She blushed and folded her hands in her lap.
“There are matters to be discussed.” He looked at Adalyn. “As you all know, our Lady Adalyn and Daniel will wed shortly. They plan to leave right after, if the weather permits, because Daniel—as you may not know—has learned that he has inherited his family’s estate, Nordean Swale, in Staffordshire.”
There were several congratulatory noises made by the others, since Daniel and Adalyn had not shared this information widely at Giles’s request.
“I asked them to remain silent about it, since I wanted to make sure Trick would be here for the news, and because you all need to understand what these changes mean.” He looked around. “We will lose two of our number. That means I must act as soon as possible to replace both Trick and Daniel.”
“I doubt you can,” sighed Jeremy.
“I sympathise, lad, I really do.” Giles unbent for a moment, and let out his own sigh, a breath blown from between pursed lips.
“We’ll do our best to support you, Giles, but it won’t be easy.” Evan added his quiet endorsement.
“Thank you, Evan. I have confidence we will be able to put it all together, given enough time. It’s the order of things that is a complication. Two new menandthe transition of the Lady of Wolfbridge, which is always tricky, but we’ve managed before and we shall do so again. Of that I have no doubt.”
“Do you have another in mind? Is there another Wolfbridge out there somewhere?” Adalyn had to ask.
“Wolfbridge will continue, my Lady,” answered Giles noncommittally. “You need not worry.”
She nodded, understanding that once she wed, she was Mrs Daniel Fitzroy, and no longer the Lady of Wolfbridge Manor. There was pain at that thought, but it was offset by the warmth in Daniel’s eyes as he looked at her.
“I shall, of course, find us new gentlemen. Or at least one to start with. We will need an estate manager, though one as good as you, Daniel, may be hard to find.”
“I’m sure it will,” boasted Daniel with a chuckle.
“As to Trick,” Giles strolled over to him, and put his hands on his shoulders from behind. “I’ve an idea I’d like to propose.”
Trick, unused to Giles touching him at all, blinked and gulped. “Uh…should I be concerned?”
“I don’t think so,” said Giles, moving away. “You all know that Fivetrees is to be put on the market?”
Everyone nodded. This was a fairly recent development, but well-circulated around the area.
“I’m going to ask if you Trick, and your future wife, would accept the position of caretakers for that house until it is sold?”
Jane’s jaw dropped, and Trick was stunned into silence.
“Uhh…” He managed a sound, but no words.
“As you may know, I was formally appointed to be Judith Fairhurst’s guardian. The Fairhurst family has decided to wash their hands of both the estate and Miss Judith, considering neither to be worth their time, effort or money, given the scandalous manner of Fairhurst’s death and the low esteem in which they hold Miss Judith.” His eyes hardened. “I disagree with them on all counts, but they’ve left me free to handle these matters as I think best.”
He rested his gaze on Trick. “You have the talent to manage the Fairhurst stables, without question. But I also believe you have the ability to run the estate and keep it running. I’m not expecting miracles, but you—and Jane here—care for the land here a great deal more than Sir Amery ever did. And Fivetrees has plenty of land that needs tending. As of now, there have been no offers for the property, but that may change, so take that fact into account.”
Jane was pale. “I don’t…I can’t…Trick?” She looked at him.
“Me neither. I’m…having a difficult time absorbing all this, Giles.”
“Well, that’s where the situation stands. I have spoken to Miss Judith on this matter and she has agreed that it is a sensible course of action, to put people she trusts in charge of the property.”
“How is she, Giles? Is she well?” Adalyn leaned forward.
“She is, my Lady,” he smiled warmly. “I will have the honour of giving her hand in marriage to Sir Ragnor Withersby when I go up to London after your wedding.” He couldn’t help but laugh. “It seems that I am to be father of the bride to more than one young woman, and neither of them are related to me.”
The others laughed too, accepting the unique absurdity of the strange and diverse twists in the road of their lives.
“You’ll hold Fivetrees for Miss Judith, Trick,” added Giles. “She’ll be Lady Withersby by then, but once it sells, we’ll have to revisit your situation.”
Trick rose, walked over to Jane, and knelt by her chair. “What do you say, love? Shall we take up residence at Fivetrees and bring it back to life?”
