The Training of a Marquess Read Free Page B

under her pillow. Wouldn’t he be in for a surprise if he tried to enter her room in the middle of the night? She knew right where she would shoot him. Smiling at the image, she headed for the stables.
    ****
    Chase halted Mischief a half-mile from Hillcrest Abbey. Aptly named, the abbey stood in magnificent glory atop the hill. Below the front of the great red stone structure a terrace had been cut into the hill, and grazing sheep dotted the landscape. Below and across from him, a sparkling blue lake covered several acres.
    “It’s beautiful here, Father,” Harry said from beside him. “Will you teach me and Bensey to swim?”
    Chase was still getting used to being called Father. The twins had come to him a month ago and shyly asked if they could call him Father. He had been honored they wished to do so. By the relief in their eyes, he realized that, even after a year of living with him, they had been unsure of their permanence in his life. He hadn’t thought about it because they belonged to him. To them, it appeared being their father meant he would keep them.
    “If you wish. We shall take a rest here and wait for the carriage so we can all arrive together.”
    They dismounted and walked to the grass, allowing Mischief and Victory to graze. He had let three months pass since inheriting the title, not wanting to intrude on Lady Derebourne’s time of mourning.
    He had, however, sent his steward. The man reported that the ledgers were in good order, the current steward competent, and lastly, that he hadn’t set eyes on Lady Derebourne. Nor had his solicitor been able to learn much of the widow. It seemed she led a quiet, private life, never leaving Hillcrest. Chase had an image of a mousy, fragile, and possibly ailing widow.
    After much consideration, he had decided on what he considered a brilliant plan. He would take her to London so she could find a husband. Having lost her husband, child and soon her home, he had great sympathy for her and would happily offer whatever necessary to see her settled with a decent man. He would treat her gently and with compassion.
    The carriage arrived and he and Harry mounted their horses, leading the way up the hill. Liveried footman in forest green and gold, and servants in starched black and white lined the steps. Grooms waited to take the horses. It occurred to Chase that the place must be awfully expensive to maintain, and he felt fortunate the estate could afford the upkeep. He climbed the steps to where a butler waited.
    “Lord Derebourne, welcome.”
    Chase caught himself before he looked behind him. He supposed in time he would get used to being addressed as Derebourne. “Thank you.”
    “I am Smithfield, my lord, and this is the housekeeper, Mrs. Smithfield.” He indicated the woman standing next to him. “I imagine you would like to be shown to your rooms to freshen up. Lady Derebourne will meet you in the family parlor for tea at four, my lord.”
    “Very good.” Chase pulled Harry and Bensey to his side. “The one on my left is Harry and on my right, Bensey.” He put a hand on each of their heads. “Go with Mr. Edwards and I will find you after I meet with Lady Derebourne.”
    “Yes, Father,” they said in unison, following their tutor and a maid into the house.
    Mrs. Smithfield led Chase and Anders to the master’s chamber.
    ****
    “They called him Father?” Claire asked.
    “Yes, my lady,” Mrs. Smithfield said.
    Claire had watched from the window as the marquess approached with a young boy riding by his side. When another boy alighted from the carriage, it was obvious the two were identical twins. Mrs. Fisherman had told her Derebourne had been briefly married before losing his wife. The boys were too old to be from that marriage, which meant they were his bastards.
    She didn’t know whether to be appalled or impressed he would publicly claim the boys. It just wasn’t done, yet she thought gentlemen who carelessly sired bastards and left them to