Georgiana and Cecily rose to greet their mother.
“We didn’t expect you until this evening,” Georgiana said, kissing her mother’s cheek.
“Darling, you look positively mannish. This happens when one does a man’s work, I suppose.” Lady Linley turned to Cecily. “And you’ve more freckles than ever.”
“Yes, I’ve been helping outside, planning the gardens.” Cecily’s voice sounded small and miserable.
“It shows on your face. One day you’ll be sorry you didn’t wear a hat at all times.” Her voice held the sweetness of a mother’s concern laced with just enough disappointment to sting.
James didn’t care for it at all. Heat rose from his gut and flamed in his cheeks. Before he could stop himself, his voice an octave sharper than just moments ago, he said, “Your daughters have been workingtirelessly to restore my estate to its former glory. You will show them respect in my home, or I’ll be happy to escort you back to the village.”
Lady Linley gasped. “I wasn’t aware that commenting on one’s own daughters required your permission. I’m simply concerned, as any mother would be. Though I confess I hardly recognize them anymore, having been so thoroughly forgotten in favor of… whatever it is that occupies them here.”
Mrs. Honeycutt muttered into her apron, her reddened hands clutching the fabric as though it might shield her from the intruder.
“Would you care to join us for a meal?” Mrs. Ellsworth wrung her hands, clearly distressed by the tension.
“How kind of you to offer. I’ve not eaten for hours. My daughter refuses to give me more than a pittance to live on.”
Mrs. Ellsworth guided her toward the table while Mrs. Honeycutt returned to the stove to dish up another serving of stew.
Soon they had resumed their meal, though the comfortable atmosphere had vanished entirely.
Lady Linley glanced around the table, her eyes resting briefly on Ben and taking in his worker’s clothes with dismissive swiftness before returning to James. Her smile was smooth as silk and just as insincere. “I had the most dreadful coachman from the inn. He kept asking questions, as if I were obliged to answer him. You’ve quite the reputation in the village, Lord Ashford.”
James wasn’t sure what she meant by that, so he decided to ignore it.
“How long will this restoration take?” Lady Linley poked at her bowl of stew as if afraid it contained something unpleasant.
“A few more months, at least,” Georgiana said. “You’ll want to return to London sooner rather than later, I assume? Now that you’ve seen the inn?”
“Yes, about that.” Lady Linley set down her spoon with a delicate sigh. “My friend and I have had a little falling out, and I have nowhereelse to go. So here I am, at your mercy. Surely there’s a room for me here?” She smiled at James with calculated sweetness.
“Mother, you cannot stay here,” Georgiana said firmly. “You’ll have to remain at the inn.”
James folded his arms across his chest. “That’s correct, Lady Linley. I’m afraid we don’t have any rooms appropriate for a lady. We’re restoring one room at a time, and we’ve only just begun.”
“Ah, I see.” Lady Linley gave a tinkling laugh that never reached her eyes. “The inn will have to do, then. It’s only important that I’m here to see my lovely girls.” She turned back to Georgiana, who sat rigid as a statue. “Dearest, I shall be terribly lonely at the inn without you or Cecily. Surely you’ll join me there?”
“We can discuss it later.” Georgiana’s tone was arctic.
James caught the slight tremor in her fingers as she set down her spoon with deliberate care.
No wonder they hadn’t wanted their mother to visit. She’d been there five minutes and he already couldn’t wait for her to leave.
Chapter Eight
Georgiana
That night, afterfinally getting rid of their mother, Georgiana and Cecily sat with Mrs. Honeycutt and Mrs. Ellsworth in the kitchen. Both sisters had been quiet during supper. She couldn’t speak for Cecily, but Georgiana felt completely drained by her mother’s presence.
They’d all helped clear the table and assisted Mrs. Honeycutt in cleaning up. Someday soon, this would be a full working kitchen with maids to help the head cook, but for now the four women worked together to do whatever needed doing.
After supper, James had left them to enjoy their tea and biscuits.
The moment James had left, Georgiana had started missing him. She wished he’d asked her to join him upstairs. Ridiculous, she told herself. She would see him first thing in the morning. Still, she was distracted, thinking about what he was doing upstairs alone. In his newly decorated bedchambers, undressing for the night. Her mind conjured the image of his fingers working the buttons of his waistcoat, sliding his shirt from his broad shoulders. Perhaps he was having a glass of brandy while reading by the fire, firelight playing across his bare chest—
“Georgie?” Cecily’s voice cut through her reverie. “Mrs. Honeycutt asked if you wanted more tea.”
