The Quiet Gentleman by Georgette Heyer

Author:Georgette Heyer
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, pdf
Tags: Regency, England, Brothers, Aristocracy (Social class), Fiction, Romance, Triangles (Interpersonal relations), Historical, General
ISBN: 9781402238833
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc.
Published: 1966-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

"I thought he meant only to stay for a day or two," Martin muttered.

The Earl made no reply. Theo said: "Well, if I am to do your business for you, Martin, it will be well if I have your instructions. Are you at liberty? Come to my room!"

"Oh, you will manage better than I should, I daresay!" Martin said, shrugging, but following him to the door. "But I wish you will look into what that stupid fellow Mugginton is about! How my father came to appoint such a sap-head as bailiff I don't know! Why, the last time I was there, he was talking of putting the Long Acre down to wheat! Now, Theo, you know—"

The closing of the door cut off the end of this sentence. Miss Morville said, as she restored the chessmen to their box: "It is a pity that he and Lady Cinderford cannot agree, for he needs occupation, and nothing would suit him so well as to be managing an estate. I believe he knows as well what should be done as your bailiff does."

"I fancy he will never live at Studham. It is extremely profitable, however, so if he chooses to do so he may buy himself a house in Leicestershire."

She considered this, but shook her head. "I think he would not be happy there. I daresay you may not have talked with him very much, or he might be shy of confiding in you, but his thoughts are bound up in Stanyon. He loves it, you know."

"For him it is full of the happiest memories," he remarked.

She raised her eyes to his face. "Do you dislike it so very much, my lord?"

"Why, no! I am learning to like it pretty fairly, I think. I imagine it must have every inconvenience known to man, but it might be made tolerably comfortable, if one cared enough to set about the task."

"Well, I hope you will care enough," she said. "And, if I were you, my lord, the first thing that I would do would be to make one of the saloons on this floor, which nobody ever uses, into a dining-parlour! Then you might not be obliged to partake of dishes that are cold before ever they reach the table!"

He laughed. "An advantage, I own! When I undertake my improvements, I shall certainly come to you for advice, ma'am!"

"I don't suppose that you will," she replied. "You will, instead, place the whole in the hands of some fashionable architect, and he will build you another wing, so that you will find yourself worse off than before."

"Very much worse off, if I am to employ a fashionable architect! Whom have you in mind? Nash? Beyond my touch, I fear!"

"I don't think," she said seriously, "that Mr. Nash's style would be at all suitable for Stanyon "

The news that Theo was about to set out, as he had punctually done for several years, on visits to the Earl's various properties naturally afforded the Dowager with matter for surprise and complaint.

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