“I don’t,” Anna said in all honesty. She frowned, rapidly formulating ways to alleviate the problem. “Perhaps the earl could widen the front steps. Or add a portico to hide that ugly door.”

“That would liven it up,” Grandpapa agreed. He squinted thoughtfully. “Some ivy would help.”

“And a flower bed or two. Along the lower wall there.” A cacophony of flowers along the pathway leading to the front door would add warmth and color—just the thing to brighten the austere lines of the house. Anna rubbed her hands together, imagining how a small fountain might look to one side of the entryway. Either that or some Grecian statuary.

Grandpapa patted her knee. “It’s a good thing you’ve come, my dear. It appears you are sorely needed.”

A wave of certainty flooded through her as she thought of the challenge that lay before her. Greyley House and its inhabitants might be difficult, but she would prevail. There was little that common sense and hard work couldn’t accomplish.

The carriage rattled to a halt and a footman sprang forward to open the door. Anna dismounted as soon as the man let down the steps, looking around her with amazement. Now that she was closer, she decided that though the outside of the house was grim, it also possessed a rather stately grace.

She had just walked to one side of the crushed gravel drive to get a better look at it when the earl cantered up on the black gelding. Dust covered Greyley’s boots and coat, and somewhere along the way he’d loosened his neckcloth, revealing a strong tanned throat, as if he often rode that way. He looked disheveled and devastatingly handsome.

The earl dismounted and tossed the reins to a waiting groom as an elderly retainer hurried down the steps. “My lord!”

The earl gave the horse one last pat, then turned to his retainer. “Jenkins. How are you? The hellions chase off any more of the staff?”

“Only one downstairs maid, my lord. It has been a very good week.”

“Excellent. I rode by the tenant houses on my way. The new thatching looks sturdy.”

“Yes, my lord. Mr. Dalmapple was speaking of that only this morning.”

Anna eyed the earl speculatively. So Greyley paid personal attention to his tenants, did he? That was interesting information. As interesting as Greyley House.

Greyley turned and met Anna’s gaze. Her excitement bubbled over and she grinned. His brows lifted, and for the barest instant, one corner of his mouth curved as if in answer, his entire face softening. Anna’s heart thumped a welcoming beat and she took an impulsive step forward.

But then Jenkins made a comment she couldn’t hear, and Greyley turned away. Anna managed to swallow her disappointment, though it was difficult. It was strange, but though she’d seen Greyley plenty of times when she’d stayed with his sister in Bath, he was usually dressed in town clothes. Seeing him here, at his stately manor house, dressed in dusty riding clothes and looking more masculine than any male had a right to…It was different somehow. More…intimate, in a way.