Page 36 of A Necessary Wife

If the estate possessed a proper dower house for Samuel to have moved to, their father likely would not be so worried about him living alone out here. There were many benefits to having a second, smaller home on an estate of this size. This cottage could be made useful again, but the cost would be considerable. And who would want to live way out here, anyway?

He spotted a bottle of wine from the Stapleton cellar, fallen over by the steps and empty.

Samuel must come here sometimes.

If the cottage had been larger, Milo might have exercised his right as the oldest son to claim it for himself and keep his promise to Amelia. They could have a separate home of their own away from the manor on the estate, and it would give her a garden to potter around in and space to raise their children while they were here. He liked the idea, to be honest, but the cottage was far too shabby for his family in its current state.

He stepped closer to an open doorway and noticed that the frame was newly mended. The door swung easily when he pushed. Clean, fresh floorboards began at the door and continued down the hallway.

He knocked on the door. “Samuel.”

Only silence answered him.

Beyond the repaired door, there were a few other visible signs that his brother might be living inside the ruins now.

He faced the woods and then retraced his steps.

His family was where he’d left them, and he was pleased to see Lucy had edged closer to Amelia while he was gone.

He met Amelia’s gaze and shrugged. “There’s no one here.”

“Only if you never dare turn around,” Samuel called from somewhere to his left.

Milo pivoted toward the sound and found his brother—shirtless, shoeless—standing not far away, with an axe held loosely in his hand. His brother was all gleaming muscle and sweat, as if he’d been swinging that axe only moments before.

But he was unfit for viewing by a lady like his wife.

Milo rushed toward him. “Attend to your appearance, brother. There is a lady and children present,” he warned.

Samuel scanned the clearing and spotted his children and Amelia watching him. He shrugged. “Father must have warned you that I was living wild in the woods. You shouldn’t have brought them.”

“Yes, well, I wanted to see you myself. Find a shirt and put it on this minute.”

“It’s all right, Chatham,” Amelia called. “I have no interest in meeting an unkempt scoundrel.”

He smiled at her bravado but noticed that her cheeks were a little pink with embarrassment when she looked between Milo and his brother.

His children saw nothing wrong with the state of their uncle, though, and rushed toward him. Adam received a pat on his head, and Lucy earned a short bow.

“What are you doing out here? Did Papa’s dull guests drive you from the manor already?” Samuel asked, as he finally struggled into a filthy shirt deserving of the scrap heap.

Milo gritted his teeth at his insufficient improvement. “I’ve come to make some introductions.”

Samuel’s gaze slid to Amelia, and he squinted at her. “Don’t I know you already?”

“Back then, we barely spoke. I imagined you would not remember me, given how the night ended.”

“I could never forget you,” Samuel replied, bowing with extravagant grace.

Amelia shook her head, but a blush lingered on her cheeks as she studied Samuel with parted lips.

A cold hand pressed between Milo’s shoulder blades, and he stared at his wife in distraction. “You are better acquainted with my brother than you let on?”

“Oh yes,” Samuel said. “Amelia and I got drunk together once.”

Milo gaped

Amelia scowled though. “That is simply not true. He got horribly drunk at my brother’s house, and I put him to bed. Well, I told the servants to do it, and ordered him to keep his voice down when he complained about my poor hospitality.”