‘A kitchen is always the most welcoming place,’ Thorn told her reassuringly as they made their way there. ‘And closer to the cake.’
Mrs Hampton tittered a laugh, uneasy still, though he could tell she wasn’t as uncomfortable as she might’ve been had he and Hypatia been more…lordly, he supposed.
A day if there ever was one that being a jest in earl’s clothing—though I’ve not even the clothes—is a boon.
She led them on into the kitchen—warm with the sun, and love—strewn with all manner of food in various states of preparation—bread, jams, herbs, and so on—and settled them atthe slab of oak much like that in Gadmin Hall’s kitchen, before serving them some tea and rhubarb tart.
‘So you’ve been here eleven years as I understand it?’ Hypatia asked as she did, beginning this meeting much as she had the others.
‘Yes, my lady. We were lucky, George—that’s my husband—he took on the farm just a few months after I became with child, with Theo. So we were able to get the farm runnin’ before we had a young ’un runnin’ around if you understand.’
Both he and Hypatia gave non-committal smiles, and nodded, digging into their tart and tea; a welcome treat indeed.
‘This is delicious, Mrs Hampton,’ Thorn commented. ‘The best I’ve ever had.’
‘You’re too kind, my lord,’ the wren blushed.
‘You must give me the recipe if you’ve the time before we leave,’ Hypatia said, earnestly, Thorn realised, and he added that to what seemed to be now continuous mental notes which in time would compose a book:On Hypatia. ‘I’m not much of a cook myself, but I’m sure Langton would be happy to try his hand.’
‘Of course, my lady, I can tell ye, or my husband can write it.’
‘Thank you.’
‘My lord,’ came a deeper voice, and Hypatia and Thorn turned to the doorway to find a formidably fearsome scrap of man. ‘My lady.’
He seemed as others this morning had—angry, resentful, and embittered—though he hid it somewhat respectfully.
‘Mr Hampton,’ Thorn greeted gravely, rising, to offer out his hand.
Hampton appeared confused, but took it nonetheless, before settling at the table, and bidding his wife to do the same, though he partook of no refreshments.
‘You wished to talk,’ Hampton said bluntly, theso then talkcontained in his tone; unspoken but unmissable.
‘I’m not sure what you’ll have already heard,’ Thorn began slowly, glancing at Hypatia, who shone bright and steady, her eyes encouraging him to continue and take charge this time. ‘Being new to this area, my wife and I are unsure as to how quickly news travels hereabouts,’ he jested gently, though the Hamptons didn’t react. ‘Mr Warren has been dismissed.’ Now that got a reaction—a smirk of relief and justice from Hampton, and a slow closing of the eyes in thanks from Mrs Hampton. ‘Everything as regards the title, and my inheriting it and the estate, has been incredibly complex, and with the previous earl’s illness, as we understand it, Mr Warren was left to his own nefarious devices. My wife and I are seeking to repair any ills done, and see that everyone prospers on these lands. And to be entirely frank, we are looking for help, neither of us being farmers by trade or upbringing.’
Hampton nodded, turning to his wife, who took his hand, and smiled gently, encouraging him as Hypatia seemed to Thorn.
And? How useful is noting such similarities?
‘We knew Warren was up to no good,’ Hampton sighed after a long moment, meeting Thorn’s gaze again. ‘But we’ve been here since my son was born. We weren’t ready to leave, and had nowhere else to go. We tried to see the old earl, but couldn’t, and we knew Warren had the magistrate’s ear, so we did what we had to, and we paid, and we kept our ’eads down, and got my brother and his lad to come last year, and that was that.’
‘Warren was overcharging the rents, and before the earl died, pocketing the difference,’ Hypatia told the Hamptons. It had been hermodus operandiall morning—tell the whole truth—though Thorn was realising it was also part of who she was in every circumstance. ‘When the earl passed, he kept it all. My husband and I will see justice done, somehow, once we find thebest place to go to pursue it. As for what was taken… We might be able to recoup what was lost in years’ time, or we might not, right now, all we’ve time for is getting things working again.’
‘Why are you tellin’ us this?’ Hampton asked, confused, and angry, though unsurprised. ‘Makes no difference now. What matters is what you plan to do next.’
‘It does make a difference, Mr Hampton,’ Hypatia said, unfazed. ‘The calculations will take time, but for those willing to stay on, we will make reparations. Rents will not be collected until such time as the estate’s debt to its tenants is repaid. When they are, rents shall return to what is fair. We also hope to discuss the possibilities of engaging help from you, or anyone who might be willing, as there is much to do to set things right. You farm barley and beets for instance?’ Hampton nodded, regarding Hypatia as many did—including Thorn—with confusion and respect. ‘Would you be able and willing to give us a portion of your harvests for feed? Depending on the amount supplied, we could offer pigs—alive or butchered, as you prefer, and manure of course.’
‘Aye.’
‘Excellent. There is also a matter of two parcels adjoining your eastern fields—we’ve not had time to inspect, but if the trend from this morning continues, I will wager they’ve been left untended for years?’
‘Correct.’
‘And they are rather small, but were noted as having good soil. Were you to consider perhaps tending to them, and growing some turnips or other crops you might suggest, we could include them in the lease in return for a fifth of the harvests.’
‘My lady, this is most—’
‘Irregular, yes, we know,’ Hypatia shrugged. ‘As my husband said, we are not farmers. We can learn, but this is your home, as much as it is ours. You know how to tend to it properly, and youhave as much a stake in making your farm thrive as we do. We mean to start as we go on. See to it that the whole estate works together, towards the common aim of preserving, and enjoying the land we live upon. Our main focus will be on the pigs, and so we must rely on good people to help with all the rest. If this isn’t agreeable to you, we understand, for we are asking a great deal.’
