A Madness in Spring Read Online Free

one’s mind.
    The friends and the fishing pole were in place, as he was lying on the bank of the trout stream, John and Bertram beside him.
    “It’s almost too nice a day to waste fishing,” John said.
    “I think you mean too nice a day to
not
waste fishing,” Adam replied, and caught Bertram smiling in approval.
    “I have tenants to see to – now that the thaw has finally come, we have fields to dredge and seed to plant.”
    “And fish to catch,” Adam responded reasonably. “Days like this need to be celebrated, not worked. Mr. Gage, back me, would you?”
    “I cannot say. Work in London is rarely as dependent on the weather as it is in the country. But I admit, enjoying the first nice day perhaps makes the less nice ones more bearable.”
    John inhaled deeply, and recast his line. John may feel guilt about not working for one day, but at least he had the sense to not let it stop him from taking a break. Lately, his brother had been so terribly focused on making certain the estate was well managed, under control. And Adam knew why of course. Some might think it was the baby – wanting to make sure everything was perfect for little Johnny’s sake. Some might think that in the wake of their father’s passing a few years ago, he’d begun to feel the weight of the title. But Adam knew it was because of what he himself had found in Scotland.
    Or rather, on the border of Scotland.
    Upon his father’s death, John had inherited the title and the family seat in Hemshawe, but Adam had inherited his own estate in Northumberland, within spitting distance of the border. It came as quite a surprise. It had belonged to his uncle, but he died without issue, and so passed to Adam’s mother. Since she’d been gone for some years, it had then passed into the care of his father. By the time it had gotten to Adam, it was nearly forgotten that it had been in the family at all – except by the attorneys who drew up their parents’ wills.
    Yes, it came as a surprise, but a good one. Adam had been a bit at odd ends. He’d gone to university, had served in the Army. He vaguely considered studying the law, but never had any true love of it. Then there he was, being handed an estate. A future.
    A future that no one had bothered to check on in a decade.
    When he first got to Northumberland, he thought it was the best practical joke anyone had ever played. The land hadn’t been tilled in ages. The house – more a castle, really – was crumbling. And the sheep had gone wild.
    He’d found the land manager drunk in a pub, where he had apparently been living for some time. Not on the property overseeing things. Just sending in reports that were never read and collecting his pay.
    Adam could hardly blame the man. He might have been the world’s worst land manager, but as he’d had the world’s worst owners up until now, he was merely following suit. Still those habits would prove hard to change so the man was let go from his post, as Adam began the rigorous two-year battle to bring his new home into sustainability.
    He’d found a new land manager. He’d found a good steward. He’d learned all he could about sheep, and how to bring them back to heel if they’ve gone wild. He’d had to apply to John for funds to help repair the tenant’s cottages, and had finally been able to pay him back, with their latest shearing.
    It had been hard work – the hardest Adam had ever done in his life. But it was good work.
    It had also been lonely work.
    He didn’t know a soul in Northumberland. He’d met a few recently, but as he rarely left his estate, anything approaching a social engagement was exceedingly rare. Even having just one of his friends up there – hell, even just one person he
knew
– would change everything.
    It was also damnably cold.
    Which was why, when John invited him down for Christmas to meet the new baby, Adam jumped at the chance. His new land manager and steward had proved very trustworthy. And the sheep were