‘Somewhat reminiscent, but actuallyTruffél,’ Thorn clarified, spelling it out. ‘It is sophisticated, and has a little twist.’
‘I think it suits very well,’ she smiled, shaking her head slightly, wondering what would happen the day the pig grew, and Thorn couldn’t treat it quite so much like a pup. He’d taken to it greatly, and though she wondered some days why he hadn’t wanted her to help in its rearing, he loved the little beast, and so, she was glad for him. ‘We should stop by the butcher’s,’ she said, changing the subject. ‘See if he’ll take care of those Dr Gideon mentioned were at their time. Danny did mention he rears his own, but perhaps he would have an interest in ours for a change.’
‘Agreed. I’ll not do business with the one in Horings, as he was Warren’s pet, and it would save us going five miles for the other Hampton mentioned.’
‘Perhaps we could find some small things to purchase at the other shops too. Langton mentioned needing a new saucepan, and Henry could do with some proper shears if he’s going to continue replanting and tending the gardens.’
‘And Niamh might do with some rhubarb sweets or something, if there are any to be had.’
‘Rhubarb? Did you eat those as a child?’
‘They were my favourite, as it happens, madam. What kind did you have?’
‘I—’
Hypatia was about to admit that she’d never had sweets as a child, nor many as a grown woman—likely unwisely, for he’d buy her a boxful of twenty varieties—when she noticed a rather well-dressed man of middling everything, hailing them with a stick, and callinghullofrom across the green.
‘Thorn…’
Thorn followed her gaze, and along with her, plastered on a somewhat awkward, but mostly polite smile.
‘Good day there, Lord Gadmin, Lady Gadmin!’ the man said, coming to a halt before them, looking very energetic indeed. ‘My apologies for hailing you unceremoniously, however I’ve been meaning to come by Gadmin Hall for days, and was just on my way there, when Mrs Bowles, the baker, told me you were in town, so I simply had to find you!’ Thorn and Hypatia blinked, waiting for the man’s name, or purpose, and he paused, only realising after a rather long moment that he’d missed out such pertinent information. ‘My apologies again,’ he chuckled, offering his hand out to Thorn. ‘Simon Reeves, I’ve a sheep farm a mile or so to the east of you, and I heard you were looking for me. My flock have been grazing some of your lands, according to arrangements made with your previous bailiff, Mr Warren.’
‘Ah, Mr Reeves, a pleasure,’ Thorn said jovially, doing as he had with everyone else in a similar position they’d tracked downuntil now—giving them the benefit of the doubt. ‘I’m glad to finally put a name to the sheep.’
‘Ha! Very clever,’ Reeves chuckled, before turning to Hypatia. ‘Lady Gadmin.’
He made to bow, but she offered her hand instead.
‘How kind of you to come find us, Mr Reeves,’ she said, when he finally found it in himself to shake it.
She watched him carefully, but saw none of the usual telltale signs of it being out of some sense of male superiority, but rather shock, because of his own technically inferior societal position. Which boded well in his favour as came to giving him the benefit of the doubt; as did the fact that so far none of those they’d managed to track down as having used Gadmin Hall lands had done so knowing Warren’s deceit and treachery. Hypatia suspected that if there were any some such, she and Thorn would only eventually hear of it through the gossip mill, and be able to do nothing, as they would’ve likely taken their beasts, crops, or whatever else, by then, or merely cut their losses.
Or so we can hope; the last thing we need is any manner of fight or war.
‘Let me assure you both,’ Reeves continued, what looked like sincerity about him, though Hypatia would have to rely on Thorn for his thoughts and reactions. ‘I had no idea my use of your lands wasn’t condoned by the previous earl, or his agents. He was a strange old fellow, and everyone around here knows he went a bit…enthusiastically into the pig business, without much success, so I thought he was merely seeking some additional revenue. Since I heard that wasn’t the case, I’ve of course taken my flock elsewhere.’
‘We appreciate your honesty, Mr Reeves,’ Thorn said, throwing her a glance, and she nodded. ‘However, there is no need. We are not farmers by profession, but we are learning, and having a variety of visitors and crops on the land is naught butbeneficial as we’ve heard. We are more than happy to continue to welcome your flocks, perhaps you’d be so kind as to visit us at the Hall one of these days, and we can speak of which pastures are best now. And discuss what other arrangements we might come to. We are neighbours after all, and all want, I think, the best for this land.’
‘Well said, my lord,’ Reeves said somewhat bombastically. ‘Couldn’t have said it better, in fact. I will do just that, and thank you very kindly. I wish all around these parts shared such sentiments, but they’ve been caught by the fever of profit, and call from the cities formore.’
‘There is greed and a love of money in every trade, Mr Reeves,’ Hypatia said, with a mellowing smile, and he tipped his head, touching the brim of his hat.
‘Wise, my lady, very wise, the both of you. Well, I’ll be off, then, it was a pleasure to meet you both, and I shall call upon you at Gadmin Hall very soon indeed. Good day!’
And with a bow, and flustered half wave, he was gone.
‘That’s one more down,’ Thorn commented. ‘I hope I did right, and said what I should, I assumed you were in agreement when you nodded.’
‘You did, husband,’ Hypatia smiled, taking his arm, and turning them back towards Sandham’s main street. ‘However, there is one minor complication.’ Thorn frowned, quirking his head, and she smiled. ‘We’re going to need some furniture for at least one receiving room.’
Laughing, Thorn nodded, and off they went again.
And Hypatia couldn’t help but feel as though she’d arrived somewhere she’d always meant to be.
Chapter Twelve
As Thorn led Hypatia along the paths to the south-west of the grounds, behind the gardens, where woods met untamed wildflower fields—though at one time, he wagered, the patches of land had been moreparklandthanruralfield, as suggested by the peppering of trees in some manner of order and design—he realised that though in many ways, it might be incredibly inadvisable, he’d somehow become entirely smitten with his wife.
