The Dowager Countess (The Saga of Wolfbridge Manor Book 2), Sahara Kelly [best thriller novels to read txt] 📗

The lane was too narrow for them to drive side by side, so Royce turned their gig and followed Trick and Jane as they wound their way back toward the house.

“Would you really hit me with a brick?” Royce lifted an eyebrow at her.

Gwyneth met his look squarely. “If you refuse to listen to me, yes, without hesitation.” She stared at him. “If you’re not going to take me seriously, Royce, we will have many such arguments, and some may involve bricks. I’d prefer not to, but I will stand my ground if I believe I’m right.” She let her gaze move to Trick and Jane as their gig rolled down the lane in front of them.

“I’m not a biddable woman. Understand that. And while I find the idea of four gentlemen being devoted to my well-being an attractive and alluring concept, if that devotion does not include the respect due to my opinions on matters other than gowns and fripperies, there will be arguments with everyone.” She sighed. “I’m tired of being pushed aside.”

Royce frowned. “Nobody here will push you aside, my Lady. Surely you realise that?”

“I’m not speaking literally, and I think you understand that. But everyone is treating me with tenderness, and affection. Which is all very nice, but it doesn’t help me when I have ideas, or suggestions or thoughts about matters that go beyond what is apparently accepted in a Lady of Wolfbridge.” She turned her head and looked at him. “Such as our argument about the crops.”

“I’m not ignoring you.” His lips firmed.

“No, you’re not. But you’re also not really paying much attention to what I suggest.”

He was silent for a minute or two, negotiating the turn onto the narrow road leading to the Wolfbridge stables. “I don’t know how to respond to that. What do you want of me?” He glanced at her.

In that moment, she saw honesty in his eyes. He really wasn’t sure how to handle this situation.

“I want to be respected.” She gave him honesty back. “And I especially want to know that I am somewhere where all the bits and pieces of who I am are recognised. Not just the womanly ones.”

Royce watched the horse as they drew up to the stables and the two lads came running out to help Trick. “I have no idea how that will work, Lady Gwyneth. From what I’ve seen and heard, you’re very different to the last Lady of Wolfbridge. There may be some adjustments necessary.”

“I see no problem there, do you?”

He came around the side of the gig to assist her, holding up his hand. “I sincerely hope not,” he answered her question. “But I wouldn’t wager on it.”

Trick and Jane came up to greet her formally and the moment was lost. She smiled and did all that was proper, feeling more like a Lady of Wolfbridge at this moment than she’d done before. Such courtesies were second nature to her over the course of her life, and she slid into the role with ease.

But at the back of her mind, a niggling imp of doubt still lingered. Would this be the one spot where she could finally become the complete woman she’d always known she could be?

Or was it just another place that catered to her as a tender and mostly helpless female, and nothing else?

Time would tell.

Chapter Fifteen

Giles welcomed the foursome, making sure that Gwyneth was feeling well and not overtired, while greeting Trick and Jane with the air of an uncle. Which he was, in many ways.

Royce caught his eye for a brief moment, an indication that he might have matters to discuss. Always observant, Giles had great faith in Royce’s ability to spot things, so after the various parties had settled themselves—Jeremy and Trick in the parlour with Gwyneth and Jane heading to the kitchen to speak with Evan—Giles walked to his study and found Royce there.

“Something?” he asked.

“I don’t know,” said Royce. “But it’s worth mentioning.”

He then related his discussion with Gwyneth and followed with a blow-by-blow description of their argument.

“And she didn’t object to being kissed…” Giles watched a slight flush creep into Royce’s cheeks.

“No. But she accused me of trying to divert her attention. Which I was.” He cocked an eyebrow. “And I did, I think. For all of two minutes.”

“Single minded, is she?”

“Stubborn is a better word.”

“Does she have a point? About the crops?” Giles stared at the other man, wondering if perhaps there were two people being stubborn during that argument.

“She might. I’d have to look into it.” He sighed and rubbed a hand across his face. “I have been reading about some revolutionary ideas that are taking hold in other parts of the country. Improving yields with different rotations, things like that. Clover and turnips are part of that plan.”

“So it’s worth a look then?”

“I certainly will do some research,” agreed Royce. “But that doesn’t mean I’m going to drop everything for one of her suggestions…”

“And I would prefer it that way.” Giles stared from the window, gathering his thoughts.

“She’s going to want to run the place, you know.” Royce’s words were more of a warning than a statement.

“It is hers to do with as she wishes, Royce, you are well aware of that.”

He nodded. “It wasn’t clear that it also included the more practical side of running an estate.”

“She is perfectly within her rights to do so,” Giles shrugged. “I would intervene if I thought anything she chose might be detrimental to Wolfbridge, however. Have no fears on that score.”

“So I should take her a degree more seriously, then, is what you’re hinting at?”

“If you’ve not been taking her seriously, then yes. However, I sense that you have been taking her seriously all along,