Chapter 2

"Eagleton Manor is something that we will need to consider," William"s land manager commented. "Because we need to see what it will add to your portfolio, Your Grace."

"Mmm, yes," William murmured back, struggling to feign any interest. He was too busy watching the world whiz by.

The carriage started to rumble along the more cobbled roads as it drew nearer to William"s manor, which was just outside of London. Hoskins Estate stood as a testament to both opulence and refined taste and commanded a sprawling landscape that seamlessly blended natural beauty with architectural splendor.

The building itself, a magnificent Georgian mansion, boasted a fa?ade adorned with intricately carved stone detailing. Tall, stately columns framed the entrance, leading to a massive front door that opened into a grand foyer. The exterior walls, constructed from a warm, honey colored stone, exuded a timeless elegance that hinted at the estate"s enduring legacy.

The expansive grounds surrounding the manor were a masterpiece of landscaping. Immaculate gardens unfolded in a symphony of colors, meticulously manicured lawns sprawled beneath ancient trees, and winding paths led to hidden alcoves and serene ponds. Seasonal flowers painted the landscape with vibrant hues, creating a kaleidoscope of nature"s beauty.

"I do not think you want people to be made aware of how you got your hands on the property," Tobias continued, clearly not affected by William"s lack of interest.

He was too busy looking at the network of gravel pathways meandering through the gardens, inviting strolls amidst the fragrance of blooming roses and lavender. Tall hedges, carefully trimmed into intricate patterns, created private alcoves where one could find solace and contemplation. Elegant statues adorned strategic points, paying homage to classical aesthetics.

At the rear of the manor, a terrace overlooked the expansive gardens, offering a breathtaking view of the meticulously designed landscape. The terrace, adorned with wrought iron furniture and draped in climbing vines, served as an idyllic retreat where one could unwind and enjoy the tranquility of the estate.

The back of the manor opened onto a vast expanse of rolling hills, creating a seamless transition from the curated gardens to the untamed beauty of nature. Beyond the manicured lawns, a small, meandering river added a touch of rustic charm, reflecting the manor"s commitment to preserving the harmony between manmade elegance and the untamed wilderness.

"Gambling is not something befitting a man of your title, am I right, Your Grace?"

The words tumbled off William. He could hardly hear a thing anymore.

It was William"s happy place, he adored his home, but at the same time he could not deny how expansive and empty it felt without his sister there. Since their mother was always sickly and withdrawn as they were growing up, and their father spent most of his time in a bar or a gambling den, William practically raised Catherine.

It had always felt like they were alone, so when both their parent"s died it did not make too much of a difference. But Catherine marrying for love and moving out last year had truly left the house feeling much too big and far too empty. It was hard to be there.

"Your Grace, are you listening to me?" All of a sudden, Tobias reminded William that he was not alone. "We must talk about this new addition to your portfolio in detail."

"Yes, I know," he agreed. "Let us go inside to talk."

But as they left the carriage and approached the building, they were both surprised to see a young lady on the door step, talking to William"s butler. And not in a pleasant way, they seemed to be disagreeing about something fiercely.

"Perhaps we should talk later, Tobias," William said distractedly. Possibly a little dismissively, but he was too intrigued by what was happening in front of him. "I need to sort this out."

"Yes, I see." Tobias did not seem too impressed by this idea, but there was no way that he would be able to get William"s attention now. "I will head back to the office, and we will meet up to talk about this at the right time."

William barely paid any attention to Tobias as he left. He was too busy moving closer to the woman and his butler, trying to overhear what was happening without them spotting him. He figured he might be able to understand this argument if no one knew he was there.

"…please," the woman begged. "I need to talk to His Grace, the Duke of Hoskins immediately, it is important."

"Like I have said to you, Miss, the Duke is not in the house at the moment, so there is nothing that I can do to help you."

Hastings often used this excuse, even if William was inside, so it did not surprise William to hear this. Especially as it was the truth. William could only assume that Hastings was not impressed with the young lady either. She might have been dressed in finery, with the stance of a member of the ton, but she was being demanding and unpleasant.

Hastings did not like to be spoken to badly, especially by strangers.

"You do not understand. I need to see the duke as soon as possible."

Much as William was intrigued to let this play out, he knew he should not. Not if he did not wish to let things get out of hand. So, he let out a little cough and stepped closer to the pair, allowing them to know that he was there.

But they clearly were not expecting him, because they both jumped and looked his way.

"Your Grace, you are home at last…" Hasting said at once, all reverence. But the young lady standing in front of him did not seem to get the message.

"Your Grace, thank goodness you are here. I must speak with you right away."

William narrowed his eyes at the woman, noting the intense sparkle in her green piercing eyes. She ran her fingers through her dirty blonde hair before resting her hands on her curvy hips. William was sure that he had no idea who this woman was because he would have remembered that beautiful smattering of freckles across her nose.

He could have quite easily turned her away, since he had no idea who she was, but there was something desperately intriguing about her. She ignited a flame of interest in him that he did not want to dim just yet. He wanted to know more about her.

"You may come to speak with me in my study," he offered. "If this business is quite as important as you suggest it is."

"Oh, I am not exaggerating, Your Grace. This is essential."

William could not help but notice as she shot Hastings a look, displaying that she was pleased with herself for getting what she wanted. Who was this fiery woman? He could not wait to find out more about her. William could not recall a time when anyone had intrigued him quite as much as this stranger.

They walked to his study, and William took a seat behind his mahogany desk and waited for the woman to begin talking.

