“Ah, there you are, Abbie,” said Maude and walked over to her to say softly, “She is having a good morning.”
“I can see that. The best one since Robert was killed.”
“I am not sure how long it will last but take advantage of it. Do as you please today.”
“That would be nice.”
“Good. Then start with the man in the parlor who has patiently been waiting for you to wake.” Maude chuckled and walked back to rejoin the others.
Abbie walked into the parlor and caught Matthew having a little nap on the settee. She softly hurried to his side and gave in to impulse, kissing him on the cheek. A squeak of surprise escaped her when he grabbed her and pulled her down onto his lap.
“Done sleeping?”
“There was no need of you lingering here until I woke up. There must be things you need to do.”
“Not really. Thought to take ye for a walk. Ye need to get away from here for a while, I am thinking. Just as ye needed to rest this morning.”
“A walk would be lovely.” She wriggled out of his hold and stood up. “And it would also be best if we don’t let Mrs. Beaton see us like this.”
“Oh, I am beginning to think Mrs. Beaton is nay as . . .” He hesitated as he struggled to find the right word.
“Prissy?”
“Aye, that is good. Prissy as she was. Ye must be having some influence on her.”
“I doubt that and, in fact, it makes me sound a bit like a catchable disease.”
He laughed. “Get your coat.”
“Yes, sir.”
Abbie found her coat in the kitchen. It was dry and still a little warm from the heat of the stove. Mabel gave her some coffee and she drank it as she put her coat on. The moment she was done, she took the cup of coffee and finished it.
“Thank you, Mabel.”
“What about breakfast?”
“I will have something to eat later. Right now, I think Matthew is right and I need to get out of this house for a bit.”
“Miss Julia is a trial. I understand her hurt, but she is, well, too intense and demands a lot of work.”
“I know. I suspected she would be like that. She is actually rather fragile. See you later today.”
Abbie met Matthew in the hall. He hooked her arm in his and walked her out the door. It was still early in the morning but she could feel that it was going to be a good day, probably warm and sunny. That lifted her spirits as well. There was a nice, fresh scent in the air from the rain having washed everything clean in the night.
“It is going to be a lovely day, I believe.”
“Aye. My family is probably out and working to plant the garden. I wish I kenned what they were planting this year. Emily, my brother Iain’s wife, gets fancy now and then and we end up with a few odd things planted. Weel, odd to us.”
“At least he is nice enough to consider what she wants.”
“Maybe, although he doesnae plant it. Just marks out a space for her and says she can put her whim in there.” He grinned when she laughed.
“You miss your home.”
“I do, and it gets worse every day. Never thought it possible but I miss my wretched brothers as well. And Mrs. O’Neal who cooks and cleans for us.”
“So you hired someone to do all that woman’s work,” she teased.
