The Viscount Returns by Eryn Black Read Free Book Online Page A

never took a woman to bed, he never showed restraint when a little country play was offered. Allen enjoyed a flirty lass and Robert proved to be a good partner when invited to join in.
    No more innocent than his friend for leaving loved ones behind, Allen hoped that he could say he was any better, but he could not escape what he knew in his heart.
    Looking over the table, Robert’s eyes passed by the tureen of stew and the platter of potatoes. What had become of his homecoming feast? All the years of travel he would remember the grand feasts Ruth would prepare with the kitchen staff whenever his father returned after months of travel. After eight years he had been prepared for a near Gala.
    “What is this?” Pointing to Allen’s nearly clean bowl as he wiped the stew from the bowl with a pinch of bread. Clearing his throat, Allen popped the bite in his mouth and lifted his glass to Robert.
    “Welcome home, Lord Edden.”
    “What?”
    This was all too much reality for the Viscount. Nothing was as it should be. Where was the young timid novice he married? Why was the estate left in ruin? Where was all the money he had sent to them for all of the improvements he had instructed and where was Jefferson?!? All of this still paled to the realization that he was now a father to a grown boy.
    “My father would have never allowed this to be served in his home.” Picking up the platter of potatoes he balanced it on his palm. “We were fed better along the train line.”
    Wiping his mouth clean with his sleeve Allen leaned back with a broad smile. “It tastes better than it looks.”
    Hurling the platter to the wall, it shattered into pieces, leaving potatoes clinging to the faded paper that lined the wall in its place.
    “She said no money.” Robert played back the argument in his head and was puzzled by what his wife had revealed to him or rather shouted.
    “What is that?” Pushing his clean bowl out of his way, Allen tried to lend a friendly ear.
    Running a hand slowly through his hair and looking into nothing, Robert spoke for his own benefit rather than to his friend. He had to understand what he was finding to be very close to a nightmare.
    “My wife,” there was no endearment in that title, “said I had left her with no money.”
    “Well, by appearance it would look like…” He picked up his glass, trying to redirect his thought. Allen could not ignore the pain that this friend was suffering from.
    “But you saw…you were with me when I transferred funds to her and when I received notice from my steward that they had been received and were being used to my heart’s desire. One of the reasons I have never set up residence anywhere was so I could send funds her way. If only I knew where Jefferson was I could have some answers.”
    “Perhaps that is enough answer for you?” Stretching his arms out to offer the room as his example.
    “My Lord.” Ruth stood at the door, hands folded in front of her.
    Answered with only a nod, Ruth stepped into the dining room. Her eyes were crossed as they passed back and forth between the sacrificed potatoes dripping from the wall and Robert’s disheveled self.
    “You summoned me.” Her words were crisp with none of the warmth that had comforted him as a boy.
    He wanted to run to her. He needed his Ruth to hold him and tell him everything was fine and that none of this was real. Robert may be a grown man and Lord of the Manor, but in this moment he felt no older than the boy who had just called him father. But he was the Lord of the Manor and the leader of his estate. There was no one whom he could turn to but himself. Sitting tall in his seat, he looked at the old cook and tightened his jaw.
    “Ruth, please enter and have a seat.” He gestured to the one his boy had just vacated. It was against custom to have a servant seated at the head of the table, but Robert did not have the strength in these legs to stand and change seats.
    “I need someone to explain a few things