Read Online The Rake of Hollowhurst Castle by Elizabeth Beacon - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Elizabeth Beacon
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capable of bothering me with unsolicited advice at all turns while running my house, stables and gardens almost as efficiently as you would? Meanwhile, you can help Sir Charles in his new life as the master of Hollowhurst Castle, knowing that Iâm in safe hands.â
âBravo, Miss Courland, I couldnât have put it better myself, and I must add a personal plea for as many of you as Miss Courland can spare to take pity on me andcome and help me run the castle before Iâm properly in the basket for lack of your skills.â
Sir Charles Afforde then strolled further into the overcrowded room to stand by her side, and Roxanne wasnât sure if she was more furious with him for looking as if theyâd hatched this argument between them or with her staff for silently ghosting out of his way as if heâd every right to barge into her house and interfere without the least encouragement. Holding on to her temper while trying to look as if she concurred with his every word, although sheâd like to kick him sharply in the shins, took every ounce of self-control Roxanne possessed.
âGood morning, Sir Charles,â she managed to greet him civilly.
âGood morning, Miss Courland, and good morning to you all,â he responded cheerfully, as if he was calling on her in her drawing room and not lounging about the commodious kitchen as if he owned that as well.
A general murmur greeted him, ranging from stately politeness to a flutter of delight from the flightier maids, and again Roxanne had to choke back fury. Just because he was ridiculously handsome and a hero of the late wars, everyone forgot he was also a rake and a rogue. Wishing she hadnât encouraged any of the female staff to return to the castle, she frowned repressively at them and won nervous, excited giggles for her pains. Hoping he was too gentlemanly to take advantage, Roxanne scowled fiercely at him, but he seemed unimpressed and just gave one of his piratical grins.
âI suggest you take the rest of the day to consider what Iâve said,â she suggested to her assembled staff, having little hope of the female section of it hearing her, as theirattention was centred on Sir Charles lounging beside her as if he was as welcome as the flowers in spring.
âIndeed we will, Miss Courland,â Mereson intoned on behalf of all his minions. After giving the chief among them a few significant looks, he made sure they dispersed to their supposed places in her household, and Roxanne wondered, not for the first time, how on earth they managed to fit into it without constant collisions.
At last only the kitchen staff were left, and the last giggling housemaid had been towed away by more sensible friends. Roxanne looked on Sir Charles with even less favour as he refused to notice she wanted him gone.
âThereâs scones and fresh blackberry jelly if youâd like me to send them through to the drawing room, Miss Rosie,â Cook prompted, and Roxanne decided her light-as-air touch with such pastries was no compensation for an interfering nature, and Sir Charles was welcome to her.
âThen will you join me, Sir Charles?â she managed to say graciously enough. âSuch a treat is not to be lightly missed, I can assure you.â
âMy thanks, Miss Courland, but it defeats me how you managed to find room for so many in this rather compact house and still omitted to engage a companion to make my visit respectable,â he carped as she led the way to her not-yet-formal drawing room.
âIf my companion and my reputation were any concern of yours, Sir Charles, I might explain myself. As theyâre not, I feel no need to do so.â
âThey soon will be if you get yourself ruined in the eyes of the world because youâre too stubborn to engage a duenna. I feel compelled to see you set right, MissCourland, as Iâm the most likely cause of our neighbours whispering scandal about you living alone
âBravo, Miss Courland, I couldnât have put it better myself, and I must add a personal plea for as many of you as Miss Courland can spare to take pity on me andcome and help me run the castle before Iâm properly in the basket for lack of your skills.â
Sir Charles Afforde then strolled further into the overcrowded room to stand by her side, and Roxanne wasnât sure if she was more furious with him for looking as if theyâd hatched this argument between them or with her staff for silently ghosting out of his way as if heâd every right to barge into her house and interfere without the least encouragement. Holding on to her temper while trying to look as if she concurred with his every word, although sheâd like to kick him sharply in the shins, took every ounce of self-control Roxanne possessed.
âGood morning, Sir Charles,â she managed to greet him civilly.
âGood morning, Miss Courland, and good morning to you all,â he responded cheerfully, as if he was calling on her in her drawing room and not lounging about the commodious kitchen as if he owned that as well.
A general murmur greeted him, ranging from stately politeness to a flutter of delight from the flightier maids, and again Roxanne had to choke back fury. Just because he was ridiculously handsome and a hero of the late wars, everyone forgot he was also a rake and a rogue. Wishing she hadnât encouraged any of the female staff to return to the castle, she frowned repressively at them and won nervous, excited giggles for her pains. Hoping he was too gentlemanly to take advantage, Roxanne scowled fiercely at him, but he seemed unimpressed and just gave one of his piratical grins.
âI suggest you take the rest of the day to consider what Iâve said,â she suggested to her assembled staff, having little hope of the female section of it hearing her, as theirattention was centred on Sir Charles lounging beside her as if he was as welcome as the flowers in spring.
âIndeed we will, Miss Courland,â Mereson intoned on behalf of all his minions. After giving the chief among them a few significant looks, he made sure they dispersed to their supposed places in her household, and Roxanne wondered, not for the first time, how on earth they managed to fit into it without constant collisions.
At last only the kitchen staff were left, and the last giggling housemaid had been towed away by more sensible friends. Roxanne looked on Sir Charles with even less favour as he refused to notice she wanted him gone.
âThereâs scones and fresh blackberry jelly if youâd like me to send them through to the drawing room, Miss Rosie,â Cook prompted, and Roxanne decided her light-as-air touch with such pastries was no compensation for an interfering nature, and Sir Charles was welcome to her.
âThen will you join me, Sir Charles?â she managed to say graciously enough. âSuch a treat is not to be lightly missed, I can assure you.â
âMy thanks, Miss Courland, but it defeats me how you managed to find room for so many in this rather compact house and still omitted to engage a companion to make my visit respectable,â he carped as she led the way to her not-yet-formal drawing room.
âIf my companion and my reputation were any concern of yours, Sir Charles, I might explain myself. As theyâre not, I feel no need to do so.â
âThey soon will be if you get yourself ruined in the eyes of the world because youâre too stubborn to engage a duenna. I feel compelled to see you set right, MissCourland, as Iâm the most likely cause of our neighbours whispering scandal about you living alone
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