a comment from Mrs. Briggins that “Cook will be most gratified.”
“Here, you must eat what is left of mine,” Mary said, thrusting the plate in John’s direction as punishment for the immensity of the slice.
He accepted the plate, pretended to be overwhelmed, and slowly fell over backwards so that he was stretched out upon the ground, except for the plate which was still held safely aloft. Mary was at first astonished to see the Blade allowing himself to play the noddy, but then she could only join the others as they all roared with laughter, and even Mrs. Briggins cried out, “We tarted him to death!”, which only gained more laughter.
As they sat about, Mary dabbing at her eyes and grinning, they fell back into conversation, which turned to the running of Lord Bretwyn’s estate, which naturally led to a proposal to survey the house.
He led them from wing to wing, and then they climbed back in the carriage to drive about the grounds, for the rain was falling steadily, as ever, and they chose not to stroll. He pointed out his hydration system, which was a series of water control gates built into the madly rushing stream that wandered through his lands, and he and John fell into a serious discussion of animal and pest control.
“Really?” asked Lord Bretwyn, “I’ve never heard of them. They’re called O’Brien’s snares, did you say?”
“My steward assures me we have never before caught so many rabbits as this past season. I plan to invest in a few more, as the beasts have all but destroyed the kitchen gardens in recent years. We’ve had to purchase a deal of our produce lately, and that’s expensive business.”
“Oh, terribly, terribly,” Lord Bretwyn agreed as the carriage came to a halt. “Well, that’s the whole of it, then, good ladies. I hope Rothayne and I were not too tiresome, but we landowners must be vigilant in the maintenance of the home farm.”
“Quite the thing,” Lady Hammand said approvingly. She turned to Mary. “Charles is very clever in his investments and this land, and takes good care of his tenants. I have always said he would go far, if he had the right person beside him.”
Mary cast a quick glance toward John, who looked down with approval upon the lady’s head.
“Every man should have a wife to help him in this life,” John said, not even smiling a little at his hypocritical statement.
“Exactly so.” Lady Hammand beamed upon him.
“All one had to do was look to see the houses and grounds are well taken care of,” Mary said, a little flustered.
Lady Hammand realized at once that she had set her own mind open to viewing, for it became a suddenly obvious and a nearly tangible thing in the air between them, that she had decided this day Mary would do quite nicely in the position.
Mary blushed red to the roots of her hair. Even as she blushed, she reminded herself that John had said he would help her find a husband, not that it would ever be a matter for delicacy and discretion in the pursuit thereof. That she had so soon gained this mark of favor ought to be a good sign, but Mary could not hide the sudden confusion that filled her.
Lady Hammand saw the effects of her words upon the younger woman, and she flushed pink. “My dear,” she said. “I…shall we go in and have some tea?”
For a moment Mary could not raise her head, but then the thought came to her: children, children, children, and she forced her chin up. She looked first to John, who finally had the grace to look a little uncomfortable, then to Lord Bretwyn, who had evidently missed any innuendos, and finally to Lady Hammand.
“Yes, I would dearly care for a cup of tea,” Mary said.
Lord Bretwyn looked from one to the other, a faint, puzzled frown between his brows until John clapped him on the back and pointed out the carriage door. “Lead on, my good fellow. And do let us have these bricks reheated before we start off to London, yes?” And thus was the awkward moment put behind
“Here, you must eat what is left of mine,” Mary said, thrusting the plate in John’s direction as punishment for the immensity of the slice.
He accepted the plate, pretended to be overwhelmed, and slowly fell over backwards so that he was stretched out upon the ground, except for the plate which was still held safely aloft. Mary was at first astonished to see the Blade allowing himself to play the noddy, but then she could only join the others as they all roared with laughter, and even Mrs. Briggins cried out, “We tarted him to death!”, which only gained more laughter.
As they sat about, Mary dabbing at her eyes and grinning, they fell back into conversation, which turned to the running of Lord Bretwyn’s estate, which naturally led to a proposal to survey the house.
He led them from wing to wing, and then they climbed back in the carriage to drive about the grounds, for the rain was falling steadily, as ever, and they chose not to stroll. He pointed out his hydration system, which was a series of water control gates built into the madly rushing stream that wandered through his lands, and he and John fell into a serious discussion of animal and pest control.
“Really?” asked Lord Bretwyn, “I’ve never heard of them. They’re called O’Brien’s snares, did you say?”
“My steward assures me we have never before caught so many rabbits as this past season. I plan to invest in a few more, as the beasts have all but destroyed the kitchen gardens in recent years. We’ve had to purchase a deal of our produce lately, and that’s expensive business.”
“Oh, terribly, terribly,” Lord Bretwyn agreed as the carriage came to a halt. “Well, that’s the whole of it, then, good ladies. I hope Rothayne and I were not too tiresome, but we landowners must be vigilant in the maintenance of the home farm.”
“Quite the thing,” Lady Hammand said approvingly. She turned to Mary. “Charles is very clever in his investments and this land, and takes good care of his tenants. I have always said he would go far, if he had the right person beside him.”
Mary cast a quick glance toward John, who looked down with approval upon the lady’s head.
“Every man should have a wife to help him in this life,” John said, not even smiling a little at his hypocritical statement.
“Exactly so.” Lady Hammand beamed upon him.
“All one had to do was look to see the houses and grounds are well taken care of,” Mary said, a little flustered.
Lady Hammand realized at once that she had set her own mind open to viewing, for it became a suddenly obvious and a nearly tangible thing in the air between them, that she had decided this day Mary would do quite nicely in the position.
Mary blushed red to the roots of her hair. Even as she blushed, she reminded herself that John had said he would help her find a husband, not that it would ever be a matter for delicacy and discretion in the pursuit thereof. That she had so soon gained this mark of favor ought to be a good sign, but Mary could not hide the sudden confusion that filled her.
Lady Hammand saw the effects of her words upon the younger woman, and she flushed pink. “My dear,” she said. “I…shall we go in and have some tea?”
For a moment Mary could not raise her head, but then the thought came to her: children, children, children, and she forced her chin up. She looked first to John, who finally had the grace to look a little uncomfortable, then to Lord Bretwyn, who had evidently missed any innuendos, and finally to Lady Hammand.
“Yes, I would dearly care for a cup of tea,” Mary said.
Lord Bretwyn looked from one to the other, a faint, puzzled frown between his brows until John clapped him on the back and pointed out the carriage door. “Lead on, my good fellow. And do let us have these bricks reheated before we start off to London, yes?” And thus was the awkward moment put behind
Similar Books
