“Not for weeks.My husband doesn’t like him, so I keep out of his way.”Stupid excuse.The world knew exactly why John Troy did not like Edward...
Lady Petteril leaned forward.“Won’t you sit down, Mrs.Troy?”
Hetty sat, mostly because her legs seemed reluctant to hold her up.Her breath hissed at the sudden pain in her ribs.
“I’m so sorry to ask you this,” the lady said, and sounded it, oddly enough.“Please believe me that it will go no further.But did you ever meet Edward at the summer house along the path from Temper House?”
Hetty closed her eyes.What difference did it make?John already knew about the summer house.She nodded.
“That’s a long walk from here,” Lord Petteril remarked.
“I went on market days.Just for an hour, if I could.It was winter.The family didn’t use the summer house in winter.And it’s a quiet path if you go through the wood and avoid the house.”
“So you haven’t been there recently?”Lady Petteril asked.
Hetty shook her head.“We ended everything when my husband found out.But you know that too, don’t you?”
She couldn’t keep the hostility out of her voice, but her noble visitors either didn’t mind or didn’t notice.
“Your husband must be a hard-working man,” Lord Petteril said.“I suppose he was asleep all of last night.”
“Of course he was,” she said dully.“Both of us were.”
“Your children always sleep all night?”Lady Petteril asked in surprise.
If they know what’s good for them.And me...“Not every night.Last night, they did.Oh, God!”
She couldn’t stop the exclamation, for she had just heard his distinctive tread in the yard, closely followed by his voice snarling at the children to get out of his way, then, with suspicion, “Where’d these horses come from?”
By then, Hetty had jumped to her feet, grimacing in silent pain.John thrust his way through the door, filling the room with anger.
Lord Petteril rose to his feet.Her ladyship stayed where she was, smiling pleasantly.
“John,” Hetty said quickly.“I didn’t expect you at this time.Lord and Lady Petteril were just passing.They’re Sir Dominic’s tenants up at Temper House.”
“Then don’t they deserve some ale?Something to eat?We’re not paupers!”
“Oh, we already turned down your wife’s kind offer,” Lord Petteril said easily.
Some sort of conflict was clearly taking place in the yard, involving shouting children and the wailing of the youngest.
“Hetty, quiet that racket!”John said irritably.
There was nothing for Hetty to do but obey, though her heart was in her mouth as to what the Petterils would say or ask...
The quarrel in the yard seemed to be about whose turn it was to pet the horses, and James was crying because he couldn’t reach their noses.After she’d lifted James up to stroke both beasts and dictated an order for petting, she hurried back into the kitchen in time to hear her husband say, “My silly wife is easily dazzled by colour and a pretty face.I never blamed him for accepting what was on offer.”
She was meant to hear, of course.He was sprawled by the stove, looking right at her with the contempt that had always been there, even before she had strayed.She hadn’t been dazzled by Edward’s smart livery, or even his handsome looks.She had been dazzled by apparent kindness, something she’d never known at her husband’s hands.
“Truth be told, I don’t blame her neither,” John drawled.It was a lie.He blamed her for everything from a poor harvests to a morning-after head.“Got to be patient with the little fools, eh?They don’t know no better.I’m content enough with mine.She breeds well and keeps a decent house when she’s not distracted by the Quality.Some food on this table, Hetty.”
Lord Petteril stood.“We won’t keep you any longer.Your wife told us your delightful children obliged you by sleeping all last night and allowing you both your well-earned rest.”
“That’s right,” John said steadily, although he hadn’t staggered in until three in the morning, falling over the kitchen chair.Which had put him in a vile enough mood to account for her sore ribs today.
“Long may it last,” said his lordship.“We have all that ahead of us.”
“You are to be a mother, my lady?”Hetty said in surprise.
