To Save a Love - Alexa Aston Page 0,20

Dez. Not us.”

“So I was,” he said thoughtfully and then began laughing.

“You aren’t mad?” asked Harry carefully.

“No. Just surprised. You got me good,” he said, smiling at his nephews. “And what will happen when your poor mama comes and tries to put cream and sugar into her tea?”

Arthur smiled knowingly. “Mama takes chocolate at breakfast. She doesn’t use cream or sugar.”

Dez nodded admiringly. “You are very clever. The both of you.”

“You really aren’t angry?” Arthur asked. “I’m sure salt in your coffee tasted terrible.” He wrinkled his nose. “Actually, coffee tastes terrible. I don’t know if I’ll ever want to drink it again.”

“No, of course I’m not mad. Your mama and I did far worse things at your age,” he confided.

“You and Mama played pranks on others?” Arthur asked, amazed.

“All the time,” Dez said. “Trouble seemed to follow us wherever we went.”

“You won’t tell on us?” Harry asked.

“Why would I?” he replied.

“Good,” the pair said in unison.

After that, both talked nonstop and he found them to be endearing boys. He would enjoy having them visit him once he settled into his routine at Torville Manor. Dalinda joined them, none the wiser, as Dez winked at them and conversed normally with his sister.

After breakfast, Dalinda walked him down to the stables and clung to him for a moment.

“I hate to let you go,” she said. “We never got to say goodbye that last time and look how many years have passed. I am afraid the same will happen again.”

He smoothed her hair. “There is no one to keep us apart now. No Father. No Ham. Let me settle into my responsibilities and see that things are being run well and I will be back for a visit. I do want the boys to come see me. I would suggest you do, as well, but I know you don’t want to leave Gilford.”

“No, I belong here with him.” Dalinda kissed his cheek. “Take care, Dez. Write to me of all that is going on.”

“I will.”

A groom brought his horse and Dez swung into the saddle. With a wave, he rode out from the yard.

And toward the estate that now was his.

Chapter Seven

Torville Manor—May

Dez finished looking over the papers Paul Lexington, his estate manager, had given him. It looked as if the May harvest would be quite productive. He set aside the last page and turned to his correspondence, answering letters to both Rhys and young Harry.

It was the first letter he had received from the battlefront from his friend since they had parted. As always with the army, everything was hurry up—then wait. Rhys said he might well die from boredom before a bullet did him in. Now that Dez was away from the military conflict, he could only hope Bonaparte would soon be squashed like a bug or that Rhys might be fortunate enough to return to England and take his place as a fellow peer.

As for Harry, his penmanship was atrocious. Dez struggled to read the writing and finally figured out what his nephew wrote about. He was touched that Harry thought to write him. It was the second letter that the boy had sent. None had come from Arthur, however. He was a cool one, most likely feigning indifference toward Dez and then pumping his brother for news of what their uncle had written about. He made a note to write Dalinda next to see when the boys might want to come for an extended stay at Torville Manor.

Dez had been in his former home for almost six weeks now. It had taken him a bit to become accustomed to his rooms, ones he remembered his father occupying and which later must have seen Ham using them. Mrs. Abbott had given him a tour upon his arrival and pointed out the items that needed to be addressed. He’d taken up her list with Lexington, going over the books of the estate in order to see where matters stood.

The very unique Mr. Capshaw had also paid a visit shortly after Dez’s return. He brought with him paperwork and ledgers and frankly made Dez’s head ache. In the end, though, he received a clear idea of his financial situation, which had been aided by the huge dowry brought by his brother’s wife. Mr. Capshaw said that in some instances, when a marriage lasted less than a year, the bride’s family might request the dowry be returned. That had not been the case this time. Dez had offered to contact her family