Free Two Notorious Dukes by Lyndsey Norton Page A

you’re due, old boy.’ He
laughed jovially, ‘but for all I know Mother could be at
Brighton or Bath. She might even have gone up to
Leamington.’
‘Damn!’ exploded from Audley.
‘Listen, you should forget about Lady Elizabeth.
There isn’t a court in the land that will give her to you!
Not even the House of Lords.’
‘When I want your opinion, I’ll ask for it!’ Audley
snapped, snatched his hat off the table and stormed out
of the door. Argyll watched him from the hall as he
climbed into a small barouche with a pair of white
horses. Very expensive, Argyll thought, but no breeding.
Not even in his horses! The coachman flicked his whip
and the horses started away before Audley was seated
and he almost ended up face first in the seat. Argyll had
a job not to laugh. Well, he’s been. I’d better send
Mother a message. And he sauntered into his study,
poured himself a whiskey and drew a sheet of high
quality vellum towards him. Dipping his favourite quill in
the ink pot he penned a letter to his mother, taking his
time and writing carefully. She would be annoyed if
there were blots or mistakes in the letter. She would
expect him to write just as well if it was a message to his
boot maker!
    The Manor wasn’t as big as Elizabeth thought it
would be. It was obviously a Tudor manor, as the
crenellated turrets at the front purported, like the ones
at Hampton Court Palace, which she’d seen the previous
summer. The grounds weren’t particularly formal, but
were obviously well cared for and as the carriage pulled
up at the bottom of the broad steps the housekeeper
appeared at the door.
    ‘Good afternoon, Your Grace.’ She said smiling
kindly as Robert heaved himself out of the saddle.
‘Good afternoon, Mrs. Simmons.’ He opened the
carriage door and helped the ladies out. The
introductions were smooth and she curtsied to all of
them.
‘Mrs. Simmons will escort you upstairs, and
there will be refreshments on the terrace, when you’re
ready!’ Robert said. Elizabeth could tell he was more
relaxed already.
Inside the front door was a wide hall, complete
with an oak beam ceiling and numerous fireplaces. The
furniture was all Tudor and well cared for, Lady Verity
was quite pleased with the over powering smell of
beeswax. Once upstairs, Lady’s Elizabeth and Sarah
were given adjoining rooms in the west wing, The
Duchess was given a suite in the East wing and Robert
would be in the Main Suite at the front of the house.
Burke had already sorted his belongings and Mary had
already seen to Elizabeth’s. The Duchess’s maid was still
in the process, as she’d ridden on the coach seat next to
the driver and a local girl had been employed for Sarah.
Robert stripped off his jacket, waistcoat and
cravat on his way through the house and as he got
outside the back, he was met by the steward. They
chatted amiably about the estate and any problems
there were and then Robert fulfilled a deep seated wish
he’d had for about a week. He went straight to the lake
and threw himself in it. He dumped his boots in the
meadow grass and stood on the bank and threw himself
into the cold water. It wasn’t long until he was joined by
the estate children and the boys started racing. The girls
sat on the dock and dangled their feet in the water.
Elizabeth and Sarah could see it from their
windows. Sarah went downstairs to saunter about the
house, but Elizabeth remained at the window, watching
as Robert threw the boys in the water, one at a time
and how they swam. She suddenly picked up her
parasol and went straight downstairs and out into the
garden. It didn’t take long to get to the lake and she
stood quietly by the trees and listened to the laughter
of the children. One of the little girls approached her.
She curtsied clumsily and said. ‘Would you care to join
us Milady?’ and indicated where the older girls were
dragging a log forward.
‘Thank you that is most kind.’ Elizabeth said
graciously and strolled along with the small