Page 20 of Yours Truly, the Duke
“I mean, I knew you had to return to London,” she quickly added to qualify her question. “Just not so soon.”
He gave her a twitch of a grin. There was no way he could pass on the opening she gave him. It was too perfect. “If you’ve changed your mind about us having a wedding night, tell me, and I’ll be happy to adjust my schedule to take care of—”
“No, no,” she hastened to say, interrupting him before he finished while looking around to see if anyone was close enough to hear his comment. “Of course, let’s go outside. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about you in this short time, it’s that if you say you want to speak to me in private, I should agree without hesitation.”
Wyatt smiled to himself as they walked to the front door. She was absolutely lovely when flustered by his teasing remarks. In time, she would get used to them. If they were going to be spending time together, or rather, when they would.
After he helped her settle a brown woolen shawl around her neck and shoulders, they walked outside onto the slate flooring that led three steps down to the gravel entrance. The air was moderately cold and breezy with more of a late wintry feel than early spring. The chill of the wind whipped at his face and blew through his hair as he took in a cleansing breath, feeling quite relieved the ordeal of the ceremony and securing the safety of his inheritance was behind him.
He looked over at his wife and thought to himself that he was damned lucky Epworth knew about her needing a husband. She was beautiful, with a soft countenance and feminine strength that drew him. Thoughts of telling her drifted through his mind, but he held back. There was no need to start something he wasn’t ready to finish. Husbandly duties were not in his near future.
“Do you think you’ll be warm enough with only your wrap?” he asked as a couple of squawking pheasants flew over the top of the house.
“Yes, thank you.” She fitted the shawl tighter around her, tucking the ends around her elbows to secure it. “It’s thick and quite cozy, especially with the sun shining so bright. The sky looks like a midsummer day.”
Wyatt agreed with a nod, looking out over the front lawn and down the winding lane that led away from the house to the main road. Spring was transforming a brown landscape of baren limbs and bushes to shoots of green leaves and flowering buds. The last of winter was fading from the earth. In its place trees, shrubs, and other plants were sprouting and budding. The grasses were sprigging with their new coats, and a canopy of blue, with sweepy puffs of white clouds, dotted the sky as far as he could see.
Horses and carriages were parked in the drive along the front of the house, making their usual noises of shuddering, nickering, and rattling harnesses. Drivers, grooms, and footmen stood nearby talking, so Wyatt ushered her to the side of the house where they would have privacy from the workers.
After making it around the corner, they continued past the house in silence and kept moving down a well-worn path of uneven rocky ground marked by shallow holes and small ridges. The trail led toward some newly erected wood fencing with an arched iron gate that had been built in the center. Wyatt assumed it led into another garden, a private nook, or perhaps an open pasture, and he headed that way.
The manor of Paddleton sat on top of a small rise. Rolling hillsides merged into a newly greening valley at the back of the house. In the far distance sunshine sparkled off a small pond. On one side of the house, ameadow of early flowers was just beginning to bud and unfurl. To the other, Wyatt saw a walnut orchard and closer to the house were plantings of vegetables, herbs, and more than a few brambles that needed to be cleared before summer. It wasn’t a huge property with thousands of acres, but several hundred, he felt sure.
“The house and lands are in good shape,” he offered as they strolled. “Charles will do well once he’s old enough to manage the estate.”
“That’s my hope, of course. The trustee sends monthly statements for me to look over and the farmlands are flourishing.”
“Really?” That was odd. “He sends you copies to review?”
“I asked for them,” she answered without hesitancy. “Why are you looking at me as if you are surprised?”
He shrugged as they continued to walk. “Because I am. It’s not normal for a lady to have an interest in such matters.”
A soft chuckle blew past her lips as she glanced over at him. “Everything concerning the children is important to me. Of course, at first he didn’t feel the need to share them with me and was quite affronted I wanted him to.”
Wyatt would have loved to have seen the look on that man’s face when a lady wanted to check up behind him.
“It took effort and time, but the trustee and accountant eventually acquiesced to my wishes to be kept informed as to how well the estate was being managed.”
Wyatt eyed her carefully and realized he wasn’t surprised after all. He was impressed.
“There are some small areas on Paddleton,” she continued, “that are mostly impenetrable thickets and othersthat are marshland; otherwise it’s rich arable soil five tenants make good use of.”
His eyes met hers and he gave her an amused grin. “It’s refreshing to talk to a lady about a subject that is usually reserved for men.”
She looked pleased but remained silent.
“On my ride up to the manor I saw paddocks and a large carriage building behind the main house. Are there horses?”
“Only carriage and riding horses. None for breeding, racing, or showing. The tenants take care of the land, crops, and sheep. It’s all kept the same as when my sister was alive. I haven’t wanted anything changed. I thought it best for the children to leave as much as possible the way it was when their parents were here.” She stopped, looked up at him with somber eyes. “I’m sure you don’t want to hear about all that. I don’t even know why we’re walking farther from the house. I didn’t mean to delay you from leaving.”
Wyatt was enjoying getting to know her now that they were no longer negotiating a contract for marriage. “I want to hear about your life, Miss Ha—Your Grace.”
“Please,” she said on a casual, breathy note, and glanced out over the field and downlands. “I don’t know how formal you want us to be, but I would very much prefer that you use my name.”
“I’d prefer that too, Fredericka. Call me Wyatt. I’ve never been a formal duke. I’m sure you’ve already noticed.”
Turning back to him with a confident lift to her shoulders, she nodded once. “That would be impossible not to notice.”
