Page 24 of The Earl and His Lady

A very tall, rectangular brick house, reminding her of a cat basking in the sunshine. From the main building, she could just make out a slightly lower roof attached, curling away to one side. As they neared it, she counted the number of windows and saw twenty, in white panes, at the front alone. The house rose to meet them, the green lawn stretching out in every direction.

She half-turned again, thinking to see the boys’ reaction, but stilled when she saw Lucas watching her. His mouth was straight, his expression nearly unreadable, but his slate blue eyes held a different emotion. Not pride. Uncertainty?

“It is one of the loveliest places I’ve ever seen. Which means there must be a defect in it somewhere. Perhaps the chimneys smoke terribly?”

His cheek twitched but the smile did not appear. “I am afraid not. Most of them were redone in my father’s day. The house itself was built in 1756.”

“That’s an old house,” Edward said, sounding genuinely impressed.

“Ours is older. Built in 1658.” Phillip’s proud tone of voice did not get past Virginia. She offered an apologetic look to the earl.

“It is, darling. But neither house needs to be better than the other. They are both lovely in their own way.”

Her son grumbled something she did not quite catch and Virginia thought it best to ignore the comment.

“We are lucky to be the caretakers of such important homes, full of history.” He nodded again at the house. “And see, I have many who help me to care for it, and they all wish to meet you.”

Virginia saw the staff standing in two neat rows and wondered if anyone had been left inside or at the stables. There was a row of people who obviously worked outdoors, wearing browns and blacks with tanned faces and holding their hats respectfully. Then there were younger men in dark trousers and jackets, though they were not in full livery as the footmen were. Goodness, the six footmen were of equal height. Doubtless when she had a closer look, they would be close to identical in other aspects. Then there was the butler, the housekeeper, a row of maids in aprons of different colors, likely marking their duties, and kitchen staff in blue-striped dresses and white caps.

“It’s like an army,” she whispered.

Lucas chuckled and she felt her cheeks warm. She had not meant to speak the thought aloud. Her father had been an earl, with her unfeeling elder brother now occupying the title, but she knew they had never had so many servants at one estate.

“They are your army now, my lady.” The horses stopped and a groom came forward to take the bridle of the lead animal. “And eager to meet you.” Virginia nodded and lifted her eyes to take in the height of the building again.

The boys came out of the carriage first, then Lucas reached for her hand. No sooner had her feet touched the ground than introductions to the chief members of the staff were made. The head of the stables, the head gardener, the butler, the housekeeper, and the cook were introduced by name while the rest waited only to curtsy and bow in groups.

For a brief moment, Virginia feared herself unequal to the task of seeing to the needs and work of such a crowd.

You are an earl’s daughter, now a countess and a baroness. You were raised for this task.

Reminding herself of those things, Virginia did not hesitate when Lucas offered his arm to escort her inside.

Walking through the large white doors, Virginia’s first inclination was to stop and stare. How could she possibly be the new mistress to such beauty? The white marble floor was well polished, the walls were covered in rich tapestries and paintings, and the whole hall was filled with light from windows above and below. A staircase of stone, matching the floor, stretched upward in a graceful curve, while the landing boasted a magnificent railing where one could look down at the entry.

She took off her bonnet, her gloves, and her shawl, giving them into the care of the butler. The man appeared nearly as old as the house itself, and every bit as stately.

Virginia reached down for Edward’s and Phillip’s hands as the two stared in wonder at what must seem like a palace to them. When she looked to Lucas again, she realized he had offered his arm to her, as it dropped to his side in that instant.

Lucas gave her an understanding smile and knelt before Edward. “Where shall we begin our tour, do you think?”

Would he always be so kind to another man’s sons? She hoped so. She felt it would be so. Time would tell.

Chapter Ten

Lucas looked up from his newspaper when the door to the breakfast room opened. His wife of four days entered, wearing her customary gray. She had taken up her mourning colors as soon as she’d gone to dress for dinner the first evening in the house. He didn’t mind. Virginia showed a great deal of respect to her late husband, as was the man’s due, but seeing her in colors more suited to her beauty had naturally drawn his admiration.

Which was why, of course, it was best she put the widow’s colors back on.

“No tray for you, Virginia?” he asked, raising his eyebrows. “I thought at first you were merely being polite, but now this has become a habit.”

Her pale pink lips turned upward. “Of course I’m being polite, but I also like to be awake with the rest of the house. I’m still learning the routines and schedules and there are the boys to look after.” She went to her end of the table.

“The morning post came.” He pointed to a tray and one of the footmen came forward to lift it and carry it to her. “There is something for you, sent over from the Gilberts.”

She thanked the footman and took the paper, her eyebrows drawn down. “It is from Mr. Macon. I wonder if he wrote this before or after being informed of our marriage?” She did not say it spitefully, as he would almost expect, but with mere curiosity. She slid her finger beneath the seal and broke it while the footman brought dishes from the sideboard for her selection.

“Some toast and eggs please,” she said absently, her eyes already on the page in her hand.