Chapter Four
Matthew shaved himself and then dressed, having left Barrow back at Redfield.
He had done as he had promised all those years ago and hired Barrow away from Harrow School.
First, he had Ridley teach Barrow everything about being a footman, and Barrow had served at Redfield in that capacity, taking special care to watch over Matthew’s mother during his years away at school.
Once he left university, he had made Barrow his valet. He trusted Barrow with his life.
As he readied himself, his thoughts drifted to Lady Verina Fulton.
She was uncommonly pretty, someone who intrigued him.
Mama had been nudging him the past year to take a wife, but Matthew wasn’t certain if that was the path for him.
He had his work with the damaged doves. Because of that, he traveled quite a bit across England, seeing what women he could save.
He did not think he could have a traditional marriage due to his dedication to these downtrodden women.
And Lady Verina seemed the type to very much want a traditional marriage and life.
Matthew made his way down to breakfast, as comfortable at Merrifield as he was his own home since he visited so often.
As he entered the breakfast room, he saw a buffet had been set up and assumed it was because of the Fulton cousins’ visit.
Hugo was already at the table, along with Lady Verina and Lady Justina.
He joined Lord Traywick at the buffet and asked, “Did you sleep well, my lord?”
“Surprisingly, I did. I usually do not when I am in a new place, but I think I was worn out after our long journey to Merrifield.”
Matthew filled his plate, always one to eat a hearty breakfast, and then he took a seat at the table, Lady Verina to his right.
She wore a gown of pale blue, which only made her blue eyes appear bluer and her buttery blond hair gleam even lighter than it had seemed last night.
The gown dipped modestly, only showing a small portion of the top of her rounded breasts.
He had the urge to trace them with his tongue and fought it off, appalled at what a rakish thought that was, especially regarding a sweet lady such as Lady Verina.
They spoke of people in the neighborhood, and both Lady Verina and Lady Justina seemed eager to meet others while visiting Merrifield.
Hugo said he would invite some of their neighbors to dinner to introduce them about and then added, “There is an assembly each month in Merrivale. The next one . . . will take place the first Saturday evening of November. If you enjoy dancing, it would be a good place . . . to mingle and have a bit of fun.”
“Both my sisters enjoy dancing,” Lord Traywick said. “You must go to this assembly,” he encouraged his sisters. “I know you enjoy the ones held at home.”
Tia joined them, and Matthew thought she looked a bit pale. He would not be surprised if she were with child. Hugo had spoken with him about their desire to have children as quickly as possible.
“What do you have planned for your cousins today, my love?” Hugo asked his wife.
Before Tia could respond, Lady Verina said, “Justina and I were hoping we might accompany you gentlemen as you go about the estate today. We both want to see it as much as Tray does, and this way, you would only have to take the three of us out a single time.”
Tray chuckled. “My ever practical sister,” he said, smiling fondly at Lady Verina.
Matthew could see a closeness between the siblings. Having had none, he experienced a quick moment of jealousy, pushing it aside.
“I would not mind in the least,” Hugo declared. “We would be happy to have you join us this morning.”
Lady Justina turned to Tia. “Would you like to go with us?”
“No, I have a few things I can do here while you are away from the house. That way when you return, we can spend time together. I think it best that the three of you accompany Hugo and Matthew.”
They finished eating and went down to the stables.
All three Fultons said they were accomplished riders, and the appropriate horses were saddled and brought out for everyone.
Matthew helped Lady Verina into the saddle, his hands going about her waist as he lifted her up.
He caught the faint scent of peaches coming from her and suddenly wished to nuzzle his nose against the long column of her neck.
He stepped away, shaking his head, trying to rid himself of such a fantastical notion.
He had a widow in Redgrove, the nearest village to Redfield, and discreetly visited her a few times a month.
Other than that, he had little to do with women, much less the ladies of Polite Society.
He had to remind himself that Lady Verina was still not yet out and thrust aside his budding interest in her.
Or so he told himself.
They rode about Merrifield, Hugo pointing out various things of interest to their party. Lord Traywick had several questions, and so did his two sisters. It was obvious the brother was not only solicitous of his younger siblings, but he was eager to hear what they had to say, as well.
