deemed him necessary was if she were injured from a fall or something similar.
Not that she’d fallen that much in her lifetime.
She valued the time she did have alone and didn’t need others crowding her.
After dismounting at the stables, she headed towards the house, with Roddy circling her before running ahead. She was almost to the garden gate when she spotted her husband looking quite handsome on this sunny but cold day.
“I was just headed to the stables to see if you were still out,” he said. Roddy greeted his master, and Arthur patted him before turning his attention back on to Daphne.
“It was getting a little chilly, so I thought it best if I return. I did get to the top of the hill. Beautiful view.”
“I told you,” he replied. “Did you ride through the meadow on your way?”
“Of course.” She smiled. “Didn’t you see a gray running across the meadow?”
He watched in disbelief as his wife began running in the direction of the veranda steps, giggling all the way. Knowing he could easily catch her, he allowed her to keep up her pace before pursuing her. Her peals of laughter were music to his ears.