Page 11 of A Perfect Engagement
Daniel stood calmly, waiting for her to collect herself. He winged out his elbow with a grin. “Shall we head downstairs and throw ourselves to the wolves?”
Chapter Six
Please meet me by the bearded rhizomatous for our morning instruction. ~Charlotte
Daniel slid anothersilk dinner jacket to the right as he searched in the wardrobe for clothing appropriate to wear outside on this chilly morning. Didn’t Miles own a decent wool jacket? He finally came across a riding coat in dark green which would do. Slipping it on, he cursed his brother’s penchant for form-fitting tailoring. Thank God he had brought his own boots, because Miles’s footwear was as fancy as his taste in clothes. City clothes…Daniel paused as he drew on one boot. Had he just referred to Miles’s wardrobe as city clothes? Lord, perhaps he was turning into a country bumpkin. He rolled his eyes. This week was exactly what he needed. He would brush up his social skills, talk with his peers, play at the gaming tables, and drink Markham’s excellent brandy. He just needed to convince Miss Grisham he could pull it off.
He left the room and went down the long corridor to the front stairs. He descended into the hall, where a footman rose from his chair to open the front door. Daniel stepped outside into a crisp spring morning. For once, the sun shone bright and warm. He could smell the damp earth still fresh with dew. It was early, only seven o’clock; he had time to take a nice long walk before he had to meet Miss Grisham at nine. He looked forward to seeing her this morning; her note had made him smile. She was definitely testing him. Now he just needed to find where the iris were blooming. But first some fresh air.
As he walked briskly across the lawns, he approached a line of poplars, their branches full and green with new leaves. He estimated the estate must have a small fortune in hardwoods growing in its mature forests. Daniel approved of the sparse landscaping. Too many estates cut down all the trees in order to create large formal garden spaces. He inhaled a deep breath of fresh air as he ambled along through the patterns of dappled sunlight created by the canopy of leaves.
His thoughts strayed back to the enticing dark-haired beauty to whom his brother was engaged. His immediate attraction had been surprising, and damned inconvenient. Daniel needed to remember she was Miles’s fiancée. No flirting and no touching. Touching her had been a big mistake. Holding her hands in his as he stared down into those wide eyes fringed with dark lashes had caused a low throb of desire to grow in his gut. Her green eyes, filled with worry, made him curse his twin. Damn Miles for not being here to support his soon to be wife. And damn him for being such a lucky bastard for rescuing the prettiest girl in London. His brother had certainly been in the right place at the right time.
He emerged from the trees and found himself looking out at green fields. The bleat of sheep could be heard in the distance. He turned around and retraced his path. As the house came into view, he took a left and headed around to the back, curious to see the gardens. Pleasantly surprised, he found a grand terrace ran the length of the house, surrounded by a riot of colorful rose bushes. Several pebbled paths led from the terrace steps into a garden filled with flowers. Unlike the formal French design, which was so popular among the upper class, these beds were filled with plants of varying height and color. Peonies, asters, lilies, freesia, and primrose were all mixed together. He imagined they would create a vibrant picture come summer. For now, a row of daffodils stood sentry in the front row of the beds lending their bright yellow color to the green plants behind.
Daniel wound his way past a small water feature laden with lily pads. A frog startled and jumped into the water, creating ripples along the surface. He turned to the left, and a gazebo stood some fifty yards ahead. Beyond it, a small lake. Dozens of yellow and purple irises surrounded the gazebo.Aha, I’ve found you.
As he approached it, Miss Grisham appeared from around the other side. She wore a straw bonnet with a pink ribbon this morning. In her hand was a small pair of trimming shears. She smiled when she spotted him.
“I see you do know your plant names. You’ve found me. Although I wasn’t expecting you so early. It’s not yet nine, is it?”
Daniel shook his head. “No, it’s early. I went for a walk this morning. I’m used to keeping country hours.”
She pulled off her garden gloves and entered the gazebo. “Where do you reside, Lord Weston?”
He followed her inside. She had a wicker basket set upon one of the benches. She untied the strings to the apron she wore to protect her dress. After carefully folding it, she placed it in the basket with her gloves.
“I have an estate nearby. Maybe an hour west of Little Marbury. Miles calls it my farm.” He expected she would laugh, but instead, she regarded him with curiosity.
“What crops do you grow on your estate? Or do you breed animals?”
“Some of both.” Daniel sat down on the bench across from hers. “We are growing hay and barley, and I have sheep and horses. Like you, I enjoy horticulture. It is what I enjoyed most at university. There is so much new science in animal husbandry, it’s fascinating. I am trying to improve the sheep stock. And I’ve been contemplating purchasing some mares to breed with Hercules.”
Miss Grisham raised an eyebrow. “Hercules? That’s quite a name.”
“He is quite a horse.” Daniel flashed her a smile.
“You live near enough that I am surprised we have never met. I thought I knew everyone in these parts.”
He shrugged. “I have only owned the property for two years. The house was rundown, but it has great bones. The property is beautiful, though. The land has lain fallow for more than a decade. The soil is rested, and the earth is dark and fertile.” He shut his mouth. He was rambling on about dirt. “Anyway, I have been working on the house, hiring staff, and generally running myself ragged.”
Miss Grisham tilted her head to one side, her lips pursed in a thoughtful frown. She must be bored to tears. Ladies liked to discuss fashion and be entertained with bawdy jokes not hear about run-down country estates. Daniel ran a hand through his hair.
“I feel as though I owe you an apology,” she said.
Daniel jerked his gaze back to hers. “What, why?”
“My first impression of you was of the carefree younger brother. I was mistaking your relaxed demeanor for lack of responsibility, but I can see now that’s not true.”
He didn’t know how to respond to her unexpected apology. Hewasthe carefree younger brother. That had always been his role. He was the spare. No expectations had been placed on him, save to stay alive. He drank and gambled and socialized like any other young gentleman of the ton. He’d traveled some. His new responsibilities had sort of fallen into his lap. Daniel shrugged and attempted to steer the conversation back to Miles, the reason they were meeting this morning. “Miles is the one who inherited all the responsibility. He works hard to live up to the title and to care for the people who rely on him.”
“Yes, I could see that, even from our brief conversations.” She fidgeted with the beading on her sleeve. “I know I am meant to fill you in on what Hawksridge is doing in Parliament, but I wondered if it could be an exchange of information. Perhaps you could tell me more about your brother.” She didn’t look up at all while she spoke.
Daniel cringed.Let’s see, your fiancé used to be lots of fun, but he has grown up into an uptight toff.He swallowed back his initial response.
“What would you like to know?”
“Mmmm, does Hawksridge like to spend time in the country? Does he like to read? To play cards?” Her cheeks stained pink. “I guess I have more questions than I thought…”
