“Can wepleasejust make our way inside?”
Her two brothers awaited at the door to greet them. They both wore expressions that were polite, bordering on cool.
Nicholas’ instincts sharpened immediately.Ah, so this is how it’s going to be.
“Jasper, Leopold,” Violet greeted warmly, stepping forward to embrace her brothers.
Jasper returned the gesture with a faint smile while Leopold ruffled her hair affectionately.
“Violet,” Jasper said, his tone formal. His gaze shifted to Nicholas, assessing him with precision. “Your Grace, welcome to our home.”
Nicholas inclined his head slightly, his smile measured. “Thank you. It’s a pleasure to meet you again.”
Jasper’s lips twitched as though he were deciding whether or not to smile. “The pleasure is ours,” he said though his tone was more perfunctory than welcoming.
Leopold stepped forward, his smirk deepening as he extended a hand. “Leopold Kingsman. Welcome, Your Grace.”
Nicholas noted the subtle exchange of glances between the brothers and understood immediately: they weren’t entirely convinced by him.
Interesting,he thought.They’re protective. That’s good. It means they care about her.
Instead of being put off, Nicholas found himself relishing the prospect. Winning over the Kingsman brothers, it seemed, would be a challenge. And he did enjoy a challenge.
Later, Arabella sat at the head of the table with both her sons flanking her. Jasper’s sharp gaze flicked to Nicholas at every opportunity. It was calculating. Leopold was less subtle, his smirk carrying an edge of mischief that suggested he was waiting for Nicholas to slip up.
“So, Your Grace,” Arabella began, turning to Nicholas, “how was the journey here? I do hope the roads weren’t too disagreeable.”
“They were in good condition, thank you,” Nicholas replied smoothly, setting his glass down with an effortless poise. “Far better than I expected for this time of year.”
Polite but stiff conversation at first. It was to be expected.
“Ah, that’s a relief.”
For his part, Nicholas remained composed, answering questions with measured courtesy. He was well aware that he was being tested.
It wasn’t until the topic shifted to business matters that the dynamic began to change.
“You’ve taken on quite the task with Bernight,” Jasper remarked, skeptically. “I’ve heard it’s a rather… demanding estate to manage.”
Nicholas inclined his head slightly, recognizing the challenge in Jasper’s words. “Demanding, yes. But with demand comes opportunity.”
Jasper raised an eyebrow. “Opportunity?”
Nicholas leaned forward slightly. “The land has its challenges, but it also has untapped potential. We’ve recently begun exploring new crop rotations and investing in more efficient irrigation systems. It’s a long-term strategy but one that will yield results.”
Leopold, who had been half-heartedly picking at his food, looked up with genuine interest.
“That’s not something you hear every day. Forgive us for the surprise, but we were not expecting such innovation.”
“A title doesn’t exempt one from thinking practically,” Nicholas countered.
The brothers exchanged a glance, their skepticism softening into something closer to respect.
But Nicholas knew that this was only the beginning. He had taken it up as a challenge to himself, actually. By the end of thevisit, he was convinced that the brothers would have nothing but nice things to say about him.
For the corner of his eye, he noticed Violet glancing in his direction. Perhaps she was curious to know how he was being perceived by her brothers.
But when he caught her eye, she looked away rather quickly.
