The Rebel Wife by Elizabeth Bramwell

Author:Elizabeth Bramwell
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2017-03-31T06:00:00+00:00

Nine

Alex supposed that his life as a Duke was quite as it should be, considering he had been back in England for only a few weeks.

He had been welcomed back into the Ton with open arms, his family seemed to be as cheerful as he remembered from his youth, and if his wife was not quite as bright and lively as her letters had suggested, he buried his disappointment deep and concentrated on the fact that she was one of the kindest, sweetest women he’d ever had the pleasure to spend time with. He was lucky in that, and every morning told himself never to forget it.

Coming to terms with the sheer amount of land and people under his control had been a touch more complicated than he had anticipated. His father’s ghost loomed large over every page, and it was in those quiet moments, surrounding by papers pertaining to land that he owned, that he regretted leaving England and missed his father terribly.

In all fairness, the estates had been well managed by Hopkins during his absence, even if his steward insisted on crediting his mother with their smooth operations. His father’s guiding hand lay on everything, and for that Alex found himself increasingly thankful.

There were a few orders that he had sent over the years that appeared to have gone astray; his directive to pull down the old shepherd’s cottages on the land that bordered Squire Rumble’s property, for example, had not been carried out. He supposed that was to be expected, considering the length of time he had been away. Letters were notorious for going missing, after all, and he had to say that Hopkins had managed well enough under the circumstances, even if the man did not seem happy about now fulfilling some of Alex’s orders.

“But there’s families living in the cottages, your Grace. They’ve been there for generations, some of them.”

“No doubt they’ll be happier in the newer houses that we built over by the marshes.”

Hopkins had run his hand through his hair, an action that Alex had come to realise meant he was nervous, but about to question the directive nonetheless.

“With all due respect, you Grace, but those properties are already occupied, but even if they weren’t, they’re a good hour further away from the village.”

“What does that have to do with anything?” Alex had asked, genuinely confused. “The location is better and the houses less prone to leaking.”

“Community, your Grace,” Hopkins had answered. “Best to ask the Duchess – she understands your people very well.”

“As I do not,” he’d said wryly, but Hopkins had not so much as stammered an apology. “Very well, I will ask her when I see her next!”

His mother had not, as it turned out, been much help on the matter.

“Good grief, Alex, what would I know about the reasons for people to choose where to live?” she’d said around a mouthful of egg when he raised it at breakfast.

“Hopkins pointed out that you know our people better than I do.

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