The butler seemed reluctant to answer at first, but then he leaned forward and whispered, “Oranges, my lord. Three in each box.” He straightened. “There’s another crate of oranges, as well, my lord. Always a favorite here at Ritchfield Park.”
Robert furrowed a brow, but tried not to appear annoyed. “Where might I find her ladyship now?”
Graves appeared uncertain of how to respond. “She has been upstairs in the mistress suite since her arrival.” He paused, his gaze darting to the side. “She had some concerns regarding your presence, my lord. Asked if you were entertaining a guest or if you might be expecting one or more to arrive for the Christmastide,” he explained. “I told her I was not made aware you had invited anyone.”
It was apparent the butler was curious, and Robert knew Graves would never ask him outright about his plans to entertain. House parties at Christmastide were rather unusual, though, and of course he would have warned the staff had he intended to host some friends.
He suddenly reconsidered the butler’s words and felt heat color his cheeks. Had Ivy actually thought he would bring a doxy to Ritchfield Park? Or expect one to show up? “Issheexpecting someone?” he asked, suspicion evident in his voice.
“She is not, my lord. Said the younger boy is still away on his Grand Tour, the older one has only recently returned, and that your daughters would be spending the holidays with their families in Devonshire and in Rome this year.”
A stab of guilt had Robert nearly rolling his eyes. Both his sons, Michael and Charles, had graduated from Oxford in the last couple of years, and given the war against France, Michael had left on a ship bound for Greece rather than take the land route over the Continent. A year later, Charles, in an effort to avoid the wars, had joined his brother in Athens for a time before Michael returned to England. Charles was now concentrating his travels in countries along the coast of the eastern Mediterranean.
Meanwhile, the two daughters, both older than their brothers, had married heirs of the aristocracy. Charity’shusband was a duke’s son while Grace was married to an earl. Both had already become mothers.
Although he had met one of the grand babies—a future duke—he hadn’t yet been introduced to the future earl. Grace and her husband were still on their wedding trip. The last he had heard, the couple had adopted Rome as a temporary home and were waiting to return to England until after their second baby was born.
If they weren’t careful, she would be expecting her third on the way back to England.
Rome seemed to have that effect on young couples.
“Her ladyship is prepared to return to London should you wish to have the house to yourself, my lord,” Graves said, interrupting Robert’s brief reverie.
Robert scoffed. “I’ll not have her traveling in this awful weather,” he responded.
“I’ll inform her?—”
“I’ll do it,” Robert stated. “I have matters to discuss with her. ’Bout time I spoke with her in person.”
Graves seemed momentarily confused. “Yes, my lord. Will there be anything else?”
Robert was sure he was missing something. At his townhouse in York, the housekeeper saw to all the particulars of running the household. “We’ll need a menu for dinner,” he remembered.
“Her ladyship has already provided cook with menus for the next fortnight, my lord,” Graves replied.
Robert resisted the urge to roll his eyes again. “Of course she has,” he murmured. He turned and indicated the pile of envelopes on the silver salver on his desk. “Should a mail coach manage to make it here through all the snow, those are ready for the post.”
“I’ll see to them, my lord.” Graves helped himself to the salver and hurried toward the door.
Remembering it was nearly Christmas, Robert held up a finger. “What about greenery and... and a Yule log for the fireplace?”
Graves stopped in his tracks. “Already cut and ready to be brought in on the morrow, my lord.”
Impressed, Robert crossed his arms and regarded the butler with appreciation. “In all this snow?”
Graves lifted a shoulder. “I had the footman see to it before the snow worsened, my lord.”
“Good man,” the earl stated. “I suppose I didn’t come here for Christmas for it not to look like Christmas,” he murmured.
“Of course not, my lord.” Graves bowed his head and took his leave of the study.
Robert watched the servant depart and realized he no longer had any excuses to avoid Ivy.
Girding his loins, he headed for the stairs.
