Chapter 9
Nine
“Mama, why is it so empty?” Georgia whispered in Rowen’s ear while Tobias’s housekeeper, Mrs. Patmore, guided them through the house.
Rowen, Alistair, and Georgia were being given a tour of their new home, Kidlington House.
Rowen had been surprised when Tobias explained that this would be their London residence. He had sold his father’s home and moved into his late brother’s townhouse instead. Rowen had not visited the house since Adele had lived there, but now she scarcely recognized it.
As she peered at the near-barren walls, the empty rooms, and the spartan halls, she wondered just how long her husband had lived in the house. Mrs. Patmore continued to explain the purpose of each room as she led the tour.
“Were we robbed?” Alistair gripped her hand more tightly, even as he moved in front of Rowen and Georgia as though to protect them both.
“The Duke likes to keep things simple,” Mrs. Patmore explained. Alistair had not managed to be as quiet as his sister. “Though I am sure, as the lady of the house, you will no doubt liven the place up.”
There is simple, and there is spartan. I have seen tombs that are more cosy and inviting.
Rowen kept her thoughts to herself, smiling broadly even as her heart sank into the pit of her stomach. “I am sure we will make this a lovely home. There are some lovely bones to work with, after all.”
“Bones?” Georgia’s eyes widened, and she peered around excitedly.
“Metaphorically speaking, of course,” Rowen added.
Her smile became more genuine at the look of relief on Alistair’s face and the look of disappointment on Georgia’s.
“It is rather like being handed a blank canvas. Take that wall, for instance. You could hang a lovely mirror on it, and it would reflect the light from the room and make this whole space seem brighter and bigger. You could draw attention to the oak panels with some artwork. You could put a few seats in the corridor, and that would give people a place to rest while they waited.”
She realized with a start that her voice was full of excitement and that she had already been planning all the things she could do with the space.
Get a hold of yourself. This is not permanent.
“Seems you have an eye for décor, Your Grace. I look forward to seeing what you will do with the house.” Mrs. Patmore beamed at her.
“Provided His Grace agrees, of course.” Rowen gestured vaguely around them. “I would not want to upset too much too quickly.”
“Of course.” Mrs. Patmore inclined her head. “And to finish the tour, let me show you the children’s rooms.”
To Rowen’s immense relief, the children’s rooms were full of their things. The two rooms were connected by a small antechamber, but she suspected the twins would find a way to stay together more often than not.
The walls were lined with bookshelves, and there were several chests that Rowen knew were full of toys. A fire crackled merrily in the grate, and two thick rugs covered the floor.
Her children rushed into the room and immediately began exploring.
“I shall leave you two to settle in,” Rowen called after them before turning to the housekeeper. “Please make sure the governess readies them for dinner, Mrs. Patmore.”
“Of course, Your Grace.” Mrs. Patmore curtseyed. “If you need anything, please let me know.”
“I will.” Rowen inclined her head and walked back down the hall.
Her steps echoed across the hardwood floor as she moved through the empty corridors. As she walked down a flight of stairs, she caught sight of a portrait hanging on the wall of a room off the corridor.
She recognized Tobias’s piercing green eyes, though in the portrait, he was much younger, and he had no scar. He was smiling, and beside him stood another youth. He had messy dark hair and grey eyes. His lips were curled into a rakish smile that made her heart stop.
“James?” she whispered, moving towards the portrait. Her heels clicked on the floor, and she winced as the sound echoed around her. “A carpet would not go amiss.”
“So that you could sneak up on me more easily? I think not,” an amused voice said from behind her.
Rowen jumped and whipped around to see Tobias leaning against the doorframe, his mouth quirked into a half-smile.
She rested a hand on her chest, hoping to soothe her pounding heart. “You are a fine one to talk! You scared me half to death.”
“You can hardly be surprised to run into me in our own home.” He arched an eyebrow at her.
“I can when you appear out of nowhere. Besides, you told me that you would be out all day.” She swallowed and shook her head, wishing that she was not quite so flustered.
“Do not tell me that you are already checking in on me? I am hardly going to burn the house down within minutes of setting foot in it. Not that there would be much to burn; the house is nearly empty.”
