It had not changed overly much since his father had died, and when his mother had left to live with her sister in Dorset, she had taken nothing of significance with her. Harrison had modified a few things here and there to his own tastes and had certainly altered the study to rid the room of any trace of his father, but all else was fairly straightforward.

Time would tell if Adelaide’s tastes coincided with his own, where Trevadden was concerned. Although he was quite sure her initial impression would tell him quite enough. It would likely tell everyone quite enough.

Harrison cleared his throat and gestured toward the window. “This is likely the best view of Trevadden on first looks. Just there.”

Adelaide looked as directed, and Harrison was pleased to see a smile crossing her lips. “What a pleasant picture. A country estate, to be sure, and yet something grand about it as well. And so many windows! One must hope they are not full west; that would be uncomfortable in the afternoons. The ivy is well kept, I see. Does it also produce wisteria?”

“Not in the front,” Harrison told her, hiding a smile himself, “though the rear of the house and garden certainly does.”

“How lovely. I shall have to see it when in bloom.” Her eyes cast over the entire facade of the place, and he had a sense she did not miss any details. “Yes, this is a fine place, indeed. Much better than the comfortable shack I was anticipating.”

Harrison gave her a playfully outraged look. “You thought I lived in a shack in Cornwall?”

She shrugged a shoulder without looking at him. “I did say it was comfortable.”

“I see I shall have to take better care with my reputation in London if such falsehoods are making a nuisance of themselves.” He shook his head, sighing heavily. “What good is the knowledge of my fortune if rumors of my estate are lacking?”

“I am quite sure you will get over it,” Adelaide replied without concern. “And what do you care of rumors anyway? Now, you have a wife. And no one will expect me to live in a shack.”

Well, that was undoubtedly true, but there was no need to comment further on it. Provocation involving that of his wife’s spoiled nature would not end well.

And they were having such a lovely, contention-free conversation at the present.

The carriage pulled around the circular drive, and, as he’d hoped, the staff all proceeded out in a line to greet them.

“Ah,” Adelaide murmured upon seeing them, “a full staff. As I should hope for a house this immense. Well done, Basset.”

Well done? How was he to take that, as a form of praise? As though he oversaw the numbers of his staff per square meter of his estate.