“It does,” said Evan proudly. “And our jams and jellies are much in demand.”
“Last summer?”
His face fell as he shook his head. “Scarcely a berry to be had. The rain was overwhelming and combined with such unusually cold temperatures and vicious winds…even the blackberries struggled, and they’re usually strong enough to combat just about any conditions. I've had to use our reserved stock of jams,” he sighed.
Adalyn put a dab on her toast. “It’s still wonderful, Evan. But let’s hope for more this year.”
Knowing that there was little she could do as far as keeping things running smoothly—at least until Giles returned—Adalyn spent the day upstairs, trying to stay busy. She dove into linen closets, sorting out usable linens from those that had suffered serious depredations at the paws and teeth of mice, and others that had just simply died of old age and couldn’t hold together when shaken out.
Jane had agreed to stay and help with this chore and it took them past lunchtime.
“I must leave soon, Ma’am,” she said, folding a last sheet and putting it on the rag pile. “Mr. Evan is preparing a basket.”
“And I need to write that note.” Adalyn closed the linen cupboard door. “Let me do that now, so it will be ready for you to take with you.”
Jane curtseyed. “Of course, Ma’am”
Adalyn hurried downstairs to the Rose room and sat at the desk, pulling out her notepaper and dipping her pen into the inkwell. What should she say to Trick? Aware of the possibility that other eyes might see her words, she thought carefully before beginning.
Dear Trick,
I hope you are well and staying positive throughout this ordeal. None of us here have any doubts as to your innocence and we are convinced you will be fully exonerated very soon.
There. That was a good start and exactly what anyone would expect to read.
We have taken steps to ensure that the horses remain in good heart, and one of the local lads will be helping out with the harder stable chores until you can return. Maggie is impatient to see you again, but allowed me to brush her coat yesterday until it shone. I believe she was very proud of it.
We all miss your presence, Trick. It is far too quiet here without your laugh and your kind words. Giles and Daniel have undertaken a visit to Sir Gerald Ffolkesborough and we eagerly await their return. I hope you’re being treated well, and are keeping your spirits high. I know you will be back amongst us soon, for you promised to teach me to ride - and I am hoping you might exercise your artistic skills on a new portrait. But a little larger than the last one?
Jane will be delivering this note, so you may send any requests here to Wolfbridge via her steadfast and competent hand.
Stay well and keep your chin high,
Yrs,
Adalyn Wilkerson
Wolfbridge Manor
Adalyn put down her quill and re-read the short note. She’d wanted to say so many things, but they would have been far too warm and affectionate for a missive such as this. She couldn’t tell him how much she missed his arms around her, or how she’d been thinking of asking him to paint her…nude.
All these things would be completely unacceptable to anyone outside of Wolfbridge Manor. Which made her realise the uniqueness of her surroundings.
And the risks involved.
Eccentricities were expected from Society, tolerated and sometimes even eagerly welcomed. But Adalyn’s presence without a chaperone in a house such as this…it was truly outside the pale. She, and her men, were skating close to a line with their behaviour and the more she lived there, the riskier she knew it would become.
How long could such secret matters remain behind their doors?
The local area had welcomed and accepted her, and probably most knew that Wolfbridge was not the ordinary country seat. But the help and assistance offered by the Manor more than offset any unusual arrangements that took place within its walls. A chance for a good life weighed far more than other people’s living arrangements. At least here in this small piece of the country.
She had no idea if or when the entire place might become a scandal. But at this moment, she refused to worry any more about it, just folding her note and dropping a tiny bead of sealing wax on it.
She had no ring, no family crest to impress into the soft red blob, so she gently pressed her thumb down, feeling the wax cool beneath the pressure.
A brief scrawl of Trick’s name on the fold and she was done.
Jane tucked it into her basket and set off during the early afternoon, promising to return to Wolfbridge if there was anything of import to be passed along.
