He swung his long legs over the side of the bed before reaching for his banyan, tying the belt as he walked over to the window. It was still fairly early, with a layer of fog clinging to the ground, but when that burned away, it promised to be a warm, sunny day.
The door to his dressing room opened. “My lord, you’re up early this morning,” Bryer said.
Robertson turned to his valet. “I’m feeling quite well this morning and want to take a ride around the estate before the formal activities begin.”
“Very good, my lord. Let me lay out your clothes, and then I’ll inform the stable master you wish to ride.”
After dressing in buckskin breeches, a linen shirt, and a dark green riding jacket, Robertson made his way out to the stables. He’d decided to forgo the waistcoat and cravat this morning—he’d return before anyone else was awake to bathe and dress properly for the day.
The house was quiet, except for a few servants going about their morning chores, as he made his waydown the stairs to the foyer and out the door. Walking outside, he inhaled deeply. He hadn’t realized how much the London air was affecting his lungs until he’d had a chance to enjoy the clean air here at Fleming Manor.
“So much better,” he murmured on his short walk to the stables.
“My lord, I was told you’d like to ride this morning.” the stablemaster said when Robertson appeared.
“Yes. I’d very much like to explore the grounds. They look magnificent.”
“I have a spirited stallion that could use some exercise. Will he do?”
“Yes. That’s perfect.”
In a matter of minutes, a groom was leading a beautiful black stallion, snorting and stamping his feet, out to where Robertson was waiting.
“I must warn you, my lord, Hades is quite frisky this morning,” the groom said.
Robertson reached out his hand to the horse before patting his neck. “Want to race today, boy?” The horse snorted, seemingly in agreement, and Robertson vaulted into the saddle. “Come on, Hades, show me what you’ve got,” he said as they raced away.
He felt a deep connection with the horse as they sprinted across the meadow. For the first time in a long while, he felt at peace. It was glorious to feel such poweras Hades thundered across the grass. He wondered how long it’d been since anyone had taken the stallion out for a good run. After eating up a number of miles, he pulled back on the reins. “Whoa, Hades.”
The stallion seemed reluctant to stop running, but eventually, he slowed to a walk. Robertson patted his neck. “Good job, Hades.” He could hear running water and steered the horse past a copse of trees to find a stream just beyond and dismounted. Without any further direction, Hades bent down to take a good long drink while Robertson sat on a nearby rock, contemplating his life.
What exactly did he want in life?
A wife?
Children?
Of course, as an earl, it was his duty to marry and sire an heir, there was no question about that, and he’d very much like to have all of this settled sooner rather than later. He was tired of being on his own, with only his mostly absent mother for family. After years of neglect, he knew he’d never know the kindness of a loving mother. How could he when she’d accused him all those years ago of killing his brother and blamed him to this day?
Gabriel.
He hadn’t thought about his brother in years and wondered what his life would have been like if Gabrielhadn’t drowned. Would Robertson be a vicar now? A military career had been denied to him because of his lung issue, but if his brother had lived, would he be helping Gabriel run the estate? Or would he be overseeing one of the many properties that belonged to the earldom? Robertson was good with numbers and had managed the estate well when he inherited the title. Even though he’d had no real relationship with his father, except for a few lessons on estate management, at least the former earl had been responsible, taking proper care of the estate and tenants, unlike some aristocrats, who nearly bankrupted their estates through mismanagement and gambling debts.
Robertson regularly corresponded with the stewards at his various properties, making sure his tenants had everything they needed, but he rarely returned to his country seat in Castle Point. That place held too many dark memories, and once he’d been sent away to boarding school, he managed to ensure he always had an excuse not to return home, even during school holidays. It was better to stay away than to see the disappointment in his parents’ eyes when they looked at him. He was the imperfect son, the one who should have died instead of his beloved brother.
Staying away from Castle Point as much as possible seemed to suit everyone. He never received letters from his parents begging him to come home for a visit.Once he became friends with Noah and Miles, there were plenty of opportunities to be involved with them and their families, which helped him avoid returning to Castle Point.
Robertson shook his head to dispel those painful childhood memories. He wasn’t a child anymore but a grown man. Surely he no longer needed his mother’s love. That time had long since passed. She had her life, and he had his, and rarely did they intersect with each other. That suited them both fine.
He got off the rock and walked to Hades. “Come on, boy, it’s time we return. I have a lady I’d like to converse with.”
The horse snorted, and Roberson climbed into the saddle. They enjoyed a good hard run back across the meadow, and by the time they returned to the stables, the horse’s neck was lathered.
A groom came out of the barn. “How was your ride, my lord?”
“Exhilarating. Give Hades a good rubdown and lots of oats. He well deserves it.”
The groom nodded and led the horse away while Robertson made his way back inside. It was still fairly early, and when he walked into his bedchamber, Bryer was there.
