Owen took the chair across from them, resting his ankle on his other knee and doing his best to appear relaxed. “Good.Thank you for asking. How has the house been while I was away?”
“We received another visit from the Cooper women, so all is well in that quarter. After our last visit, I had feared they would not be willing to overlook your friendship with your aunt’s companion, but it would appear they’ve thought better of it. For the chance at becoming mistress of this grand estate, though, I imagine such things can easily be overlooked.” Catherine laughed. “Miss Cooper will be at the ball, and she laid a hint that she is hoping for a dance.”
“She will be sorely disappointed, then.”
“Owen,” Catherine hissed. “You cannot dislike the girl. She is very pretty.”
“With nothing else to recommend her.”
“She is the type of malleable girl you want as a wife.”
“Not the type I want,” he quickly corrected. The wife he wanted was strong, kind, witty, and knew her own mind—but also when to exercise caution. She would never have put another woman down for the sake of her own pride as Catherine had or moved into the mistress’s room without permission the day Owen stepped away. “I’ve heard there were a few changes while I was away.”
Father glanced up from his paper. “Have the servants been gossiping?”
“You do realize I would have noticed eventually on my own, do you not?”
“The light is abysmal in the rooms you gave us, Owen.” Catherine frowned. “We needed better light.”
“Perfectly understandable. I find no fault with you taking whichever of the open bedchambers you’d like while you visit. I trust you will always find my home to be welcoming.” He paused, waiting for his words to sink in, hoping they did not skip the important ones. “But when I marry, which will likely be soon, my wife and I will be using those particular chambers, sothey will not be available the next time you come to Buckley Place.”
The room fell silent. Catherine’s cheeks mottled, her lips parting in surprise.
Father leaned back against the sofa. “Married? To whom, son?”
“I will not divulge the lady’s name before she has agreed, but rest assured I hope to have a favorable answer before the week is through.”
Catherine sat forward. “Not the Darling woman, I hope.”
Owen stood. “My bailiff is waiting for me. If you’ll both excuse me.”
“You cannot marry her, Owen,” Catherine called after him. “She is not who you think she is.”
He hated to admit it, but his steps slowed.
“Did you know there have been men visiting the cottage every day in your absence? What does Clara need all those visitors for? Mr. Yardley, Mr. Lofton, Mr. Graveley. Every day, at least one of them has come.”
Owen’s chest tightened. Lofton. He was the only man who posed any threat. “You mean to imply the rector should not be visiting his parishioners?”
“You know very well I do not mean anything untoward about a man of the cloth,” she snapped. “But all themen. It is unseemly.”
He could not argue the point, so he did not bother. “I appreciate your concern. Mr. Knotts is waiting.”
“Owen,” his father said stiffly, forcing him to stop at the threshold. “You owe us respect, son. We would like to know who you are bringing into this family.”
He glanced at them over his shoulder. In the nine years he had been away, they had not been overly concerned with his decisions. When he returned to England and came straight to Briarstead, it had not hurt them to be second-choice. They hadnever minded the strain in their relationship until now that he was the owner of the large estate his father had grown up in. How could Owen reach any other conclusion than that his parents selfishly wanted a piece of it?
What he was confident in, though, was what little he owed them.
“You will know,” he promised, before quitting the room.
Knotts was in the study waiting in a chair in front of the desk when Owen reached it. “I hope you haven’t been waiting long.”
“Not long at all, sir.”
“Wonderful. Have you heard from any other investors about the school?”
Knotts shook his head. “At this point, it looks as though it might just be you and your army friend.”
