A Traitorous Heart by Tammy Jo Burns

Author:Tammy Jo Burns [Burns, Tammy Jo]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Amazon: B00E1ZPYS8
Barnesnoble: B00E1ZPYS8
Goodreads: 18591144
Publisher: Tammy Jo Burns
Published: 2013-07-18T14:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

“What are you doing?” she asked, placing a startled hand to her breast.

“I decided to escort you down instead of waiting for you downstairs. You look beautiful, Tessa,” he leaned down and kissed her cheek softly.

“Thank you,” she whispered as he took her hand and drew it through his arm. They entered the breakfast room instead of the formal dining room. Candles stood everywhere, casting a romantic glow on the room. Two place settings were beautifully laid out. Derek led her to a chair and seated her letting his calloused fingertips caress her shoulders before taking his place.

A footman placed a bowl of soup on their plates and then quietly disappeared into the shadows.

“How did you pass your day?” Derek queried.

“Quietly.”

“Oh? You didn’t work with Luke today?”

“You know he couldn’t stay away from the stables while anxiously awaiting the arrival of your new stud horse. If he had come in, I wouldn’t have gotten anything out of him.”

“I am sorry.”

“No you’re not, because you were down there yourself just as anxious as Luke.”

“Perhaps,” he smirked.

“Never fear, I found other ways to occupy myself.”

“Such as?”

“I explored the house. Did you realize there are almost a dozen rooms that have been covered and forgotten?”

“Yes. Long ago Blackburn Hall used to hold hunting parties where many people would stay for a week or two. My aunt and uncle however, did not care for the ton that much so many of the rooms have been closed up for years.”

“I also stumbled upon the nursery. Of all the rooms, it seemed to be the saddest of all. I would hazard to guess there wasn’t a toy newer than a half of a century. All the furniture had been covered, but even the cloth looked as if it might fall apart at the slightest touch.”

“A lack of children prevented my aunt and uncle from having the perfect life. They wanted a houseful, but Isabel died young, and Thomas became a disappointment. That is why they spoiled mother and her sisters so much and in turn Kala and myself. They loved children.”

“At least they had your family,” a hush fell over them for a while. They finished their soup and a footman brought out the next course. “How did you spend your day?”

“Well, first I woke very early to a horrible headache.”

“And who’s fault would that be?”

“No one but my own,” he acknowledged, dipping his head in acknowledgement of her question. “Then as you said, I anxiously awaited the arrival of my new stud and saw him properly set up. After seeing Kala off, my steward and I rode and met with some tenants. There are a lot of things that need to be done around here. In fact more than I thought.”

“Really? Like what?”

“The crops have not done well the last few years. I think I need to study up on a rotation schedule for planting. I also want to look at purchasing livestock, but I’m not sure which would fare better here, sheep or cattle.

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