"I am Miss Violet Lambourne," she said with a cocked eyebrow as if that name was supposed to mean anything to him. He tried to place it, but he could not. "My brother"s name is Paul Lambourne, Baron Eagleton. I believe you met him in the gambling den last night, and he gambled away our home. Eagleton Manor…"

It clicked in William"s head. He had not remembered the name of the gentleman that he was gambling with the previous night, but he knew that he had won the manor in the bet. Not that he was ever really planning to follow through on taking the house since he had no need for it, despite what Tobias wanted him to think.

But now… well, things had changed a little because he had the very beautiful Miss Lambourne standing in front of him. He was not about to be distracted by her beauty when he was actually a little upset with her. Why had she come and not Paul himself? He had pegged the man for a coward the night before, but this was on another level.

To send his sister in his place, to make her beg for him not to seize the house, it was crazy. It angered William. It was not up to Violet to clean up Paul"s mess.

Perhaps there was a way that he could teach Paul a lesson for this, while also making sure that Violet was all right. If William did not take Eagleton Manor, then there was a chance that he would gamble it away again to someone who was not as kindhearted. Who would not only take the house away, but would also make life for the siblings unbearable.

Perhaps Paul deserved that, but Violet most certainly did not. She clearly had nothing to do with the family finances and the gambling.

"I do not see what the problem is," William replied, feigning ignorance. "I did win last night while playing cards with your brother, and yes, I did win the house. Your brother should not have gambled something he could not afford to lose. Everyone knows that, it is the first rule of gambling."

Violet sighed heavily. Her shoulders slumped forwards ever so slightly as the weight of all of this absolutely crushed her. Instantly, William felt guilty about the way that he was behaving, but it seemed to be the right thing to do. It was the best way he could teach Paul a lesson, to prevent him from making things worse for himself and his family.

"I am here to negotiate," Violet declared, suddenly jutting her chin out with a confidence that perhaps she did not really feel. "About the house, and about us. See, we have nowhere to go and no one that we can stay with."

William shook his head. "I see, and this is something you want to discuss with me? Would it not be better for you to find someone to marry."

That would get her out of the house and somewhere safe. If she married the right man, then she would not have to worry about money troubles for the rest of her days.

"That may take some time," she confessed. "But I am working on it. I do have a few ideas in mind. There is a match maker that I can use, and I do have some leads I could follow…" She sighed sadly. "I had more opportunities before my father died, of course. I debuted and had offers…" William watched as her words trailed off. "I know it will not be the same now. I am very aware, but I would still like the chance to try."

William leaned back in his chair. "And what will you do if you are not able to find someone? How long am I supposed to give you for this?"

Surprise flashed across Violet"s face. It was clear she was not expecting such questions. Perhaps she did not think that she would get this far with him. "I… I am not sure. I am sure it will not take me very long…"

"You are remembering your brother in this?" William asked wryly. "And your family situation as well. It might not be so easy…"

Violet"s cheeks reddened. "I will make it my mission to ensure that I am married before it becomes a problem to you. I should not need more than…a month."

The time scale must have popped out of her mouth before she really thought about what she was saying. Betrothals and marriage moved quickly, but without a proposal on the cards it was unlikely to be that fast.

William chuckled. He was enjoying this moment and wanted to tease her further. "So you will not need longer than a month to get yourself a husband?"

"Right," she replied with a fierce determination. "I have no doubt."

While William might not have been as confident as Violet was, it was fun to see the determination glinting in her eyes. Perhaps she truly was one of those people who could achieve whatever she put her mind to. Perhaps he would be proven wrong by her.

"And what if I do not wish to wait for a month?" William asked as he rose up from his seat to join Violet on the other side of the desk. "What if I wish to claim the prize that I won fair and square right away? It is only right…"

"A month is not too long to wait, to give me a chance to sort my life out after my brother has made a mess of it. I did not ask for this."

William stood in front of his desk, leaning up against it. He had somehow managed to position himself between Violet and the desk without even meaning to. She just had this burning energy that he could not resist. He wanted to experience all of it.

"I guess since you are not the one to inherit your home…"

"Of course I was not the one to inherit Eagleton Manor," she snapped back, the rage flying off of her tongue with every single word. "I am my father"s daughter. I cannot inherit anything. If I was born male, then everything would be different. We would not be in this mess now."

William did not doubt it. While Paul was a coward, Violet clearly had the heart of a lion. She was smarter, more switched on to the world, she seemed far superior to Paul. It truly was a shame that she was not the one who had inherited the estate.

"You are being relentless," Violet finally declared as she threw her hands in the air in frustration. "I am starting to see that you will never understand." She rose to her feet with flashes of angry lighting in her eyes. "You are well within your rights to do what you are, I understand that my brother lost Eagelton Manor to you. I just thought that you might have a heart. That you might give me a bit of a chance to sort my life out. But if you are happy to cast me out over something that has nothing to do with me, then I guess it is best for me to depart. I will not continue with a lost cause."

It took all of William"s strength not to laugh as Violet stormed towards the door frame in an attempt to get away from him. Of course he was not going to allow her to leave like this. Not when he desired to be even closer to her…

The only way to get closer to this woman, to see how strong the sizzling tension between them could become, he offered her a life line.

"I will give you time."

William"s words halted Violet in her tracks. She turned to face him with open mouthed shock. She was speechless, which William enjoyed. He could not resist following her and standing a little too close to her as she leaned up against the door frame.

He was not expecting to be so struck himself, but as he breathed the scent of her in, he was intoxicated by her. He wanted more, possibly even a little taste of her, so without really thinking about what he was doing, he dipped his head lower until their lips were almost brushing.

Violet clearly did not know what was happening. Her eyes remained firmly fixed on his, but he could see that she was hardly breathing. The tension had her stiff with fear.

With a sly smile playing on his lips, William talked quietly, in a low and husky voice. "I do, however, have one condition."