Page 38 of The Duke's Only Desire

Chapter Ten

Shay narrowed hiseyes as he surveyed the rafters in the dairy barn at the edge of the southern pasture and assessed what all would need to be fixed in the spring when the roof was reshingled.

“The three rafters on the south end need to be completely replaced,” he mumbled to Pearson, who was taking notes in a small book. In addition to valet, the man also served as Shay’s personal secretary because he needed someone in that position whom he could trust. “And the middle two joists.”

“Yes, sir,” Pearson muttered as he made a new note.

Shay slid him a glance. The man wasn’t happy to be out in the cold today and had been grumpy ever since Shay roused him from bed this morning. Pearson had overslept, then seemed bewildered that Shay wanted his help in dressing, only to be downright stunned when Shay said he wanted to ride out for the day to make notes for building repairs. The former aid-de-camp had blinked with incomprehension at the window, where dawn was barely streaking across the distant horizon, then stared at Shay as if he were a bedlamite. He’d muttered something beneath his breath about mad dogs and Englishmen, then dutifully hurried to Shay’s bedroom to help him dress.

Up at dawn?Shay nearly laughed. Beingupimplied that he’d slept, and he’d not closed his eyes since leaving Sophie’sroom. Even now, hours later, not even the brisk chill of winter could tamp down his frustration. So it was best to simply avoid her. Again. And next time, he’d know better than to fall for the ploy of dinner in his room. He’d sleep in the barn if he had to.

Speaking of barns… “We need to evaluate the grooms’ quarters in the stable block. I think they—”

Pearson let out an irritated sigh.

Shay turned to him, arching his good brow. “Is something the matter, Pearson?”

“Yes.” The man snapped closed the notebook. He reached inside his coat to its breast pocket, pulled out a folded piece of paper, and handed it to Shay. “My resignation.”

Stunned, Shay blinked, not accepting it. “Because I roused you out of bed this morning when you wanted to sleep in?”

“Because I won’t serve under a mad man.”

“Yet you were willing to serve under Wellington.”

Pearson paused to consider that, then shook his head. “That was a different kind of madness.” He shoved the paper toward Shay again, leaving him no choice this time but to take it. But Shay didn’t open it. “I can no longer serve in your household, Colonel. Things have changed, sir, and not for the better.”

Understanding dawned on Shay. “You mean the new duchess.” He slowly folded his arms over his chest. “Sergeant, life is different when a new mistress comes into any home and starts making changes. Men have to learn to adapt if we—”

“Not her.You.” Pearson straightened his spine. “The way you’ve been treating her is ungentlemanly, sir, and unbecoming of an officer.”

“I’ve treated my wife like a princess. I’ve given her everything she’s asked for, as well as medical care for her father and a generous settlement that will allow her to do anything she wants.”Including leave me.Why she continued to stay, he had no idea. “I have never raised a hand to her—”

“And never laid a handonher,” Pearson grumbled. His eyes narrowed accusingly. “You have a pretty new duchess who cares for you and wants to create a real home here. Surely, an old soldier like yourself knows what to do with a lovely lass like her.”

At that, Shay’s brow nearly shot off his forehead. “That isnoneof your busi—”

“I’ve always been loyal to you, sir, in war and peace.” Emboldened, Pearson let all that was bothering him tumble out unchecked. “I have never spoken back to you before or refused to do my duty to you. But now, it’s time I did.” He dragged in a deep breath that expanded his barrel chest nearly to bursting. “You, sir, are a blasted fool! You might be just fine shutting yourself away here, but she’s not some fairytale princess to be locked away in your tower.”

“Good,” he snapped out. “Because I’m not a Prince Charming.”

“No. You’re a duke, like it or not, and she should be treated as a duchess. She’s been here over a week, and you haven’t even taken her out to show her the estate lands or introduced her to the most important tenants.” He gestured a hand in the general direction of the village. “She wants to be an equal partner in your marriage. So let her be. You owe her that much respect, if nothing else.”

Andthatwas clearly a jab about his marriage bed. Shay tightened his hand around the resignation letter to keep from tightening it around Pearson’s throat. “And you think leaving is the right way to bring my attention to the matter?”

His lips pursed into an aggravated line of disappointment in Shay. “It’s the only way I have, sir.”

A low rumble snagged Shay’s attention, and he looked out the doors of the dairy barn that had been left open wide to let in the morning air. So did the handful of men who tended the cows and were lurking about to see what Shay wanted with thedairy, not believing that the same lord who had ignored them for so many years would now be interested in their work. He didn’t blame them. Even the cows in their four rows of stalls looked up from chewing their hay at the noise and swung their broad heads toward the doors.

A carriage rolled its way up the long drive from the road. Compact and well-sprung, it bounced down the frozen drive in a steady, determined clip.

Cold dread trickled through Shay as he recognized it. This wasnotgood.

“Pardon me, Pearson,” he said as he pulled on his riding gloves and hurried from the barn, with the soldier-turned-valet dutifully at his heels. “Your abandonment of me will have to wait.” He shoved Pearson’s resignation into his coat pocket. “Something dreadful is happening.” He swung up onto his horse and muttered, “Family has arrived.”

His feet had barely touched the stirrups before he turned the large gelding in a tight circle and pointed him toward the house, then let him loose in a dead run.

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