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TWO DAYS LATER, CLAYTON was covered in dust and had cuts on his hands from fixing the roof in the ballroom. Exhaustion made his muscles ache, but he had a smile on his face. The work felt good to him. There was something honest about the sweat a man put into something, watching it become a finished structure. They had finished repairing the holes, and now it had to dry before they could repaint the mural on the inside. Clayton enjoyed the calm, slow steps it took to create a building that was both beautiful and strong.
“I finished the walls in the parlor and the dining room,” Rex said, walking into the ballroom and wiping his hands on his shirt. “Are we going to be eating lunch here again?” His expression indicated he would rather not.
“Is there something about the food you don’t like?” Clayton had always found it to be simple but good.
“It’s the company that upsets my stomach.”
Rex had developed a strange relationship with Miss Capshaw while they were working. The two of them were painfully polite most of the time but argued when they thought no one else could hear them. In an old house, someone could always hear them. Clayton wasn’t sure what it was they were always arguing about, but he suspected it was a little bit of everything. That woman knew how to get under his friend’s skin.
“We can take a long lunch at the inn as a reward for getting a lot done in a short time.”
Clayton felt like he might want a beer himself. The men put away their tools and went back to the village. It was a relief to escape the constant tension that came with being in the same house as Rory. He was always aware of her being there and tried desperately to avoid her. He already knew he suffered from a lack of control in her presence. They couldn’t risk another incident. He finally relaxed and gave the barmaid his order.
“Did you get lost on your way home?”
Clayton felt a chill as he heard those words from behind him. He knew that voice and didn’t need to turn around to know who was standing there.
“Hello, brother.”
Thomas Powell, Duke of Ashford, took one of the empty chairs across the table and set his cane to the side. He was dressed casually for riding, but there was no mistaking his power or position. It was deeply bred in him and had been since he was a child. When one knew they would be inheriting such a title, they were groomed for it their entire lives.
“Why am I getting word that you are staying here instead of your family’s home only a one day ride up the road?” Thomas asked him.
“Because the inn keeper isn’t as discreet as I thought.”
Rex smiled at his little joke, but Thomas didn’t. The duke had lost his sight in an accident while Clayton was missing, and it seemed to have dimmed his humor as well. Clearing his throat, Rex gave Clayton a nod. “I think I will find another table and give you some privacy.”
Thomas wasted no time with pleasantries. “I gave you direct orders to return home.”
“You said to be there by the end of the month, and I will be there by then.”
“Mother is excited to see you. She has waited years for this.”
Clayton felt his chest tighten at the thought of his mother. She was one of the memories that had kept him alive when he had first arrived in Cape Town. That made his fear of facing her without his other brother more painful.
“Then waiting another week or so won’t mean anything.”
“Why? Why not come straight home?”
“I have something to do first.”
“What?”
“A job. I need to finish a job before I can return home.”
“You are a lord and don’t need to work.”
“I enjoy it.”
This was the same argument they’d had in Africa when Thomas had found Clayton. The duke had been appalled to find his brother working beside other men, sweating in the hot desert sun. He was even more so when Clayton had insisted he would continue to do so.
“You really have changed,” said Thomas.
“Being kidnapped will do that to a person.”
The expression on Thomas’s face darkened. “I’m sorry I didn’t find you sooner. Mother knew you were in trouble, but I didn’t want to believe it.”
“You couldn’t have known what happened.”
“I should have found out. I allowed myself to be...distracted.”
“All men make mistakes. Even you.”
Thomas had always been the prodigal son. He was their father’s favorite and society’s darling. At school he was popular with the other students and the teachers, which was rare. Ladies loved him and gentlemen emulated him. Clayton and Christian had often been jealous of their big brother, but they had convinced themselves things would balance out once they were grown. Now it seemed nothing had changed.
“I know who your new employer is and can guess at what was so appealing about this last-minute job.”
“Were you spying on me?”
If Thomas was asking too many questions, people would start to wonder why. If word of their relationship got out, it would spread fast and Rory would find out who he was.
