Chapter 45
After spending two restless, sleepless nights with his regrets, Cage woke up with new resolve to stop running away from his birthright and the ghosts of his past. The first item on his list was the tour of the house Mrs. Greer had offered.
“Now, some of these rooms I’ve not done a thing with since the earl died.” The housekeeper led Cage through the first floor. “I did receive your instruction on staffing from the solicitor. The letter came as quite a shock, let me tell you, as the earl led us to believe you were dead. When Miss Grace disappeared after her mother died, I thought perhaps it must have been you who took her away, but I was never sure.”
She closed the library door behind them. “Mr. Phillips left the week after the funeral. He said retirement had been a long time coming. Your father left him a small chunk of money in his will.”
Cage grimaced. His father’s butler, Mr. Phillips, had been as hard and punishing as his master. Though he never raged like Wrotham, he had meted out his father’s punishments with no sympathy for the rule breaker.
“Mrs. Greer, why did you stay in service to my father?”
“My family has taken care of the Earls of Wrotham for generations.” She smoothed her hands down her skirts. “And I suppose, I thought in my own way, I could help make things a bit easier for all of you who had to live with his lordship.”
“You did, Mrs. Greer. Thank you,” he said quietly.
She wiped at her nose with the back of one hand. “Well now, here is your father’s study. I haven’t dared to touch a thing in here. Not my place to make decisions about his personal effects and papers. The land steward and the solicitor have both been through the desk. But that was necessary.”
Cage walked into the lion’s den. The first thing he noticed was the light. The room faced eastward to the back of the house. The far wall had two sets of French doors that led out to the gardens, and the sunlight streamed in through the mullioned windowpanes. This room would make an excellent place to paint.
He could picture her easel set up over there, replacing the ornate liquor cabinet. Her velvet tufted divan could be placed in front of the fireplace. And Caroline, her hair tumbling down her back, would turn and greet him with a sunny smile. He reached up to rub the spot on his chest where his heart ached.
“Mrs. Greer, I would like all the furniture cleared out of here and stored. This room shall have a fresh start. I will choose another room to use as my study, perhaps that receiving room at the front. After all, how many receiving rooms does one house need?”
“Yes, my lord. I will see to it.”
“And the same for the bedrooms. I will want to order all new furnishings. Mrs. Greer, have I mentioned that I’m engaged to be married?”
“No, my lord. That is wonderful news!” She grinned.
“Then what are you still doing here, Brother?” Grace’s voice came from the doorway.
Cage swiveled around. Grace leaned against the door jam.
“Isn’t her birthday tomorrow?” Grace arched one delicate eyebrow.
Yes, tomorrow was Caroline’s twenty-fourth birthday. He had some serious groveling to do. He hoped she would be able to forgive him for retreating when she offered him her heart. She would undoubtedly be angry, and he would need a plan of action. But what? “You’re right. I will leave tomorrow at first light.” He strode over to his sister. “You will be all right here by yourself?”
“I’m not alone. I will be fine. Tell Caroline I said happy birthday.”
Cage kissed his sister’s cheek. There was more than one thing to take care of before he left. “Mrs. Greer, we will need to bring on people to staff the house properly. Grace can help you make staffing decisions. I will write a letter to the solicitor to make sure he knows our plans.”
“Yes, my lord.” Mrs. Greer nodded.
Later, Cage headed out of the house to the stables. He found who he was looking for almost immediately. William worked mucking out one of the horse stalls.
“You don’t have to do that. You don’t work here,” Cage said.
William turned to face him. “Don’t mind. I need to keep busy. Besides, you don’t have anyone else to do it.”
“Really?” Cage glanced up and down the long barn. Spacious and clean, it could house up to twenty horses. It was one of two stables on the property. In his youth, it had always bustled with men and horses. Now the silence was punctuated only by the occasional soft whinny from one of the three horses they had brought with them.
“Mrs. Greer’s grandson acts as the stable boy. He’s about eleven. He takes care of the two old mares they have for taking the cart into town.” William resumed mucking while he spoke.
Cage stripped out of his jacket and grabbed a pitchfork that leaned against the wall. The two of them made quick work cleaning out the three stalls. “This place used to have the finest stables in the county. My grandfather bred horses as a hobby and a passion.”
“I can see that you have the space for it. The carriage house is also full of fancy vehicles gathering dust.”
Cage set aside his pitchfork. “I’m going to open the house back up. I’ve asked Grace and Mrs. Greer to hire the proper staff to do so. I’d also like to buy some more horses. Perhaps makesome plans to bring these stables back to life. Sullivan has been my mainstay for five years now. Perhaps he deserves a break.”
