AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 5
Rafe felt a lump in his throat as he approached his family home on the outskirts of Whitby. He had always found it to be such an imposing place, tall and dark and uninviting, especially with the vast woodland behind it, which seemed to stretch for miles.
The woods where Richard was killed.
Rafe pushed that thought away. He did not want to remember that right now. It would just make entering the house even harder.
“Rafe?”
Charlie was watching him with a frown. Rafe swallowed and squared his shoulders.
“Let’s get this over with. I don’t want to be hovering on the doorstep.”
“Did you tell them that you were coming?”
“No, I just packed up and left. Nobody knows I’m going to be here.”
Rafe knew that was foolish, and he should have written first. But he probably would have gotten to his father at the same time as the letter. He didn’t want to wait another six weeks for the letter to arrive back in England before making the same distance himself. Sebastien said he could come home, and Rafe was going to do just that.
But not for long.
His heart was racing as he and Charlie trotted up the long drive and towards the stables. A familiar figure was crossing from the stalls to the main house. He did a double-take when he saw them enter, his mouth falling open. Then he was hurrying over. Rafe couldn’t help but smile. He was older, and there were some grey hairs at his temples, but there was no mistaking the servant who had been looking after his brother for years.
“Good to see you, Manning.”
“Lord…Lord Mowbray!” Arthur Manning skidded to a halt by Rafe’s horse, staring at him like he had appeared out of thin air. “You’re back! But we thought….”
“That I wouldn’t return? It’s not a permanent thing, Manning, but if I’m given the word that I can come back, I’m going to take it.” Rafe gestured at his friend. “This is Charlie Mayfield, a friend of mine. This is Arthur Manning, my brother’s valet. He’s been with the family for years.”
Charlie touched the brim of his hat.
“Good day, sir.”
“I…Mr Mayfield.” Manning swallowed. “I’ll just let Lord Blackmore and Lord Mowbray know. We haven’t got any rooms ready….”
“Don’t worry about the rooms. We can wait.” Rafe dismounted. “Are there any spare stalls for our horses? We can get them brushed down.”
“There are some at the end, but don’t you want Talbot to do that for you?”
“Talbot?”
“Our new stable boy. Jessop is the stable manager now.”
“Really?” Rafe smiled. “Maybe send Jessop our way, but we can handle the unsaddling and grooming ourselves.”
Manning looked like he had just been hit over the head. But he gave a quick bow and hurried off, disappearing into the house. Charlie laughed.
“He looked like he had seen a ghost.”
“Probably because I said I was going to deal with my horse myself.” Rafe led his horse towards the end of the stables. “I didn’t look after my horse at all when I was growing up.”
“Are you serious?”
“Charlie, look at my family home. When you’re a family with servants, why do it when you’ve got someone else to do it for you? We never got ourselves dirty.”
Charlie shook his head.
“I’m beginning to see a side of you I never expected to see. Now I don’t know what to make of you.”
