“Where can I be of the most use?” she asked Evie, who had been corralling others to help serve the meal.
“We’ve more people to help than we need, my lady,” Evie responded. “Honestly, if you hang around here, you’ll just be in the way. Why don’t you prepare a plate and go enjoy yourself?”
As guilty as she felt not assisting, Elise could see that Evie was right, there were too many bodies in the area. Finding herself famished, she did just as Evie suggested and filled her plate with meat pies and fresh vegetables. Settling down by the fire, she soaked in the warmth as the day slipped into night and the air rapidly cooled. A moment later, she was pleasantly surprised when Reid sat down beside her.
“All this food looks wonderful. How much of it is due to you and the lovely Miss Evie?” he asked with a grin.
“We provided the pies and many of the vegetables, but it was the wives who turned it all into the feast you see now.” Elise was always amazed at how farmwives knew how to make the humblest ingredients stretch and taste amazing. It was an art she had tried to learn since coming to Dorset, and discovered a true love for cooking in the process.
“You worked hard out there today,” she said to him, changing the topic. “You’re starting to make an impact with everyone here. It’s not often that a peer works just as hard alongside them, and it was noticed.”
“I enjoy the work. Though it may be a good thing my mother departed to my sister’s house yesterday and is not here to witness me thus employed, she would find it most ungentlemanly,” he said with a smirk, eyes glimmering.
Shoveling a forkful of pork pie into his mouth with an appreciative groan, Reid echoed some of Elise’s own thoughts. “There’s a sense of fulfillment that can only come from doing honest work, and after fifteen years fighting on the continent, I’m not used to living the leisurely life of a lord. Maybe I was wrong to shy away from this life and it suits me better than I thought.”
Elise was confused why he would not feel suited to being a titled member of the peerage. He was already doing similar work to what he would do in the House of Lords by his service as an elected member of Parliament in the House of Commons, and he clearly had a love for the estate. “What do you mean?” she asked.
“I didn’t want to come back here when I learned that my father had died,” Reid admitted. “It was terrible timing with the unrest across the country after the events in Manchester. My brain was stuck thinking as an MP and I thought I could be of the most use in London working on solutions that could be brought forward in the next session of Parliament.”
“You feel like being back here has prevented you from that work?” Elise asked.
“Yes, and it’s frustrating because it feels like we are dangerously close to a tipping point in this country. The people are demanding change, and they deserve representation. Those of our class don’t want to allow that because they rightly fear what may happen to them should they not hold absolute power. I hate that I am now a part of the problem as a member of the peerage.” Hanging his head as he spoke, Reid was obviously frustrated by the circumstances and a weariness cut through his words.
“At this critical time, my vote as a Whig for reform is now absolutely wasted in the House of Lords where the Tories reign supreme. I would be able to have much more impact with my vote in Commons, but because I now possess a title, I have to vote within an archaic institution that nine times out of ten will vote for its own interests rather than what may be best for the country as a whole.” Reid was visibly worked up now, and Elise could see how truly passionate he was about the work he did toward reform. It concerned her though that he could not see the impact he could have as the earl, even if it was on a smaller scale than the national platform on which he was used to working.
“Forgive me,” he said, looking over at her. “I tend to get a bit heated when it comes to politics, and I’m feeling a bit useless in that arena these days.” Reid picked up his fork and dug into his pie again.
“I can understand your frustration with tensions increasing,” Elise began hesitantly, “but don’t you think you could do even more to ease the situation through the role you now hold?”
“What do you mean?” Reid asked, looking at her intently.
“Well, I don’t want to diminish or neglect the fact that large-scale change through the government is necessary, and I certainly don’t think you should abandon that work but change at that scale takes time.” Reid nodded his head as he listened.
“Yes, that has always been one of my greatest frustrations with the process.”
“It could be years before a reform bill will even pass, and once it does, there will need to be elections for new representatives. Bills must be drafted for new laws or repeals and reforms of old ones. All those will need to pass both chambers before any significant change occurs. It may well be a decade before the people you worked with today feel any kind of significant impact from such a process.” Elise finished with an exhale and saw a glint of appreciation in Reid’s eye at her knowledge of the process and current political situation.
“It may be slow, but it is the only way to ensure overall conditions will change permanently,” Reid said.
“Of course, and as I said before, such work must continue.” Elise looked at him and took a deep breath as she contemplated her next words. “People need assistance now, and if they did not feel so desperate, I think the tensions would ease. The problems will remain, and the fight for representation will continue, but many more people would likely be willing to wait for the legislative process to work if they felt they could feed their families in the meantime.”
“I agree, but I don’t see how I can help with that on a larger scale,” Reid said. He looked quite curious now as to what she would say next, thrilling Elise. As a woman, she was used to being disregarded, but he seemed to genuinely want to know what she thought about the subject, and she believed he would thoughtfully consider what she had to say.
“Don’t you see that you already are helping?” she said. “Look at the work you did today. You took time to do real work that will directly and immediately benefit your tenants. I know you have also been working on plans to improve housing on the estate, and Jonathan tells me you and Fairleigh are coming up with a plan to help increase crop yields and add a permanent shared garden. As the earl, you make decisions that directly impact the lives of everyone in this community in tangible ways.”
Elise watched as he took in her words. She wasn’t sure what to make of the look on his face—it was a mix of disbelief and, quite possibly, hope. “I know you feel like the influence you once held within Parliament has been diminished with the change in your standing, but you can still have an incredible impact, even if it is on a smaller scale. I think to many of these people, your actions as the earl have a far greater impact on their daily lives and mean much more than your role as their MP. And you should not underestimate the example you can be to your peers if you are able to turn this estate around. You can model and share with them methods that work to not only increase their profits but better the entire community.”
Reid was now gazing at her in admiration. “I can honestly say I never thought of the role in that way before. I distanced myself from the title because I associated it with my father. I do still mourn that I will now serve in Lords rather than Commons, but I think you are right that I may be able to accomplish more practical change by the work I do on the estate.” He grabbed her hand, beaming at her, and Elise melted. “You clever, beautiful woman,” he said in an awed tone. “You’ve helped me see my purpose here again.”
Elise swallowed hard at his words, overcome with affection. She had done the best she could in the past weeks trying to not think about him or dwell on their kiss, but Reid made it difficult when he looked at her the way he was currently and treated her like what she had to say mattered. Shoving her feelings down, she was determined to think of him as a friend, knowing there could be nothing else for them in the future.
CHAPTER18
Harvest had been busy, and Elise was glad for a reprieve as November rolled around. There was never quite as much to do in the garden as the cooler weather set in, so she turned her mind to replenishing her supplies of healing treatments. She was busy in the kitchen cooking up a batch of salve when Reid called on her unexpectedly.
“May I come in?” he said, knocking on the doorframe and peeking his head around the kitchen door.
“Of course you may,” Elise replied, wiping her hands on her apron. “Please excuse the mess, I’m in the midst of making some soothing creams and my supplies seem to have gotten everywhere.”
