Her mother would disagree, she knew, and in all fairness, Richard would probably have a quite vocal opinion as to that matter, too. But regardless, she couldn’t help a ripple of nerves running up her spine as she watched him come downstairs.
“Well met, Miss Trease,” he grinned, as he reached the hall. “I hope you haven’t been waiting long?”
“Oh, I wasn’t waiting,” she replied airily. “I just arrived myself.” His look, direct and amused, brought colour to her cheeks. “All right, if you must know, I thought it best that we go in together.”
“It would be my honour.” He extended his arm correctly, then leaned toward her a little. “I promise I won’t drink my soup out of the bowl.”
“I never, for a single minute, imagined…” She glanced at him, horrified, saw the spark of laughter in his eyes, and growled. “Dratted man. Do that again and I’ll wish those villains had hit you harder.”
He assumed a look of innocence. “Lunch?”
“This way.”
She nodded toward a set of double doors and led him through, wondering as she did so what he would think of her family, her home.
“What wonderful scents.” He took a deep breath, obviously enjoying the fragrance of freshly baked meat pie and a variety of other dishes.
“Simple food often smells the best.”
The words came from behind them, and Holly turned slightly to grin at her mother as she entered the room.
“I couldn’t agree more, my Lady.” Richard let Holly move away as he pulled out the chair at the head of the table, which obviously belonged to Lady Hazel.
“Thank you. I apologise for my husband’s absence, Mr Hawkesbury. But he and Sir Duncan are dining privately today.”
“Sir Duncan is not well?” Holly asked, helping herself to pie.
“He is frail,” replied her mother, looking sombre. “I could wish he took better care of himself, and this journey? At this time of year? Not one I would have advised.”
“What about Mr Blackstone?” It was a casual question.
Her mother shrugged. “He went off to Myrtle Manor this morning. I believe he was hoping to spend some time with Harry Chalmers, but honestly? I’m not sure Harry is there. I did tell him that, but he would go anyway.” She sighed. “I’m just glad Sir Duncan didn’t accompany him. Not in this weather.”
Richard, having seated himself and rescued the pie from Holly, nodded. “Although I’ve yet to have the pleasure ofmeeting Sir Duncan in person, I have heard from several other solicitors that he is a delightful gentleman and easy to work with, but not as robust as one might have hoped.”
Lady Hazel agreed. “Your observations tally with mine, Mr Hawkesbury.” She chewed thoughtfully for a moment or two, then swallowed. “My husband and I were quite young when we first made his acquaintance. It was after we moved in here, I believe. Which was after Lord Trease’s papa passed away.”
“You didn’t live here with him, Mama?” asked Holly, ever curious.
Lady Hazel shook her head. “No. We visited a lot, of course, but immediately after our marriage, we had a small house of our own, a few miles south of here.”
“But you knew Forest Grange would be yours, right?”
“Indeed, yes. However, your grandfather and grandmother, who were both wonderful people, insisted that we have chance to enjoy a life of our own before we started living like the Lord and Lady of the Manor.”
“I see the Trease family is possessed of a greater level of intelligence than many others I’ve had the misfortune to meet,” observed Richard quietly. “There is much to be said, I’m sure, for beginning married life unhindered by familial responsibilities such as this…” He glanced around at the elegant room.
Lady Hazel casually waved her fork in his direction. “Exactly so.” She looked at Holly. “Your young man is possessed of astounding amounts of common sense.”
Holly chuckled. “Because he agrees with you.”
“Well, of course.”
The laughter was genuine, and Holly found herself relaxing a little, as Richard seemed more than capable of holding his own, conversing with her mother in a most sensible fashion, which would appeal to her.
As the courses progressed, and eventually ended with some tiny, freshly baked mincemeat pies that melted in the mouth, Lady Hazel leaned back and watched as the servants cleared the remnants of their meal, as did their butler.
“That will be all for now, Ferguson. We’ll finish our tea and these pies, and you may clear the table later.”
