“You don’t care about my physician’s abilities?”
Giles had to be honest. “Those are an added bonus. You weren’t a physician last time we met.”
“I never planned on being one,” said Royce, in a moment of unguarded emotion. “But war will change a lot of things and force you into learning new skills, whether you want to or not.”
Silent for a moment, Giles heard the edge of pain in the quiet tones. “Waterloo?”
Royce nodded once. “And others. Too many battles to remember, not that I want to. Most, however, were too terrible to forget.”
“I can offer a quiet haven, Royce,” said Giles. “Wolfbridge is nothing if not quiet. As estate manager, you will have to acquaint yourself with the locals as necessary, but we keep ourselves to ourselves, unless it’s to help others.”
“Ah yes,” Royce’s lip curled. “The angels of Wolfbridge caring for those less fortunate.”
“And why not?”
“No reason. It’s just out of the ordinary, that’s all.”
“It shouldn’t be,” frowned Giles. “Help should never be out of the ordinary. Or unexpected.”
“I’m not arguing.” Royce held up his hand. “So other than managing the crops, doing charitable things and making friends in the villages, what else am I to do?” He stared at Giles. “Fuck the Lady of Wolfbridge?”
“If she desires it, yes.”
*~~*~~*
Several days passed before Giles could return to the inn.
He’d stayed with the Sydenhams, who always welcomed him with open arms, excellent food and the best brandy in London.
He allowed himself a moment of pleasure as he watched his ward take a husband and approved of her choice. Sir Ragnor was a solid young man with his feet on the ground, even if they seemed to take flight every time he looked at his new bride.
That was as it should be, and Giles left London with no concerns about Judith’s future. He would keep in touch, of course, since there were financial matters still to be resolved, but she was in happily in love, and with a husband who would care for her, protect her and give her the life she deserved.
He had celebrated the New Year in a modest fashion; a few old friends, another of the Sydenham’s excellent meals and—to his delight—a few hands of piquet at which both he and Sir Laurence excelled.
For Giles, it was a rare opportunity to set aside his duties and simply enjoy some warm companionship.
But all too soon he knew he must return to Wolfbridge.
The weather had been fretful, snowing, raining and promising more of the same. So he packed his bag, bid a fond farewell to Sir Laurence and Lady Maud, and began the journey home.
For him, itwashome. He’d lived there for long enough he rarely thought of any of the other places he had resided, for none could compare to Wolfbridge. His heart was there, in the house, in the land, in the people to whom it offered a living and protection.
There were those who never fully understood the function of a manor, mused Giles as he watched the grey landscape blur through the carriage window. It was easy for them to assume the occupants led a life of ease and comfort, with hearty fires, parties, and nary a worry about where the next meal might be coming from.
There was some truth in that idea, but it was tempered by the duties and responsibilities that came with the title and the house. He’d once heard it said that the aristocrats of England were merely caretakers of history. He believed in that, wholeheartedly, since he worked hard keeping Wolfbridge successful for the next person who would assume the role he now held.
And for the next Lady of Wolfbridge, and all those who followed, no matter who they might be.
His mind turned to that very person, the Lady. He knew who she was, since his mail had been quite busy recently after Lady Adalyn had declared her intent to wed Daniel.
Selecting the new Lady was easier than selecting a replacement for Daniel, in so many ways. There was a limited list of candidates for the Lady’s position, while many men were well qualified to replace an estate manager.
But Giles hadn’t hesitated. Royce had never truly been off the list of potential gentlemen. He had what it took to accept and adopt the unique concept that was Wolfbridge. Would he find it easy? Most likely not. He had a military career behind him now, a familiarity with discipline and order. That, coupled with his natural tendency for remaining aloof, would make the next few weeks interesting, to say the least. And Giles expected fireworks, since it could well be said that Royce was the exact opposite of Jeremy and Evan, who were rule-breakers, preferring a laugh and a gentle word to an order or a sharp rebuke.
Yes, it was going to be a challenge. But Giles wanted that discord, that edge. It brought an added dimension to what the gentlemen of Wolfbridge could offer their new Lady.
Adalyn had been the perfect woman for what Daniel, Evan, Jeremy and Trick had to offer. She had bloomed at their loving and kind attentions, having received none before her arrival. She had shed her fears, raised her chin and learned to walk as the woman she was, not as the tentative shadow she’d been for too long, believing she was not worthy of kindness and love.
