Chapter 4

Daniel

In a thoughtful mood, Daniel walked back towards Stanton Hall. That had been an informative encounter. It seemed Ambrose was not amenable to any suggestion of frolicking with him. Staid and boring, that was Ambrose—at least on the surface. What lay beneath that eminently respectable exterior, Daniel longed to know.

He understood why Ambrose was so determined to maintain such a front. Not having the benefit of wealth or connections, Ambrose had made his way up in the world by dint of his intelligence, hard work and moral correctness. And having established himself here on the Stanton estate, he would do all to protect that position, not just for himself but also for his sister, who was dependent on him.

Beneath that proper exterior though, Daniel suspected there lurked a far more passionate, pleasure-loving man. He had seen hints of it tonight. They had enjoyed their verbal sparring. Ambrose himself had admitted that he had no love for self-denial; his actions were governed by necessity. But over and beyond those small clues, Daniel took encouragement from Ambrose's own reactions to him. He could swear he'd made him blush a time or two, and when he had suggested joining him on his work around the estate, Ambrose had poorly hidden his dismay. It had awakened every hunter's instincts Daniel possessed.

A lesser person might have given up the chase at this point, thinking it futile. Not Daniel. Their walk tonight had confirmed one salient fact. He wanted Ambrose. Daniel's nostrils flared with desire as he conjured a vision of him in his mind. By God, he wanted that man, and Daniel was in the habit of getting what he wanted. That delicious man was going to be his.

Back at the house, Daniel went to his room to change and prepare for dinner. He was in the process of knotting his necktie when there came a knock at his door.

"Come in," he called.

The knob turned and the door opened to reveal his younger brother, Benjamin, already dressed for dinner. Benjamin strode into his room, saying in a slightly accusatory voice, "Where were you just now? I looked for you earlier, but you were nowhere to be found."

Daniel gave his necktie one final tug then turned to his brother with a lazy smile. "I went out for a walk, that is all."

"You could have asked me to join you," reproached Benjamin. "It has been a damned dull day. I hope some diversion can be found soon to help pass the time or else I swear, I shall die of boredom."

"May I remind you, Ben, that we are here for Grandfather, not your enjoyment."

Benjamin shrugged his shoulders irritably. "Papa and Uncle Jasper perhaps, but in all honesty, Grandfather has no need of me—which is fine, for I have no great wish to spend time with the old martinet either."

Daniel ruffled his brother's hair, causing the latter to bat his hand away in annoyance. "Stop that, you rotter." Benjamin stalked to the mirror hanging above the fireplace and re-arranged his mussed hair to his satisfaction. "You know," he went on, "everyone acts now as if all is forgiven, but I cannot forget that if Grandfather had had his way, then Papa would have married some aristocratic lady instead of Ma, and we would never have come into existence. You know how Grandfather thought Ma was not good enough to be a Stanton, coming from ‘Spanish trade'. Ha! If anything, it was Papa that was not good enough for her!"

Daniel sat on his bed to pull on his shoes and studied his brother in amusement. "What has you all in a bother about this now? What you speak of is well in the past, and Grandfather has learned the error of his ways. Why, there can be no greater champion of Mama than him these days, apart from Papa, that is."

With a sigh, Benjamin came to sit beside his brother on the bed. "I suppose it is being here that is making me chafe—all snooty with airs and graces, my lord this and my lord that. I want none of it."

"It is more formal here than we are used to," concurred Daniel. Cocking his head towards Benjamin, he added, "What you need is a distraction."

"Isn't that what I have been saying?" Benjamin narrowed his eyes at his brother. "You are looking mighty pleased with yourself. What have you been up to? Come on, spill the beans."

Daniel stood and pulled Benjamin towards the door. "That, dear brother, is none of your business, but I do suggest you take a walk to the village tomorrow and investigate possibilities."

"I am planning to," replied Benjamin thoughtfully. "Tell me. Is it that comely maid, Hetty?"

"No, it is not, and do not ask me more, for I will not disclose."

Benjamin huffed as they walked the corridor towards the staircase, "You are no fun at all. Will you at least come to the village with me tomorrow?"

"Alas I cannot, for I am to accompany Mr Cranshaw on his rounds so that I may become familiar with the estate."

Benjamin threw him a puzzled glance. "Why would you do that? We all know this place is going to Papa as the next in line. It won't be yours for a good many years."

"Hush, lower your voice." They had reached the bottom of the staircase and stood in the large entrance hall. Daniel looked to the left and right before responding in a whisper, "Papa will still need to go back to our home in America, even when he inherits this place. Someone will have to look after things here in his absence."

"And that someone would be you?" Benjamin looked disconcerted.

"Who else? I do not see you wanting to step up to the job."

"No," agreed Benjamin quickly. "That would be the last thing I would want to do. But this means you would stay on here and not come back home with us."

Daniel smiled. "It wouldn't be for ever, maybe just for a few months at a time. Unlike you, Ben, I have found much to like over here."

Now Benjamin stared in suspicion. "Out with it, Daniel. Who is it you are seeing?"

Daniel's lips curved of their own volition as he thought of Ambrose, but he would not be drawn. Strutting towards the drawing room door, he threw over his shoulder, "That is for me to know and you to keep wondering."