Under the Mistletoe with the Viscount (Unlikely Lords #6)

Chapter 19

I t took more than a week after Noah had delivered the baskets to the tenants before he and Miles had a chance to check out the abandoned cottages. After eating breakfast, the men headed to the stables. They were planning to ride out to the two abandoned cottages and survey the land to see what use could be made of it.

“Your mounts are ready, gentlemen,” the stablemaster said.

“Thank you,” Noah said, vaulting onto Midnight’s back. His stallion had fully recovered from that mad dash from Guilford nearly six weeks ago and looked eager to run, stamping his feet in the dirt. He patted Midnight’s neck. “Come on, boy. Let’s show Vulcan how fast you can run.”

Miles chuckled as he mounted Vulcan. “You might be in for quite a gallop, my friend.”

“Good. It’s just what I need. These past weeks have shown me that I must never take life for granted again.”

“I was thinking the same.”

The two men walked their horses to the meadow beyond the formal gardens. “Will you stay until Robertson arrives?”

“Yes. I would like to see him and his lovely wife again. But then I must get back to Fleming Manor. As you know, there’s an important matter I must discuss with Fleming.”

“Has he mentioned anything to you about his daughter’s future?”

“No. It doesn’t seem like there are any suitors for her at the moment, and I want to act before one shows up on her doorstep while I’m away.”

“I totally understand, and I can’t thank you enough for spending these past weeks with me. I admit that I was totally shocked and lost when Uncle Charles and Aiden passed.”

“We all were, my friend. It was a tragedy that no one could have anticipated.”

“Exactly, and that’s why I want to make sure I have everything in order that I possibly can from now on. Uncle Charles was well-organized, and that has certainly made understanding the estate accounting much easier. Life is short, and now that I’m the viscount, I don’t want any of my tenants to suffer due to my inexperience.”

“Noah, don’t be so hard on yourself. You’re doing fine. It takes time to understand all there is to know about estate management. Have you thought any more about hiring a steward?”

“I’m warming to the idea, but I want to know firsthand what’s happening with everything before I hand over control to someone else.”

“I have absolute faith in you. However, not so much in your riding skills,” Miles said as he kicked his heels in Vulcan’s side. The stallion took off like a shot.

Noah chuckled. “You’re not going to win that easy,” he said. Midnight didn’t need any coaxing to race after Vulcan.

The horses flew across the meadow like there were wings on their feet. It was the first time in weeks that Noah felt the burden of inheriting the title ease somewhat. Maybe Miles was right. It would take time for him to learn how to manage everything, and he didn’t need to be so critical of his progress thus far.

The horses were neck and neck as they raced past the tenant cottages and the crops growing in the fields. Both stallions were seventeen hands and powerful beasts, and neither one seemed like he wanted to stop running. As they neared their destination, Noah pulled back on the reins. “Whoa, boy. We’re here.”

Miles did the same. Both horses had lathered necks as the first vacant cottage came into view.

“Midnight is as fast as ever,” Miles said. “I’m glad to see that he suffered no permanent damage trying to get to Oxfordshire so quickly.”

“Vulcan is a prized stallion as well. They’re well-matched,” Noah said, nodding.

As they rode closer, Noah immediately saw why the land wasn’t suitable for farming. The soil was rocky, and the weeds that poked up through the earth had grown immense without anyone to tend to them.

“I can see why the family abandoned this place. I can’t imagine anything grew well in that rocky soil; certainly not enough could be harvested to support a family,” Miles said.

“I want to inspect the cottage,” Noah said, dismounting. He walked to the door and pushed it open. Inside, a large fireplace dominated the room. There were stairs leading to the loft that served as sleeping quarters for the family. The only furniture left in the place was a large wooden table that was probably too heavy for the family to take with them when they left.

“What do you think?” Miles asked, coming inside.

“It’s a good-size cottage with plenty of room for a family, but without good land to farm, no one would want to stay here.”

“Did you see those weeds out there? Some things do grow here. Perhaps sheep and goats would be better suited to this location.”

“Do you think so?”

“I do. Let’s check out the other cottage. The land might be the same. If so, that gives plenty of room for two families to reside here if they’re willing to tend the flocks. I would suggest either Southdown sheep or Merino, although the Merino stock can be prone to foot rot. I had to give up my herd of Merino because they were more trouble than they were worth, but the Southdown breed has done well. Any new tenants could have a comfortable living, even after giving the estate coffers a percentage of the wool and the goat’s milk.”

Noah took one last look around the cottage before exiting. “I like your idea.”

They traveled to the other cottage, which was a mirror image of the first one, except the loft area had been walled off into three separate rooms.

“Any other ideas before I look into the sheep and/or goat one?” Noah asked on their ride back to the stables.

“No. Because the land is so rocky, it will never be good farmland. I think goats or sheep or a combination of the two will be the best use for those cottages.”

“I’ll check into everything we talked about to find the best options. I’d love to have those cottages occupied by next spring.”

“That would be ideal. No sense trying to fill them now,” Miles said. “Winter will be upon us soon enough, and without a harvest to support a family through the winter, it could prove to be a disaster.”

“I agree,” Noah said.

After they dropped the horses off at the stables and were heading toward the manor, they heard the crunch of gravel in the driveway.

“Robertson must be here,” Noah said, walking faster toward the front.

A stately carriage sat in the driveway, and a footman had hopped down to open the door.

“Robertson!” Noah shouted as the earl stepped out.

The earl smiled at Noah while handing down Lady Robertson and her maid from the carriage. “We came as soon as we heard the news.”

