Realm 06 - A Touch of Love Read Free

bring it solvency.
    “Thought I had finally discovered the door,” he murmured in regret. But Law had sent word of trouble with two of the baron’s cottagers, and Baron Blakehell had rushed home to Blake’s Run, never to rekindle an interest in his youngest child’s progress.
    Carter had not held his older brother Lawrence to blame: In fact, the baron had crippled Law nearly as effectively as he had Carter. It was only of late the two brothers had banded together to foil Blakehell’s manipulations regarding a pledge to marry off Law to Miss Annalee Dryburgh and her connections to Lord Graham, when Lawrence had obviously affected Miss Dryburgh’s cousin, Miss Arabella Tilney. “At least, we placed a chink in the baron’s armor,” Carter told the empty room.
    “Perhaps if Law and I were closer in age,” he mused. But his brother had been away at his early years of school before Carter had made his familial appearance. Three rambunctious sisters separated them. Three sisters headored. A brother Carter admired, but he and Lawrence had traveled separate roads to reach their current understanding.
    Lawrence Lowery, Blakehell’s heir, had been schooled in all facets of the barony. His brother’s every waking moment had known the responsibility of his future title. “Never wanted to be Lawrence,” Carter declared honestly as he pushed his exhausted frame from the mattress. “Just wanted to be something more than the spare.” Carter reached for the bell cord. “Just wished for my share of the recognition,” he admitted to the shadows.
    “You rang, Sir?” Merriweather breezed into the room. Carter sometimes thought Darek Merriweather slept less than he.
    Despite his earlier maudlin, Carter smiled. “Time to face the day.”
    Merriweather nodded his understanding before reaching for a towel. “I brought up hot water for your morning ablutions, Sir.”
    When Carter had withdrawn from his official military service to join the Realm, he had left behind his trusted batman, Francis Sanders, and for some time, he had done without the services of a gentleman’s gentleman. With the Realm, he was often in dire straits, and Carter had refused to place another in jeopardy; however, at Waterloo, Merriweather had earned his position, along with Carter’s gratitude. From that day forward, Merriweather had served him faithfully. Ironically, it was his friend Gabriel Crowden, the Marquis of Godown, who had claimed Sanders as his man of service, and Carter had been glad of the marquis’s kindness.
    Lazily, he straddled a chair while Merriweather dutifully applied soap to Carter’s cheeks to soften his beard. “I will require a second shave before supper,” Carter said distractedly. “His Grace has invited my parents to dine at Thorn Hall.”
    The lack of a smile upon Merriweather’s lips was not apparent in his tone. “As you say, Sir.”
    Carter rolled his eyes good-naturedly. “As if I had a need to instruct you in your duties.”
    “As you say, Sir.” This time the corner of the valet’s mouth tugged upward.
    Carter ignored Merriweather’s jib. He rarely termed the valet as insolent. They had spent the previous two years together. “I wish to confirm the accommodations for the baron and baroness have been prepared to my specifications. How go the preparations below stairs?” Carter had permitted Merriweather a say in the new hires for the estate.
    “Cook has seen to hearty meals, which should please the baron and baroness, and the new maids have spent an inordinate amount of time with cleaning and polishing. You will be pleased.”
    When his man finished, Carter used the small towel to wipe away the remaining soap. “I am easier to please than is the baron,” Carter warned.
    His man retrieved the mirror. “It will be enough, Sir,” Merriweather assured.
    Carter said dejectedly, “It is never enough.”

    “It is most generous, Your Grace, to see to our pleasure this evening,” his mother said