“I prefer to think of it as functionally simplistic.” Tobias waved his hand vaguely around them. “The ton gets too caught up in the trappings of wealth. It’s far better to keep things to a minimum.”
“It looks like this house has been burgled,” Rowen replied flatly.
“I hardly think insulting my décor is a cordial thing to do, Rowen.” Tobias ran a hand through his hair.
“Is it a critique if I am simply stating a fact? There is scarcely anything in here. The things you could do with this space if you just—” She broke off and shook her head.
“If I just what?” His voice was soft.
“It does not matter. What do I care if you keep your house like this? This whole arrangement is temporary anyway.” She made a dismissive gesture with her fingers. “Though I have to admit, it is a little odd that one of the only paintings in this place is one of you and my brother.”
“Jenkins was a dear friend of mine.” Tobias gestured to the portrait as he stepped into the room. “We made a wager on some ridiculous thing that I cannot even remember, and he said that if I lost, I would have to sit for a portrait with him and hang it in my house until the day I died.”
“I am surprised he did not have you make a sillier one.”
“Oh, I think he would have liked to, but the artist happened to be a woman, and he wanted to impress her.” Tobias smiled at the picture. “So he was on his very best behavior.”
“It is hard to imagine.” Rowen looked at the portrait of her smiling brother.
“When I look at Alistair and Georgia, it makes me sad that I never got to know James. Not as well as they know one another. I was married so young, and although we wrote to each other, there is only so much one can say in a letter.”
Tobias nodded. “There is always the risk that unwelcome eyes might read it.”
“And some of us learned that the hard way.”
Rowen’s jaw clenched as she remembered discovering her late husband’s letters and the proof of his affair. She shook her head, pushing him out of her mind.
“And although James visited when he could and doted on the children, I feel like I only got a very shallow glimpse of him. I did not even know that he had asked someone to look after us. It would never even have occurred to me.”
“He may have been rather unserious about most things, but looking after your family was never far from his mind.” Tobias let out a long sigh and ran a finger along the scar on his neck.
Rowen realized that her fingers had uncurled and that she had taken a step towards him, her eyes fixed on the thin white line. She swallowed and clasped her hands together.
Tobias’s eyes were still fixed on the portrait, distant as though remembering something. Rowen breathed in slowly, counting to ten as she waited for her heart to slow.
“What was he like with you?” she asked.
“Charming, charismatic.” Tobias laughed.
“He loved to have a good time, to live life and enjoy it. Though when the two of us were together, trouble often found us. We were constantly saving one another. Once, he fell into a canal while we were out punting, and I had to fish him out. Another, we upset a hive of hornets—I do not think I have ever run that fast in my life.”
“Hornets are no laughing matter.” Rowen shuddered. “Awful creatures.”
“Indeed.” Tobias grimaced. “I do not think I have ever been in so much pain. Though it was worse for Jenkins. A hornet managed to get stuck in his britches. Let us just say that it is lucky your brother did not become a soprano that day.” He laughed, the rich sound filling the room around them.
“Though his scream certainly was high enough for one.”
Rowen could not help but giggle, her heart fluttering as she saw him relax into the memory. “You two had some rather exciting adventures.”
“We did,” Tobias agreed, his hand back at the scar on his neck.
Curiosity finally got the better of Rowen. “Were you together when you got that scar?”
Tobias turned to her, his hand falling from his neck, green eyes dancing as he nodded. “Yes, your brother was there the night I got this. He saved my life. Some drunk had been pawing at a maid. He took offense when I intervened and tried to knife me when my back was turned.”
A prickle of irritation crept up Rowen’s back, making her brow crease. “And let me guess, the maid threw herself into your arms in gratitude?”
“If I did not know better, I would say you sound a little jealous.” Tobias’s lips curled into a half-smile.
“Then it is a good thing you know better.” Rowen felt a flush creep up her face.
Tobias shrugged. “I did not intervene to get in her good graces. I cannot stand it when men cling to women like dogs in a ru—like animals.”
“You need not censor yourself on my account, Duke. I know what men can be like.” Her voice hardened, and she swallowed, looking back at her brother’s portrait.
“I have experienced it more times than I care to revisit. I suppose it is one of the perks of growing older—there are younger, more alluring things to hold their attention now.”
“I have always thought women are like fine wine. With maturity comes a deeper beauty.”