Page 92 of How to Ruin a Rake

“I think we’re ready,” Allegra said. “At least for the major rooms. There are a lot of leaks in the roof where the servants’ rooms are located which still need fixing.”

“I’ll not risk going out on the roof,” Max said. “But I’m sure we can find a man with experience to do so.”

“Ask Tom Shore, my lord. He’s the son of the village roofer. He works in the stables,” Mrs. Smith said helpfully.

Not for the first time, Allegra wished she and Max had a little more privacy. Everyone was doing a tremendous job, but it meant they rarely spent any time together without someone else being present.

Once she’d realized Max was serious about wanting to restore the house, she’d resolved to be less critical and let him dictate how the majority of the work should be carried out. She sensed it wasn’t something he was used to doing, but that he’d discovered an affinity for ordering people around, just like his father. One thing she knew he wasn’t keeping up with was the accounts, because a pile of bills was accumulating on his desk that he continued to ignore.

When they’d finished eating, Allegra smiled at Max. “Do you have a moment to speak to me in the study?”

“Yes, of course.” Max rose to his feet. “Thank you for yet another excellent meal, Mrs. Smith.”

They went out of the servants’ wing, crossed the main hall, and entered the study. The spaniel, whose name was Cromwell, wagged his tail when he saw them. He seemed to have taken the desertion of his owner very well and didn’t seem perturbed by the new residents, including Jester and Pippin, who were curled up beside him.

Allegra shut the door and turned to where Max sat behind the desk. “I think you need to allow me to do the accounts,” she said.

“Why?” He placed a protective hand on the stack of invoices covering the books.

“You aren’t paying the overdue bills.”

“Did it ever occur to you that it isn’t that I won’t pay them, it’s that I can’t?”

“Oh, dear.” Allegra sat down.

“My father only gave me a limited amount of money to spend on this place. I’ve been supplementing the wages with my own private income, but I’m running out of funds.”

“I have money.”

Max made a face. “As if I’d take your pin money.”

“You wouldn’t be taking it, I’d be offering it,” Allegra said. “There isn’t much to spend it on around here anyway, so it’s just mounting up.”

He studied her for quite a long time, and then sighed, showing the exhaustion they were both feeling. “All right.”

Allegra jumped out of her chair, ran around the desk, and hugged him. “Thank you for being reasonable.”

He set his arm around her waist and placed her on his knee. “Hardly that. I’m just desperate.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to tell—”

He placed his finger against her lips. “Do not mention my father.”

She nipped his finger and then kissed it when he yelped.

“Do you remember when we used to go to bed together and not fall straight asleep?” Max murmured against her throat, making her shiver. “I liked those days.”

“So did I,” Allegra agreed.

“Good.” He stood up, holding her in his arms. “Because I believe we deserve an early night.”

The next morning, Allegra took the post that had just been delivered from Brice, their new butler, and sorted it out on the breakfast table. There were several letters addressed to Mr. Cobbins she’d give to Max, one from his father, and the rest were for her. She’d been entertaining her mother and sister with the saga of Blanchard Hall, and they’d been enjoying it immensely. Her mother had answered many of Allegra’s housekeeping questions, and Carenza had simply offered her love and support.

She was so immersed in her letter that she didn’t notice Max had come to the table until he began sifting through his pile of correspondence. He picked out the letter from the duke.

“I wonder what he wants,” Max said, and sat down and began to read.

After a while, he set the letter down and looked over at Allegra. “Will you accompany me into the study? I have something I wish to discuss with you.”