“It’s not just any goat,” said the footman. “It’s Tiny Tim.”
Nicholas stared at Benjamin in disbelief.
“Notmyphysician,” he explained. “A veterinarian.”
Slowly, Nicholas shook his head. “You’re a different man.”
Benjamin wondered if that were true. If hewascapable of change.
If either of them was.
Just like his cousin, he had put walls up around his heart to keep others from getting in. Unlike his cousin, part of Benjamin now wished it didn’t have to be that way.
The opening ceremony for the aviary was in just a couple hours. This would be Benjamin’s last opportunity to spend time with Noelle before collecting his mother’s locket and putting Cressmouth behind him. A strange emptiness filled his chest. Leaving Noelle would be harder than ever. He pushed the thought away.
Just because he could not be here for her physically did not erase a sudden need to provide for her in his absence. He doubted she would agree. Noelle did not need Benjamin’s help to survive. She was smart and strong and independent. But to him, she was so much more than that. She had turned her entire town into a family. If he could give her anything at all, it would be more time to enjoy that family while she had it.
He left his cousin in the menagerie and made his way down to the temporary office the solicitor had set up in the castle in order to oversee and manage Grandfather’s last will and testament.
“Your Grace!” The solicitor leapt up from his chair. “How may I be of service?”
Benjamin took a seat across from the desk. “I would like to hire an assistant clerk for the counting house.”
The solicitor’s eyes widened. “You wish to replace Miss Pratchett?”
“No. I wish to hire an assistant for her,” Benjamin said. “She has taken on far more responsibility than her predecessors realized, and should not be worked to death. Miss Pratchett deserves recreational time with which to do as she pleases.”
“An assistant.” The solicitor shuffled through the papers on his desk. “I was one of Mr. Marlowe’s most trusted men of business, yet he left no notes about creating such a post. I will investigate to see if the budget—”
“Iwish to hire,” Benjamin repeated. “I will also pay whatever salaries are required for the research and recruitment of potential employees. The appropriate individual must ease Miss Pratchett’s load, not create additional concerns.”
The solicitor nodded in comprehension. “Consider it done. I presume Your Grace wishes to have final say, once we have whittled down the options.”
“Miss Pratchett shall have the only say,” Benjamin said firmly. “She may hire as much help as she requires, at her complete and total discretion.”
The solicitor noted quickly. “Understood, Your Grace. I shall see to it immediately.”
Benjamin glanced at his pocket watch and rose to his feet. He did not wish to be late for his meeting with Noelle.
In his eagerness to see her, Benjamin strode into the greenhouse a full quarter hour before schedule.
She was there among the flowers on the other side of the vast conservatory, speaking to Miss Penelope Mitchell, the perfumer friend.
Benjamin did not care a fig about colognes, or the rows of spices for the kitchen, or the profusion of local and exotic flowers for the gardens. None of their fragrances or colors could compare to Noelle.
She was captivating. The morning light caught the sparkle in her eyes, the golden shine in her hair. Her happy, upturned face was so animated and enthusiastic he felt himself smiling from across the greenhouse without even hearing her words.
Noelle always had that effect on him. She caused him to smile when he didn’t mean to, when he couldn’t explain his exuberance even to himself. Being with her gave him such a profound sense of contentment it almost made him wonder if he’d ever truly been happy before he met her. Noellewashis greenhouse; his color, his light, his warmth. Even when winter raged out-of-doors, she made his soul feel like summertime.
He wished he could keep a ray of her sunlight with him for the rest of his days.
Although he had been careful not to make a sound, her head turned sharply as if she had sensed him watching her from afar. A wide smile spread across her face. His lips curved in an answering smile. He couldn’t help it. Her pull was as powerful as the sun.
He started walking toward her.
She bid good-day to her friend and hurried forward to greet him. They met in the middle of the greenhouse, surrounded by the scent of spring and a cornucopia of wild beauty.
If only he could stay here, or steal her away when he left. But he belonged to London and she to Cressmouth. More insurmountable, she was an orphan and he was a duke. Homes could be changed, but heritage could not. Society’s position on the matter was clear.