“I was curious. You decided to take a job for someone you don’t know, avoiding your family. I was trying to figure out what could be so important. Now I think I have an idea.”
“I’m not here because of her. I’m here because of the house. It’s going to be beautiful when I’m finished with it.”
Thomas laughed. “You couldn’t resist the allure of a house? That’s a new one to me.”
“It’s my specialty.”
The smile slipped from his brother’s face. “I heard about your reputation as a contractor in Cape Town. It was hard not to when it was mentioned every time I brought up your name.”
“I worked very hard for that reputation.”
“I know you had to work in order to survive.”
In the beginning that was true. He had been grateful when old man Murdoch had bought his debt from the diamond mine. Hauling rocks and living off porridge was horrible. Life with Murdoch was still hard work, but he was able to learn something. Once the old man passed, he continued to live off that education. It was more useful than any of the schooling he’d gotten in London.
“I like to work. I like getting my hands dirty.” Clayton couldn’t find the right words to explain why he felt that way. “It’s good to have something to show for it at the end of the day. Proof you are worth something.”
“You can’t continue to build walls and lay floors here in England.”
“Why not?”
Thomas looked shocked by the very idea of his brother continuing to build houses. “You are a lord, with certain responsibilities.”
“I’m a younger brother without any responsibilities.”
“You have to protect the family’s reputation.”
“How would I damage it by continuing to work? Even you know I’m good at what I do.”
“People will think we have financial difficulties.” His brother’s expression was growing dark and his face was getting tight. “We don’t.”
“Why do you worry so much about what others think of us?”
“That’s my responsibility.”
Clayton shook his head. “Then I’m not going to be able to stay. I can’t go back to being an idle, useless gentleman.”
The two brothers sat there, facing each other in the bustle of the inn’s dining room. It had been a long day and Clayton had no more energy to continue arguing.
“I learned a lot about your time over there,” Thomas said. “The good and the bad.”
That made Clayton flinch. “Did you tell Mother about it?”
“No. I figured you would decide what you wanted her to know.”
That was a blessing. He would rather she not know any of it. “Are you going to tell Mother I’m hiding out here?”
“I should.”
“It would only upset her.”
“Would it get you to come home sooner?”
“I’m going to be there as expected. Isn’t that soon enough?”
Thomas was quiet, and Clayton felt unnerved by his brother’s stillness. Those sharp blue eyes couldn’t see him, but he felt their intensity just the same.
“Tell me the truth. Is Lady Rory part of the reason you want to stay?”
“She views contractors and working men the same way you do—with disdain. I’m staying because I want to see if I can get this house back to its glory days.”
“Fine. I won’t tell Mother, but you should know she is visiting with Lady Rory today.”
“What for?” His mother had no business visiting Summerhill Manor.
“She was good friends with the former owner and heard of Lady Rory’s arrival. Women always hear about new arrivals.”
That was going to make it difficult to return to work. “I guess I will just have to keep out of sight.”
“Were you also a spy while you were in Cape Town?”
“No, but I was occasionally a criminal.”
His brother’s mouth fell open, and Clayton couldn’t help but chuckle. “I guess you didn’t learn everything about my past.”
“A few things must have been left out.”
“Perhaps one night I will tell you about that over a few drinks.”
“Hopefully soon.”
Thomas departed without much ceremony, and Clayton was left with his own thoughts.
“So, the charade continues?” Rex approached the table now that it was safe to be there.
“Until the job is finished.” Clayton grumbled while he gave money to the barmaid for lunch.
As they approached the house, Clayton could see Rory and Darla with his mother through the window. The sight of her after all these years made his chest clench. He watched as Thomas arrived and whisked his mother away. Once he knew the risk of seeing her was gone, Clayton returned to the ballroom.
“Where were you?” Rory asked, joining him there.
“I went to lunch. I don’t need your permission to eat.” Clayton didn’t know why he was being so short with her, but he was feeling on edge and wanted her to leave.
“As your employer, I do expect to know when you go.” She looked at him with her eyebrows drawn together.
“I’m your partner, not your servant.”
“It’s still my house.”
