Duke of Disrepute (Dukes of Distinction #3) - Alexa Aston Page 0,16

retirement before but I put him off. I think you would be an excellent replacement.”

Neal shook his head in disbelief. “You want me. To be you steward. The steward of a grand, ducal estate.”

“You certainly are intelligent enough. The position comes with a good-sized cottage close to the manor house. Maisy and Mark could be schooled in the village with Reverend and Mrs. Clements. Katie could keep house for you or I could see if there’s a position she might be interested in.”

“I am dumbfounded, Your Grace,” Neal admitted. “But your offer is very tempting.”

“Talk it over with Katie. And the children,” Weston urged.

“I will but I’ll tell you, my Katie will want us to seize such an opportunity.”

“If you agree to accept the position, I know it will take time to sell the land and animals.”

“When would you need me?”

He laughed. “The sooner, the better. Old Starling will be delighted to be able to finally retire.”

Neal thrust out a hand. “We will be there as soon as the land sells, Your Grace.”

Katie came up, curiosity written across her face as she placed her hand on her husband’s shoulder. “Be where? And why are you teasing Weston? Your Grace. I hope you’re having a good laugh about that.”

Neal placed his hand atop his wife’s. “We’re not bantering, my love.”

She laughed and then suddenly stopped, eyeing Weston. “You mean . . . you . . . are a duke?”

“Have a seat, Katie,” he suggested.

Neal pulled her onto his lap. “Not only is he a duke, but His Grace has asked us to come work for him. And Maisy and Mark will go to school.”

Between them, the two men explained the situation to Katie, who gazed at Weston in awe and said, “A duke has been eating my cooking. Imagine that!” Then looking to her husband, she eagerly asked, “When do we leave?”

“We’ll need to paint that barn first,” Neal said. “And then sell the land and the animals. Finding a buyer might prove difficult, though. No one around here wants to farm.”

“I know who would buy us out. Sir Winston,” Katie said eagerly. “His land is adjacent to ours. I’ve heard he wants more for grazing.” She giggled. “If he buys our land, he’ll probably tear down that fine barn you’ve built, Your Grace.”

“Let him,” Weston declared. “Do you really think Sir Winston is in the market for more land?”

“I know so. I heard it at church only last week. From not one but two others.”

He knew the gossip mill among women steadily turned out news, as much in the country as it did in the city.

“If that’s the case, it means you could come to Treadwell Manor sooner,” he pointed out. “We’ll go into Brixham tomorrow and find a solicitor to draw up the documents and then pay Sir Winston a visit with them in hand. If he’s eager for more land, the transaction would be quick.”

He left the couple as they excitedly discussed what their new life would be like and went to sleep in his newly-finished barn. Exhilaration filled him at the prospect of going home and beginning a new life. Like a snake shedding its skin, Weston was ready to embark upon the rest of his life. One of his choosing. He would no longer allow Polite Society to place him in a cell and gape at him as if were on display. He would become a model for what a good duke should be. He believed that would be easy because he’d been raised right and only fallen into bad patterns because of his immaturity in handling the unfortunate experience with Juniper Radwell.

Becoming an exemplary duke would be the easy part. It was finding his duchess that worried him. Every woman of the ton knew what a rake and scoundrel he’d been for years. Weston prayed he would find someone who wouldn’t judge him on his past. A woman who would accept him, flaws and all, and help him build a strong future with her by his side.

Chapter Six

Shedwell, Devon

Elise was tired of being in the coach, the second day in a row. At least they would be at Shedwell soon. Claire was slumped against her, her long lashes dark against her pale cheeks. She had tried everything she could to entertain her daughter during the past two days but Claire had been as grumpy as her cousins when they arose each morning. She couldn’t blame her. The roads had been rough, with the winds especially