The Lady Tamed by Boyd, Heather (urban books to read TXT) 📗

Fanny, a favorite, had stolen Fenton away from her father’s employ for an easier occupation with them. His job was to sit about with his stick and glare at anyone who sought to impose themselves on Fanny when Jeremy was not around and take care of the evil goose roaming the house. “I did hear voices raised earlier, sir, but it’s become quite again for the last half hour.”

Jeremy looked at him sharply. “Did you interrupt like I asked you to?”

“Of course. I had a pair of our largest footmen carry the tea tray and dole out the cups very slowly. That seemed to calm things down. The door was left open after that, and they remain outside in full view of her visitor even now.”

Jeremy glanced toward her study to see for himself. “Good.”

Fanny had been in the meeting when he’d gone out to meet members of her family for a ride in Hyde Park hours ago. He hoped things were going her way at last. This particular transaction, the sale of Cedar Mill, had been keeping her awake at night in recent weeks. He didn’t like it when she tossed and turned. It wasn’t good for her health or his plans.

It had been weeks since she’d spent a whole day with him. He hoped she’d be finished soon because since it was Valentine’s Day and he wanted to entice her to forget her worries with serious idleness and indulgence.

He retraced his steps to the hall and looked toward his wife’s study where she conducted all business meetings—without him.

The footmen nodded that all was well now. Jeremy was doing his best to make it clear that his wife was not without protection at all times. If he could have stayed and been of any help to her, he would have canceled the plans he had made with her family. But he’d found supposedly intelligent men tried to defer to him instead of Fanny when it came to any business dealings.

So he absented himself from all important decision-making meetings, but he was interested in what Fanny was doing with the money, but he was hardly in charge of how it was spent and never would be. The fortune was still Fanny’s money, in his opinion, even if she tried to convince him it was his, too. She retained full command of her fortune despite them being husband and wife.

He did not mind that other men whispered he was henpecked. Jeremy simply knew his limitations and worked around them. He wasn’t smart enough to manage thousands of pounds and dozens of properties across the country. He remained in awe and proud of Fanny’s achievements. “Would you subtly let my wife know that I have returned.”

“I don’t know that subtle will be enough, but I’ll do my best. Danvers has a tongue hinged in the middle.” Fenton complained. “I trust the duke is in good health.”

“Fine form as usual. We’re invited to a late luncheon with the duke and duchess tomorrow, so we’ll need the carriage brought round at a quarter to two o’clock, and for Fanny’s maid to be ready at short notice to change her into a suitable gown. I trust you didn’t forget the surprise I planned begins tonight.”

His first Valentine’s Day with someone he loved deserved a special celebration. Jeremy hadn’t had to think too hard to decide what to do. An evening of togetherness: dinner and wine in bed, and perhaps an early night for the love of his life. He’d issued orders that they were not to be disturbed once Fanny came up to their rooms unless someone was dying.

He wouldn’t allow Fanny to think of anything but herself tonight.

The servant went off, and Jeremy climbed the staircase, admiring the opulence and Fanny’s good taste. Of all her properties, this one held a special place in his heart. It was the first home he’d ever been in where he felt he belonged.

But after a ride in the park and a long talk in the duke’s stables, he smelled of horses and other manly odors he’d rather be rid of. A servant had run ahead and filled his copper tub already, so he climbed into the steaming bath and scrubbed away at his skin and hair with plain soap, before drying himself with a length of soft cloth.

He was just putting on a robe when his wife hurried in, carrying a stack of papers against her chest. “I’ve done it. Cedar Mill is sold!”

Jeremy strolled to Fanny and dropped a kiss on her cheek, and then took the stack of papers from her. “Congratulations.”

“I cannot believe it’s finally done and I got my original asking price, too.”

“Danvers was a fool to believe you were desperate to offload the mill just because of the little stir Thwaite stirred up over me.”

“Yes, Thwaite tried his best to sour the deal and now must count the cost. I have it on good authority that several prominent matrons gave him hell over the vile gossip he was spreading. As if I would ever need to pay a man to share my bed,” she said, grinning impishly at him.

“Ridiculous,” he agreed. “I have to beat back your admirers every day.”

“The only man I want is you.”

Jeremy put her papers away in the large safe he’d had installed in her chambers and locked it before turning to face her. “Now, which do you want first? Bath, dinner or bed?”

“I am a bit tired,” she admitted “But I want to hear about your day now. How was my father?”

“He made me laugh.”

She smiled. “What did he say that was so funny?”

Jeremy glanced at his wife. The Duke of Stapleton had become more father than a friend to Jeremy, who’d never had either really. Stapleton was always doling out bits of sage advice, but his most frequent topic of late was discussing when Jeremy and Fanny would make a grandfather of him. The duke had today claimed Jeremy was tardy at keeping up his side