Theo opened her mouth, meaning to question Jacinda about Erasmus, then shut it. Jacinda was very much like her brother. She held things tightly to her chest, rarely revealing her thoughts unless she wished to. The day of Theo’s arrival, Jacinda had confessed quite a bit, probably more than she’d meant to, and since then, Haven’s sister had kept to topics relating to the decorating of Greenbriar. Resolving to not say a word, Theo went back to her list.
“So now you’ve met Erasmus,” Jacinda said, startling Theo from her thoughts. “You must be firm in your dealings with him, Theo. He’s very much like a child. Loving but prone to tantrums when he doesn’t get his way.”
Erasmus was a sot. One with trembling lips which could be mistaken for a sneer. She was being foolish.
“I’ll take care.” Theo nodded.
21
Theo sidestepped around a pair of strapping young women carrying a bucket of water, soap, rags, and a mop, headed in the direction of Haven’s study. The pair bobbed politely in unison before hurrying down the hall.
She smiled back.Thank God for Rolfe.
Theo adored the imposing man, who’d once been the Duke of Haverly’s butler, on sight, hiring him after only a brief conversation. He had a certain bit of Pith about him, something Theo appreciated. While his explanation for leaving the duke’s employ was a bit vague, she surmised, after some careful questioning, that it had had something to do with Haverly’s housekeeper marrying the duke’s valet.
Rolfe, bless him, had immediately taken charge and set about hiring the remainder of the staff required to run Greenbriar properly. Mr. Henderson would stay on to help when needed, but since Theo guessed him to be seventy if he was a day, his main job would consist of offering his opinion when required, keeping track of where Erasmus had fallen asleep, and napping.
The cook, Mrs. Dottie, arrived with an apple-cheeked smile, marshaling the kitchen into order even before her staff had been hired. The roast she’d prepared for dinner on her first night nearly made Theo burst into tears, it was so delicious.
Haven had yet to dine with her, often arriving home well after she’d gone to bed. Theo made sure Mrs. Dottie kept a plate warm for him.
Now that she had secured Rolfe and Mrs. Dottie and the running of the household seemed to be in hands far more capable than her own, Theo felt far less overwhelmed. She could take a deep breath and feel the satisfaction of the enormous progress she’d made in such a short time.
Greenbriar was being scrubbed from top to bottom. The floors gleamed and smelled of beeswax. One could now see through most of the downstairs windows. Yesterday, Theo had left a stone-faced Rolfe in charge, requested the Averell coach, and taken an ecstatic Jacinda to Warwick.
She hadn’t bothered to ask Haven if he’d like to join them, mainly because she’d had no idea where her husband was and was too embarrassed to ask.
Now today, beds arrived. Mattresses. Rugs. Linens. A decent dining room table. Cutlery. Plates, cups, and saucers. She sent to London for swathes of velvet for the windows. And most importantly, Theo had written to Olivia, who liked to read as much as Jacinda did. The order from Thrumbadge’s, London’s finest bookseller, would arrive next week. She couldn’t wait to see Jacinda’s face when all those leatherbound tomes fell out of a crate.
Not once did Theo visit her trunks, locked way with Betts in the parlor; she was far too busy creating upon a much larger palette. Still, she found herself scribbling on bits of paper at odd times because it was a compulsive habit, the need to draw. Paint. While she made notes on the color scheme she envisioned for the drawing room, Theo looked down to see she’d drawn the outline of Haven. He’d still been in bed when she awoke this morning, snoring softly on the other side ofTheodosia’s Line of Demarcation.
At least, that’s how Haven referred to the line of pillows dividing their bed, which he’d made no attempt to remove. Theo had started to make a great effort to stay awake until he came up to their room, if only so she could inform him of her plans for Greenbriar, almost daring him to disagree. He never did.
Nor did he kiss her or touch her.
He’d been beautiful lying on his stomach as he slept this morning, one foot sticking out from the sheets. Had she not been afraid of waking him, Theo would have examined the extended foot to check for the damaged toe. Instead, her gaze had lingered over the curve of one muscular buttock disappearing beneath the sheets, the magnificent expanse of his back with the scar above the shoulder. Haven’s entire upper body and face had darkened to a light amber, proof he was spending his days out in the sun. Shirtless.
The mere thought of Haven, scandalously strolling about without a shirt, his glorious form on display for anyone to see, such as a widow possessing good eyesight, was incredibly unwelcome. Theo didn’t care for the idea of other women casting their lures at Haven. Or that he might wish to be caught.
Annoyed at both herself and Haven, Theo tore up the paper and threw it into the fire.
Except for being shirtless, Theo had no idea where Haven was all day, and she refused to ask. She assumed Mrs. Dottie and her delicious cooking were keeping Haven’s appetite satisfied, but what about his other appetites? Haven had a lustful nature.
A small growl left her. Haven, whether out of kindness or out of the need to just annoy her, was allowing Theo’s anger towards him to thaw slowly.
Far too slowly.
22
“Oh, there you are, new niece.” A trembling voice addressed her. “I wondered where you’d gotten off to.”
Theo looked up from the notes she’d been making, disturbed to find yet another sketch of Haven instead of the recommendations Mrs. Dottie had asked for on next week’s menu.
Erasmus.
Instantly, Theo forced a welcoming smile to her lips, not wanting Haven’s uncle, whom everyone regarded as a burden, to receive the same treatment from her. Erasmus had taken to popping in on her when she was alone. He’d shuffle about. Stutter. Bring her a wilted spray of flowers. But the conversations all ended the same way, with a quivering request for a bit of coin.
Which Theoalwaysgave him.
