hands and can make all sorts of things from wood. I’d even give farming a try. All I am asking for is a chance.”
Dalinda’s heart went out to this man who had lost so much defending Great Britain.
And then an idea began forming. One she would share with Rhys the minute he returned.
Chapter Fourteen
Rhys mounted his horse and Dez and Eli did the same and they rode to the Sheffield Park stables after a full day out on the land. Everywhere they had gone, people were buzzing about tomorrow night’s country ball. So many had thanked him for holding it to celebrate his arrival. None could remember a time when an event such as this had occurred.
He handed off his horse to a groom, one of two, and thought he would like to add at least one more. Perhaps one who might serve as his driver, as well. He wanted to invest in more horses and he could certainly use a new carriage though both of those would have to wait until after the house repairs had been completed. Most likely, it would be wise to delay such purchases until after he wed.
Dez had asked him if he would partake in the Season, which started in two weeks. He had no inclination to do so, preferring to stay at his new country estate and make sure things were up and running for the coming harvest. Of course, now that he’d hired Eli and saw how experienced his new steward was, he could probably go to London for some of the time. The city was only four or five hours away by carriage. He could possibly go for a week at a time throughout the Season and then return here to help oversee things when necessary.
He assumed Dalinda would also be in London and at events he attended despite her mentioning she didn’t feel ready to participate in social events. Her duke had encouraged her not to mourn him and instead find another husband once he was gone. Knowing how she longed for more children, he doubted she would waste any time. Unfortunately, it would be impossible to avoid her.
The three men headed toward the house, Dez commenting how ready he was for tea.
“I won’t be able to join you,” Eli said. “I have more work to complete.”
“You are far too dedicated, Eli,” he told his friend.
The steward grinned. “For what you are paying me, my lord, I should put in double the number of hours.”
He hated the formality between them now. At least Eli would join them as usual for dinner this evening. It was already an established pattern and one Rhys hoped would continue once his friends departed.
“Very well,” he told his steward. “I will see you at seven.”
They parted ways inside the house and Marsh approached them.
“Are the ladies in the drawing room?” asked Rhys.
“They are, my lord,” the butler answered.
“Good. I am famished,” Dez declared.
“You have a visitor, my lord,” Marsh continued. “A Robert Morrison is with Her Grace and Lady Torrington.”
“Morrison? He’s here?” Rhys asked. “That certainly surprises me.” Glancing to Dez, he said, “You remember my batman.”
“Of course,” Dez said. “I wonder why he has come.”
“We shall certainly find out.”
As they started toward the staircase, Marsh called out, “My lord, you need to—”
“Not now, Marsh. I’ll deal with whatever it is after tea,” Rhys told the servant, eager to see Morrison again and find out why he had come to call when he should be at war.
They arrived at the drawing room and entered. He heard laughter and saw both Dalinda and Anna engaged at something his visitor had shared.
“I hear Morrison has come to pay a call,” Rhys said, striding across the room.
The soldier rose and turned to face him, causing Rhys to stop dead in his tracks.
Morrison had been a few years past forty when they had parted and still a handsome man for his age, full of vim and vigor and always one with a ready story. While one side of his face remained intact, the other had been set afire. Whether from a rifle backfiring or being caught in cannon fire, he couldn’t say. All he knew was that Morrison’s face had been ruined and he’d lost both an eye and an ear. It would be hard for anyone to look upon him without disgust.
Yet Dalinda and Anna had been sitting with Morrison, laughter coming from them, as if everything were perfectly all right.
The former batman came to stand before him.