“Does it bother you that she calls you Mantha?I can correct her if you’d like.”
“Of course it doesn’t bother me.It’s adorable.She’s adorable.And she reveres you.”
He didn’t know what to say, so he simply nodded.He knew that was true, but he felt like an imposter.She revered the man she thought him to be.
“Thank you for allowing me to participate in story time tonight.I enjoyed it thoroughly.”
“Thank you for joining us.Did it make you uncomfortable being in your nightclothes?I didn’t even think to ask before I told you to change.”
She shook her head.“I wasn’t uncomfortable.Were you?”
“No.”He hadn’t been.Hadn’t felt like he should be, in fact.“I’ll send Sandra in to help you get settled.Sleep well, Samantha.”
He didn’t ever go downstairs in his pajamas, but he wasn’t going to change again just to play backgammon.
Benson raised a brow when he entered the drawing room.
“Don’t ask.”
Benson said not a word and simply held out a glass of brandy.
“We don’t have to play if you don’t feel up to it.We can simply enjoy some of His Lordship’s excellent brandy, and you can tell me about Samantha, and about everything else that led to this.”He gestured to the pajamas, and Trent laughed.
“I’d like that very much.Thank you, Benson.For—” Trent shook his head.All the words he wanted to say were suddenly lost from him.“Just, thank you.”
Benson placed a hand on his shoulder.“You’re welcome, my boy.”
Benson couldn’t possibly know what those words meant to him.Trent had never had a father to say them.He’d had to be a man from the time he was ten years old, finding work however he could to help pay the bills.
He was filled with so much gratitude, but he couldn’t continue to repeat his thanks, so instead, he settled himself onto the sofa.
“I hope Ash didn't make a mistake sending her here.”
Benson shook his head.“He didn't.”
Trent's body was heavy with exhaustion, and being away for two days meant he’d have even more to do than usual.He downed the last of his brandy.
“I hate to cut this so short, but I think I should probably go up.Goodnight, Benson.”
The sun hadn’t even fully risen by the time he was awake and dressed again.God, he was tired.He poured a cup of coffee down his throat and reminded himself to be grateful for this life, as he went in search of Brennan.He eventually found the man out near the stables with a group of grooms and other servants, all admiring the new young pinto mare that had been delivered.He groaned.He’d completely forgotten about that.
“Good morning, boss,” Brennan said when he approached.
“I’m not your boss, Brennan.”
“You are right now.Would you rather I address you as sir?”
“No.”Brennan was obviously holding back laughter, but Trent was still unable to find the humor in it.
“Have you seen the mare yet?She’s a beauty.”
He wasn’t wrong.She was a beauty.“Maggie won’t know what to do with herself when she sees this.I can’t believe he actually bought her a bloody horse.”
Brennan did laugh then.“Lucky girl to have an uncle like Ash.”
Trent shook his head.She was lucky, but sometimes, it felt like too much.“I was hoping we might have a word.Why don’t you come up to my office, so we don’t have an audience.”
Brennan followed him inside.He looked more uncomfortable with every step he took through the house.