Noah extended his hand. Robertson took it and pulled him in for a fierce hug, patting his back. “We’re so terribly sorry for your loss, my friend.”

“Thank you. I appreciate you coming so quickly.” Noah stepped back and turned to Lady Robertson with a bow. “Lady Robertson, a pleasure to see you again.”

“Thank you, Lord Harrison. I wish we were seeing each other again under better circumstances though.”

“As do I, my lady.”

“Robertson, Lady Robertson, good day,” Miles said, joining the group.

“Mr. Walker, a pleasure to see you again,” she said with a smile that lit up her face.

“A pleasure to see you too, my lady,” Miles said.

Noah gestured towards the manor where Jerrison was standing in the open doorway. “Come inside. I’ll let my cook know you’ve arrived and have a tea tray delivered.”

“Excellent. I’m starving,” Robertson said, holding out his arm for his wife.

“My darling, you’re always starving,” Lady Robertson said with a chuckle.

Two footmen rushed passed the butler to unload the suitcases.

Jerrison took their coats and Robertson’s hat.

The housekeeper stood in the foyer behind her husband, waiting to welcome Noah’s guests as they entered the manor. “Lord and Lady Robertson, I’m Mrs. Jerrison. May I show you to your room to refresh yourselves before luncheon?”

“That would be lovely. Thank you, Mrs. Jerrison,” Lady Robertson said before turning to her lady’s maid. “Why don’t you go to the kitchen for a cup of tea and a spot of lunch?”

Robertson turned to his valet, who’d ridden up top of the carriage with the driver. “Bryer, you might do the same.”

“Are you sure, my lady?” her maid asked. “I need to unpack your things.”

“There will be time for that after you’ve had something to eat. I’ll see you later.”

“Thank you, my lady.”

Both the valet and lady’s maid followed Jerrison down the hallway toward the kitchen, talking quietly amongst themselves.

Within thirty minutes, Noah, Miles, and the Robertsons had reconvened in the dining room. Mrs. Peters had outdone herself, and Noah made a mental note to thank his cook. He also needed to check with Robertson to make sure he was paying the staff a good wage. He’d never inquired about staff salaries when Uncle Charles was alive. At the time, there’d been no need because the last thing he ever expected was to become responsible for all these folks.

“How was your journey?” Noah asked.

“It was pleasant,” Lady Robertson said, winking at her husband.

“Indeed. My wife is excellent company,” Robertson said with a chuckle.

Seeing his friends so happy together made Noah realize that he was missing Lady Williams more and more every day. He regretted waiting so long after the house party to call upon her.

“Lord Harrison, I would like to ask your permission to invite Lady Williams here for a visit. Do you feel well enough for that, or should I plan to visit with her in Albury instead?”

Noah stared at the countess. Had she read his mind? “First, please do call me Noah.”

“Of course, and I’m Olivia to both you and Mr. Walker.”

“Oh, call me Miles. I think we can all dispense with such formality when we’re together privately.”

“I would like that. Thank you, Miles,” Olivia said, turning her attention back to Noah.

“Olivia, you may invite Lady Williams here if you wish,” Noah said.

“Have you written to her since your family’s passing?” she asked.

“I did send her a note but have not invited her for a visit. I thought it would not be proper without a chaperone.”

“Noah, Lady Williams is a widow—the same rules do not apply to her as they do to a debutante. As long as a woman is discrete in her affairs, the ton will not chastise her. The rules are also a bit more relaxed in the country, but I certainly understand your hesitation. It was well done of you to think of her reputation.”

“Olivia, I don’t merely wish to have an affair with Lady Williams. I realize now that she’s the only woman for me, and I’d very much like to court her with marriage in mind.”

“Have you told her this?”

Noah shook his head. “Not in so many words. I, like many of my kind, am an idiot and didn’t realize how much she meant to me when I called on her, but she wasn’t at home, and her brother-in-law wasn’t forthcoming about when she’d be back. I regret waiting so long to see her.”

Robertson chuckled. “Yes. Most men are idiots when it comes to love.” He looked at his wife with tender longing in his eyes. “I nearly lost the most important person in the world to me because of my inaction. I wouldn’t want to see the same thing happen to you, Noah.”

Olivia frowned. “Hmmm… I had noticed the baron becoming quite overbearing even before we went to the house party. I know he wasn’t keen for her to attend even though Lady Williams has known the Flemings for years through her friendship with their daughter. I shall write to her and invite her here for a visit if that’s what you wish.”

“Yes. That is very much what I wish. Thank you.”

“Good. I shall write this evening after dinner and extend the invitation.”

“Thank you.”

For the first time in weeks, Noah began to relax a little. Knowing that he’d be able to see Bett soon was soothing to his soul. He could hardly wait to hold her in his arms again. With both Miles and Robertson to counsel him on the best practices for the estate, he felt he could handle everything now. After dinner, they all headed to the family parlor for a glass of brandy. Noah poured the brandy for the men and a sherry for Olivia.

“Thank you, Noah,” she said.

As Noah took a seat beside the fireplace, he was grateful that he had such good friends to help him through his intense grief. The coming days would be plenty of time to question Robertson about Parliament and what he thought about raising sheep on the estate.

“My darling, will you play for us?” Robertson asked. “Music is always so soothing.”

“Of course,” Olivia said, getting up and walking to the pianoforte.

As Noah listened to the music, a calm seemed to settle over him. If he could work things out with Bett, he would be a happy man indeed.