Miss Thame had not appeared in the parlour - she could not do so in her circumstances - my lord had to appear to believe that she was not in the house, indeed never had been.
"Thank'ee, my lord."
"What of the big horses, Mr Barney?"
"Got the word on a real stallion, my lord, best breeding for years, my cousin did say. And five of mares, though you did only ask about four, but two of they is together, to be sold jointly-like."
"Buy them, if you would be so good. Go to the bank in Kettering and they will arrange for payment to be made either by draught or in cash."
All was made tidy and the local fuss would soon be forgotten - but it could only have been done by my lord in person. Robert's last doubts were quelled - he must become ordinarily resident on the estate, distancing himself from banks and manufacturies alike. The advantages of a title were many, but there was a price to pay.
"'Virtue is its own reward'. What bloody fool ever said that?"
# # #
By the Same Author
The Duty and Destiny Series: Published in 2014, these superbly-crafted novel length sea/land stories are set in the period of the French Revolutionary War (1793 – 1802). The series follows the naval career and love-life of Frederick Harris, the second son of a middling Hampshire landowner, a brave but somewhat reluctant mariner.
Please note: This series is available to Kindle Unlimited subscribers until at least December 17th, 2014. Amazon - Kindle links to the whole series:
US/worldwide:
http://tinyurl.com/Duty-and-Destiny-Series
UK only:
http://tinyurl.com/Duty-and-Destiny-Series-UK
Book Nine in the ‘A Poor Man at the Gate Series’ is due for release in early 2015.
***
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A Poor Man at the Gate Series’ links:
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http://tinyurl.com/A-Poor-Man
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http://tinyurl.com/A-Poor-Man-UK
The Electronic Book Company
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The Wages Of Virtue (A Poor Man at the Gate Series, Book 8) Page 25
