Colin didn’t wait for his valet’s response before he headed into the hall. There was only one young woman he would ever consider marrying, but she was already engaged to another. Not that he blamed her; Lady Arabella deserved better than how he treated her. He’d never intended to fall in love with her, but he had, desperately. He still carried a miniature portrait of her in his jacket pocket.
But she had moved on. He was grateful for it. He was not the man he once was, and he knew he could never make her happy. He was too ragged from his service in the army.
As Colin descended the stairs, his butler approached him with a smile on his face. “Good morning, milord,” Dickson said in a cheery voice. “I trust that you slept well.”
“I did not.”
Dickson’s smile slipped. “I am sorry to hear that.”
“I’m afraid I haven’t slept well since I returned from the peninsula,” Colin said as he stepped onto the marbled floor.
“Mr. Burton is in your office,” Dickson informed him.
“Excellent,” Colin replied. “After I speak to him, I intend to go riding.”
Dickson nodded his understanding. “I shall notify the grooms.”
“Thank you.” Colin proceeded to his study. Entering it, he saw his burly and weathered gamekeeper standing by the window.
“Good morning, Burton,” Colin greeted as he walked around his desk.
Burton turned towards him. “Thank you for agreeing to see me,” he said.
Colin gestured towards a chair in front of the desk. “Please have a seat.”
“I regret to inform you that I have found proof of poaching on your lands,” Burton revealed as he sat on the chair.
The gamekeeper had Colin’s full attention. “Is that so?”
“I came across a crude trap this morning,” Burton shared. “My best guess is that it was intended to catch rabbits.”
“That is troubling.”
“That it is,” Burton agreed. “We both know poaching is a serious offense and needs to be dealt with swiftly.”
“Agreed. What do you intend to do about the problem?”
“I’ll go into the village and see if anyone has been selling a large amount of game in the market,” Burton said. “Furthermore, with your permission, I shall hire a few men to help me watch the woods.”
“That sounds logical.”
“With any luck, we will find the person, or persons, responsible for poaching and they will be sent to prison.”
“That seems rather harsh for killing some rabbits,” Colin mused.
Burton stared at him in astonishment. “For all we know, this person is deer stalking, as well,” he said. “If you show any mercy, then it will open you up to even more poachers.”
“You are right,” Colin conceded. “Have you already informed the constable?”
“I spoke to him before I came to see you.”
Colin leaned back in his chair. “Now that that’s out of the way, how is your family faring?”
“They are well,” Burton replied, puffing his chest out with pride. “My littlest one, Harriet, is going to be ten next month.”
“You shall have to wish her a happy birthday from me.”
“She will appreciate that.”