At one point, Lord Traywick said to Matthew, “Since I came into the earldom so young, I was always asking questions of other adults around me. Verina and Justina idolized me and followed me about. They, too, have learned quite a bite about estate management, simply by traipsing after me and listening carefully.” He paused.
“Both will make for good wives. That is, if we can get Justina interested in marriage.”
He had thought the young earl was hinting for Matthew to take an interest in one of his sisters, but he was surprised by what Traywick had said about the younger girl.
“She does not wish to wed?” he asked.
Lord Traywick shrugged. “While Verina has looked forward to her come-out for years now and cannot wait to find a husband and start her own family, Justina is extremely independent. She says she has no interest in marriage, but Mama hopes that will change.”
“She is still young,” he noted.
The earl nodded. “Yes. Barely six and ten—but she is wise beyond her years. If she does wed, her husband will have his hands full since she is so opinionated.”
“How old is Lady Verina?” Matthew causally asked.
“Seven and ten,” responded Lord Traywick. “She will turn eight and ten the first day of the new year.”
“I suppose you will accompany her to the Season and help her find this husband she yearns for.”
“That is my plan. Of course, Mama and Justina will come to town with us. Mama is a most amiable woman, and she has made many friends throughout the ton. My goal is to see Verina wed—and hopefully, Justina—before I ever consider looking for a bride for myself. What of you, Your Grace?”
“I am five and twenty now. I know it is important for me to provide an heir. The Season has never held much interest for me, however. Yes, Mama and I have attended together the past several years, but no woman has struck my fancy. I wind up going to fewer and fewer events as the Season goes on, finding most of the eligible ladies . . . boring.”
“I hope you will find a lady to your liking this year, Reddington. You see how happy Tia and Hugo are. I think all of us long for companionship. Perhaps even love.”
Matthew shook his head. “Love is not for me, Traywick. I know your family seems to have made several love matches, but I do not see that in my future. Yes, I want someone who would be suitable as my duchess, but emotions can be . . . messy. I do not wish to entangle myself in something such as love.”
They rode by a row of cottages, and Hugo stopped their party, saying, “This is where my tenants live. You can see the common garden they tend over there.”
Hugo then pointed out a few of the cottages which needed their roofs replaced.
“This time of year, since the autumn harvest has been collected, is good for repairs such as these. I will assist my tenants in putting these new roofs on next week. We will also make small repairs to other roofs which are in need.”
“Justina and I will help,” offered Lady Verina.
Matthew chuckled. “You are going to hike your skirts and climb a ladder up to the roof, my lady?” he teased, causing her cheeks to redden.
“No, Your Grace. When Tray replaces roofs at Traywick Manor, we make a party of it. All the tenants turn out, the men removing the old roofs and replacing them with new ones. With so many helping, the task goes quickly. The wives cook a large feast and spread the food out on tables we provide. Mama has instilled in us the idea that we are to care for our tenants’ welfare.
That means showing them we care. Our cook also prepares several dishes, and we take them to this feast. Mama, Justina, and I serve the workers and their wives. ”
He thought that a very good idea, but while he could ask his own cook to send food to an occasion such as this, Mama would never mix with tenants.
She might have done so early in her marriage, but she was still withdrawn around others, due to her past experiences, both with her husband and the madhouse.
Perhaps when he wed, his wife would be interested in something of this nature.
He liked the idea of demonstrating by his actions that he cared for his tenants.
“Verina and I also take baskets of food to tenants and others in the village when they are ill or if they become new mothers,” Lady Justina said. “I do not like holding babes, but Verina is wonderful with the newborns.”
Matthew looked at Lady Verina, and something tugged at his heart. It was a feeling he had never experienced before.
And it frightened him.
“It is nice that you are so involved with your tenants, my ladies,” he praised, trying to shove the odd feeling aside. Wanting to get away, he added, “I am afraid I must leave you now. I have things to accomplish at Redfield.”
“We have seen the entire estate,” Hugo declared. “We will ride back with you.”