An Eternity of You by Sophia Garrett

Author:Sophia Garrett
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Entangled, Scandalous, novella, historical, historical romance, romance, duke, second chance, Christmas, holiday
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC
Published: 2018-06-28T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

Confined within the quiet of his office, Andrew took a moment to absorb the last several hours. He had arranged the hogs with little difficulty. Adding to the butcher’s order, he paid for a goose that seemed too large for himself, Alice, and Fortescue. But Christmas was in two days, and he’d promised Alice the traditions he’d grown up with in Sharrington. He’d also secured a new household cook, who had been recommended by the butcher, a young mother of three whose husband had recently abandoned the family for unknown reasons. Matilda was her name, as Andrew recalled.

The errands had not ended there, however. Following Rebecca’s suggestion, he spoke with the apothecary, paid two dozen outstanding debts, and arranged a credit of sorts, in which the man would simply fill what the villagers needed for the next year, and Andrew would pay him a percentage of what they could not afford. He hoped the year would allow Sharrington to prosper enough so he did not need to maintain the charity.

Finally he spoke with the mill owner, apologized for Landess’s overly tight coin purse, and arranged a meeting between them two days after Christmas, in which Andrew intended to discuss his ideas for a new mill that would double current output and double available jobs. After leaving, he drove past the thatcher’s—his name also supplied by the butcher—and after some careful negotiation, secured a new roof for Rebecca, to be laid tomorrow. In the morning, Andrew intended to track down the sheep farmers closest to Sharrington Manor and open three pastures that appeared to have been dormant these last several years. First, however, he needed to find their names.

The entire day had been productive, but it cut short his cherished time with Alice. Not long ago he’d fed her a meager supper and put her to bed. With her sleeping soundly and the moon beginning its ascent, he still had work before him.

Reaching down, he picked up the carton of correspondence from Landess that he had never bothered to open. Those men’s names were likely in his annual statement of records.

His hand stilled over the hasp. Rebecca’s letters would be in here too. If he had only been less stubborn about his determination to forget Sharrington and the love he could not have, he would have had his very heart’s desire. For no loss of inheritance would have stopped him from returning to her side.

He blew out a hefty sigh and steeled himself against the inevitable words within. The farmers’ names would wait until morning. Rebecca’s letters called to him.

Andrew unlatched the hasp and opened the carton. One by one, he opened each envelope, scanned the contents, and set them aside. Bits and pieces of information caught his attention—Stephen’s arrest had been documented, but not his name. Only a brief notation that the surgeon’s son had been part of the uprising. There was no mention of Isaac’s death.

Nor, when he finished the chore, was there any letter from Rebecca.

Rage coursed through him.

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