talking about riding Torville this afternoon,” Dez said.
She moved to the sideboard, asking the footman for tea, and placing a few items on her plate. When she joined them, she sat to Dez’s right, opposite of Rhys. She smiled pleasantly at him as she would an acquaintance and focused on her food and her brother. Rhys tamped down the hurt he felt, which was ridiculous. He had known their coupling was just for one night. It shouldn’t surprise him that she was coolly polite this morning.
Yet the thought of his hands skimming along her smooth skin and his tongue outlining the curve of her breast had his heart pounding as if he were some randy schoolboy wet behind the ears.
“I showed Rhys most of Torville Manor’s lands yesterday. Today, we are to meet with my steward and talk about some of the measures we have in place to increase the upcoming harvest.” He grinned. “You know me, though. A few hours with ledgers containing tiny numbers and dry talk about crop rotation and I will be ready to get out of the house and atop a horse.”
Dez paused. “You need to join us, Dalinda. Especially since you have offered to help Rhys. You have already been a godsend to me with your advice. It is the rare man that would teach his wife the things Gilford shared with you. We might as well put all that knowledge to good use.”
Rhys studied her as she considered her twin’s words and then she said, “I am always happy to help one of your friends, Dez.”
“Then it’s settled.” He pushed back his chair. “I am off to see my family for a bit. When you finish eating, Rhys, head straight to Paul Lexington’s office and I’ll join you. Dalinda, you’ll know where it is.”
Dez left the breakfast room, leaving them with two footmen. Rhys knew better than to say anything of a personal nature to Dalinda with servants present. They talked about the current weather and the distance between his estate and Dez’s and how far Gillingham was from the both of them.
“You mentioned the Marshes coming to Sheffield Park,” Rhys said. “How far is your estate from mine? Should I send a carriage for them?”
“That won’t be necessary,” she said. “Dez sent my message to them this morning. I indicated they were to take my carriage at Laurelwood. They should meet us at noon at Sheffield Park this coming Friday.”
“Excellent.” He noticed she hadn’t eaten much and asked, “Aren’t you hungry?”
A slight blush colored her cheeks. “No, my lord.”
For a moment, her gaze met his and he thought how hungry he was for her. Rhys pushed the thought aside. They had shared a glorious night. It was in the past, though, and the duchess had told him she didn’t dwell on the past.
“If so, are you ready to speak with Mr. Lexington?”
“Certainly, my lord.”
As they left the breakfast room and he saw no servants about, he said, “I know you wish to put last night behind you but Anna will notice you being so formal. I thought you agreed to call me Rhys.”
She frowned and all he wanted to do was kiss away the worry creasing the bridge of her nose.
“I will do so when it is only the four of us alone. I think formality when servants are present is a different matter.”
The crispness in her tone let him know she viewed him as her social inferior. He would have to get it through his thick skull that her spontaneous actions of last night would never be repeated. Of course, the thought of being around her and not touching her would probably kill him. Idly, he wondered who would be next in line to succeed him as Lord Sheffington and decided he should find out from the ever efficient Mr. Goolsby.
“The steward’s office is this way,” she said and Rhys escorted her to it.
He knocked on the door and they heard a voice jovially call, “Come in!”
Entering, he saw Dez’s steward, a rotund man with a bald head and merry, blue eyes. He rose and bowed to them.
“Good morning. I am Paul Lexington, the earl’s steward. You must be Your Grace, the earl’s sister, for you favor Lord Torrington a great deal. And Lord Sheffington, I presume. The earl told me to expect you.”
“It is nice to meet you, Mr. Lexington,” Dalinda said. “Dez speaks quite highly of you.”
“His lordship is most kind. I must say, Your Grace, you have passed