AllFreeNovel
Share Us
WILL KNOCKED ON THEdoor to his parents’ town house on Charles Street not far from Berkley Square. Wallace opened the door, looking as stoic and imperturbable as ever. “Mr. Galloway,” he said, seeming unsurprised to see Will arrivedcompletely unannounced after months of absence. “Welcome home.”
Will entered the vestibule, the scents of home washing over him. Wallace took his coat and hat. Will had always thought Wallace was ageless. He’d been with the family since before Will was born. Since before that, actually. He must be close to eighty, and yet he looked the same as Will remembered him from his youth. “Lord and Lady Smythe are in the garden.”
“Thank you. I’ll go surprise them.”
“Yes, sir.”
Will made his way through the familiar house, greeting the servants he’d grown up with and finally stepping outside into the spring sunshine. He could tell at a glance his parents were arguing. His mother had her hands on her hips, and his father had a furrow between his brows.
“The daffodils should go there,” his mother said, pointing to a sunny spot near the house.
“We put them there last year, and they died,” his father said, his voice filled with exaggerated calm. “We agreed to put them over there this year.”
“I don’t remember that.”
“I do. In fact, I made a blueprint for the garden. Give me a moment, and I’ll fetch it.”
Will paused in the doorway, watching his parents’ good-natured bickering.
“Of course, you made a blueprint,” his mother said with an exaggerated eye roll. “You haven’t heard that wild gardens are au courant. We should simply put all the flowers where we want. We could even mix them up, and it would look like an explosion of colors.”
“It would look like an explosion,” Lord Smythe muttered under his breath.
“Don’t you think the irises beside the daffodils would look ravishing?”
His father reached out and put his hands on his mother’s waist. “I thinkyoulook ravishing.” He gave her a kiss.
His mother narrowed her eyes. “Are you trying to soften me up to the idea of your blueprint?”
“Is it working?”
“I’m not sure yet. Keep trying.”
His father leaned down to kiss her again, and Will cleared his throat. Both his parents glanced at the doors and his mother let out a loud squeal. His father just grinned broadly. A moment later Will was wrapped up in his mother’s embrace. She smelled of citrus, as always, and she hugged him fiercely, as always. She pulled back and looked up at him. “When did you grow taller than me?”
“I think when I was thirteen, Mama. When did your hair turn gray?” She had several gray streaks in her otherwise glossy chestnut hair. Will thought they made her look distinguished, but he liked to tease her. “You look so matronly now.”
His mother gave him a light punch. “You’d better be careful. I still carry a dagger in my boot.”
“Good God, Mama! Why?”
“Old habits,” his father said, pulling Will in for a hug. They were the same height now, but his father had gray eyes and his dark blond hair was mostly gray. “Did I miss your letter that you were coming home?”
“He doesn’t need to inform us when he’s coming home,” his mother said. “But was this planned? Baron hasn’t sacked you, has he?”
“No,” Will said. “In fact, I have reason to believe Baron is quite happy with me. I’ll tell you over dinner.”
“But that’s not for hours!” his mother complained.
“You have other business?” his father asked.
“I do. I have an audience at court.”
“With the queen?” His mother took his arm and led him into the house. “Why does she want to see you?”
“Actually, I requested the meeting, and I’ll tell you—”
“The rest over dinner,” his mother said.
