“I understand you want to know everything that is going on, but things would go a lot smoother if you learned to trustme, even just a little. I am not trying to make anything harder for you, instead I’m trying to keep the project moving forward. Seeking you out for every little quandary will only hinder progress. Now, do you approve of the plan I’ve created?”
“Yes,” he sighed.
“Then will you trust that I’m doing everything I can to bring the plan to life and that I have no other malicious designs?”
“I’ll try and be more relaxed. In the future, just please tell me if you need more assistance. Since the shrubbery now has a place to be delivered, I’ll take David and Miles back with me.”
It was as much acquiescence as she was going to get at this time, and at least Mr. Beaumont was no longer angry with her. Alice truly wasn’t trying to provoke the man, but he needed to learn to let go of even a tiny piece of his grip on the estate.
She watched as he rounded up the men and returned them to other tasks, leaving her with Matthias.
Though initially hesitant, Matthias had grown comfortable with her over the past few days and graciously passed the reigns once Priscilla’s request and the plan had been made clear. Alice strongly suspected he preferred working in the glasshouse cultivating starts rather than designing the entire garden, having only taken on the role when Priscilla couldn’t find anyone else to do the job. He followed Alice’s lead beautifully, and she was thankful to have him in her corner, as he possessed the connections to procure the flowers and materials necessary to bring her vision to life.
“Matthias, do you need me here?”
“No, Miss Pembroke, all seems to be in hand for the moment,” he said with a smile.
“I’ll leave you to it then, I’ll be in the house looking at the south corner again. Please send someone if you need me.” Matthias gave a nod before turning back to the new shrubs, and Alice collected the plans before returning to the house.
Settling into the corner of the library she had claimed, she looked around in quiet amazement. It was remarkable how drastically her day-to-day life had changed within the span of a sennight.
When Priscilla first suggested in the carriage ride from Lady Spencer’s that she take over the design of the garden renovation, Alice thought she was jesting. But Priscilla had been entirely in earnest, insisting that Alice needed a project to make her own. While Alice was unsure how overseeing the garden would help prepare her for the upcoming season, she was happy to do as her cousin instructed.
Her head was still spinning from their entire conversation that day. She’d always felt that she must play a certain role—be what was expected of her so she could meet her father’s expectations and be a credit to the family within society. But it seemed Priscilla had moved away from such ideas, that she no longer felt she must fit the restrictions of what society deemed acceptable from a woman of high rank. Priscilla, however, was in a different position than Alice—she had more freedom as a marchioness, her place within the aristocracy now set. Whereas Alice and her father, though highly connected—her father being the son of, and brother to, a Marquess himself—could not claim any titles for themselves other than those bestowed by courtesy. Thus, Alice still needed to play by the rules, did she not?
Though she suspected there would be better means of building character, Alice was enjoying the creative freedom she felt able to use for the first time. Not a stranger to directing others, the servants in Alice’s home had turned to her for guidance from a young age as her mother had died so many years ago. Even so, she’d always hesitated to deviate too far from her mother’s way, as if she would be disrespecting her memory.
It had taken Alice some time to know where to begin the garden project, but thankfully, Hampton House’s library wasquite extensive and contained several texts detailing previous trends and notable designs from well-respected landscapers who had made their marks in English gardens over the last century. She’d been immersed in such a tome the other night when Ethan—no,Mr. Beaumont—had come across her.
A part of Alice was glad that he’d seen her in such a position, hopefully leaving him with a slightly different impression of her. She knew she had come off as a shrew in their first few encounters; she just wasn’t used to the more casual manner in which Priscilla ran her household. And Alice could admit that she had erred in approaching Matthias before having a firm plan, but when Mr. Beaumont had pointed it out, she’d decided to do her diligence, proving that she could take direction.
Now she had done her research and did in fact have a plan, if only he would trust her to see it through.
Laying out the scheme before her, she was amazed by what her mind had been able to conjure. Though an organized structure lay beneath, she wanted the garden to feel wild and alive. A central lawn was surrounded by a walking path, with large patches of flowers dotting the perimeter, interspersed with shrubbery that would grow to create a sheltered pathway leading toward the river, leaving the view of the water as open as possible from various angles. She planned paths that meandered away from the main lawn and weaved around the existing trees, embracing their beauty and giving them a place of their own rather than seeing them as an impediment to a larger design that would need to be cut away.
Alice could picture it in her mind—how peaceful it would feel while also being completely alive. Yes, there were designated areas for flowers and greenery beneath the trees, but they would be mixed together, spilling over their confines to greet visitors on the path. All colors would have their place and would blend seamlessly, feeling less formal and as if the gentledwildflowers were flourishing beside their regal peers. It would feel comfortable and welcoming for all who came to Hampton House.
There had been multiple instances, today included, when Mr. Beaumont alluded to the fact he did not find the garden a worthy use of his attention amid the other projects on the estate that also needed sorting. While Alice understood that it might not have a practical or financial use, she believed a garden still held value. There were many who relied on the estate for their livelihood, and they needed to feel a sense of pride for where they lived and what they were a part of. Priscilla understood this; it’s why she was working tirelessly to return Hampton House to its former glory.
Perhaps in time she’d be able to convince Mr. Beaumont of that value .
CHAPTER 8
Ethan was in his office when he heard a carriage pull in, announcing his sister’s arrival. He wasn’t surprised Nathalie had agreed to come to Hampton House. She was an earnest and friendly young woman who’d happily make friends with Miss Pembroke—and maybe she could soften the lady’s sharp edges and help her see there was more to life than the extravagant gowns she always donned at inappropriate times. Since Nathalie’s main joys in life consisted of reading and learning about history, he knew she would bring a different perspective on what a lady could be. Ethan grudgingly admitted, if only to himself, that Priscilla’s idea to bring the youngest Beaumont for a visit was inspired when it came to her work with her cousin, he just hated that his sweet sister was being used as a tool in the process.
Rising from the desk, he made his way toward the front of the house to welcome the new arrival.
Priscilla was already in the front hall and embracing Nathalie when Ethan noticed who had arrived with his sister.
“Elias, what on earth are you doing here?”
“Someone needed to escort Nathalie,” his stepbrother responded with his signature smirk.
“And you volunteered?” An incredulous snort escaped him before he could smother it.
“Papa was busy and Mother asked Eli,” Nathalie responded to his question for Eli as she greeted him with a kiss on the cheek. “Be nice,” she added quietly in his ear.
“We’re happy to receive you, Lord Cumberland,” Priscilla added quickly, smoothing any tension. “You’re more than welcome to stay.”