He had been hoping to make her storm off, but instead she was charging forward in her anger. The space between them went from feet to inches quickly and her face was flushed. Her lips were pressed tightly together but still a soft pink, and he found he was tempted to taste them. The sparks in her eyes showed that she wasn’t thinking the same heated thoughts he was.
“So you think you have the right to order me around like one of your staff?” He felt the surge in his blood as he continued to anger her.
“I have never done that!”
“No, but you wanted to.”
Her expression went from hot to cold. “I understand what restraint is.”
The subtle implication of her insult struck home, and he found he was the one growing hot now. He might have noticed that she smelled sweet today—like freshly baked pastry—if he wasn’t so angry. The argument had started as a means to get rid of her, but now he needed to make sure she knew who was in charge.
“I’m not a servant, I’m a partner. I will decide where I go and what I do.”
“If I don’t agree?”
“Then we should part ways.”
“You would leave the job undone?”
“Order your other servants to do it.” Clayton knew she couldn’t afford to lose the only workman she had.
She pressed her lips together until they disappeared and her body trembled with anger. She took three deep breaths before being able to speak again. “You had better have the work finished on time.”
“I have never missed a deadline.” Clayton took a step back, letting them both have a little more room for air. He needed the distance to stop from doing something he would regret, or enjoy.
Her expression softened, and that’s when he saw the way her eyebrows drew together. Those hazel eyes had a hint of darkness under them, and he wondered if she was getting any sleep.
“I’m going to be away from the house all day tomorrow. Darla will be coming with me, so you and Rex will be here alone.”
“Not worried about us stealing, are you?”
She let out a big sigh, letting her shoulders slump. “There wouldn’t be anything here worth stealing.”
Clayton had noticed that there was very little in the way of valuables in the house. That was unusual considering it was such an elegant manor.
“We had a visitor at the house today. She was curious about the work being done and invited me over for tea tomorrow.”
“Accepting invitations from strangers?”
“I will if it’s from a dowager duchess.”
It had always amused him and his brothers how flustered people got around their mother. To them, she was always the woman who was easy to smile and full of warm praise for her children. To the rest of society, she was rich, beautiful, and powerful.
“You want me to reassure you we will continue to work while you are away?” Clayton couldn’t believe what she was saying. “Did you think that we would just take a day off to relax? Perhaps drink some brandy and play cards in the salon?”
“Must you twist everything I say? I was just letting you know that there would be no one here to monitor you.”
“Good. I don’t need a nanny.”
“You are acting like a child.”
Clayton laughed. “Are you threatening to bend me over your knee? I might not mind.”
That brought out the flash of anger in her eyes that he was looking for. “Why do you insist on provoking me? I have always been polite to you.”
“Polite, but not friendly.”
“I don’t want to give you the wrong idea.” There was the nibble on her lip. “I don’t want to encourage you.”
“No socializing with the lower class, you mean.”
She was giving her bottom lip more trouble. If she continued to drive him mad with that, he might be forced to do something drastic to make her stop, like kissing her senseless.
Again.
“I never intended to imply—”
“That you were better than me?”
“I don’t think I’m better than anyone.”
He didn’t like the tone of her voice or the way her lips turned downward.
“Clayton, could we forget about the comments and the kissing and just start over?”
There was no way he would be able to forget about the kissing, but she was earnest in her request. He would be the worst kind of rubbish if he didn’t agree to it.
“I will make sure nothing goes wrong in the house while you are away. I won’t even let Rex walk around in his dirty boot on the carpets.” That was the best he could offer her as a response.
Now those eyes were brighter than before, twinkling at him from beneath her thick eyelashes. She took a deep shaky breath, and when she exhaled, he could see the tension release from her body. She was giving him a small smile.
“Will you be able to handle things here without me?” The warmth in her tone crushed any trace of a bad mood he had.
“It will be a struggle, but we can manage.”
“I’m glad we can be friends.”
He wasn’t expecting her to jump into his arms but she did. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed a quick kiss on his cheek. It was over so fast he barely realized what was happening before it was over. The scent of her lingered on him, letting him know it had been for real.