Martin raised his brows, then shrugged. “Didn’t mean to be uncivil. When you’re an old bachelor like me, you get so you forget how to behave in polite company.” Glancing at George, he added, “My apologies, Mr. Asquith. I’m a plain-spoken fellow, and sometimes I forget my manners.”
George nodded. “Sometimes we all do,” he said mildly.
After a beat of awkward silence, Martin said, “So, what can I do for you today, Mr. Caldwell? You must have come here for a reason?”
“No particular reason,” Theo replied. “I only arrived yesterday evening so naturally my first order of business is to call on my tenants.”
“Oh, naturally,” Martin replied, his tone noticeably dry. “Well, as it happens, I’m doing fine, thank you. But you’ll notice that other parts of the estate are not faring quite so well. The roof of the main house is in danger of falling in, and the labourers’ cottages need attention. Not to mention all the holes in the roads which I mentioned to you last time.”
George didn’t need to look at Theo to know how mortified he would be by this blatant criticism. Tactfully, he kept his gaze averted.
Theo cleared his throat. “I’m aware of some of these problems,” he said. “And I plan to take a full inventory of what’s required during this visit, with Mr. Asquith’s help.”
“I’m pleased to hear it,” Martin replied in the same dry tone. “Blackfriars has been rather neglected recently.”
Theo stiffened. “Yes, well, in fairness, it had been neglected since before it came into my possession.”
Martin’s eyes narrowed. “If you’re suggesting your uncle neglected Blackfriars,” he said tightly, “then you’re quite wrong. He loved this place and worked all the hours God sent when he was too ill even to be out of bed.”
George blinked at the man’s unexpected vehemence, then glanced at Theo who looked as taken aback as George was.
“I did not intend to impugn my uncle,” Theo retorted. “I was only pointing out that some of the difficulties you mentioned began after he passed away and before I returned to England and learned he had left me this place. Incidentally, I had no idea he intended to do so, or I'd have put some arrangements in place before I left.”
Just then, a terrible yowl rent the air, making George and Theo startle. This was followed by some furious spitting and barking. Martin reacted to this by letting out a sharp, loud whistle, and a moment later, a black-and-white collie streaked across the farmyard, going straight to Martin's heel and sitting down on its haunches to peer eagerly up at him. The collie’s muzzle had been scratched—presumably by whatever had been yowling and spitting—and was bleeding a little.
“You scrapping with that old tomcat again, Fen?” Martin said, shaking his head at the dog. “You should leave him alone. He always bests you.”
The dog whined and pushed its head under Martin’s rough hand, and the man petted him absently. George glanced at Theo, but Theo’s own attention was on the dog. He had always liked dogs, George remembered. He was always making a fuss of the ones at Dinsford Park, even the fat, bad-tempered little lapdog Ollie’s mother kept in the house.
Theo dropped to his haunches, clicking his tongue, and when Martin lifted his hand from the collie’s head in permission, the dog went to Theo eagerly, squirming with pleasure as Theo ruffled his head and ears. “Farmyard cats are tough as old boots,” Theo chided in an indulgent tone. “You shouldn’t have taken a beast like that on, you silly mutt.” The dog gazed up at Theo adoringly, and George rather knew how it felt. It was very nice to have those strong, capable hands stroking you.
Martin’s stony expression eased a little in the face of this display. Evidently, the dog was his weakness. “Fen definitely shouldn’t have taken on this tom. He’s the size of a bloody hogget and as vicious as they come. Though he does keep the rats down.”
After fussing over the collie for a few more minutes, Theo rose back to his feet. The ordinary little incident seemed to have eased the tension between Theo and Martin, so George decided to set off on a new, and hopefully more productive, conversational path.
“As Mr. Caldwell said, we’re undertaking an inventory of the current state of repair of Blackfriars,” he said. “We’d be very glad of any information you have that might assist us. I gather you’ve been here many years, so I daresay you know the estate better than anyone.”
“I know this place inside out, Mr. Asquith,” Martin said. “If you’re willing to walk, I’d be more than happy to take you around the whole estate and show you all the parts that need attention.”
“I would like to come too,” Theo said. After an awkward pause, he added, “If that’s all right.”
Martin seemed surprised by his request, his eyebrows rising, but all he said was, “Very well, Mr. Caldwell.”
“When would suit?” Theo asked. “Mr. Asquith and I have no other commitments so we’re available at your convenience.”
“Tomorrow?” Martin suggested. “Around noon? I’ll have my morning chores done by then.”
Theo nodded. “Noon will be fine."
23
THEO
That evening, Theo entered his uncle’s study where, apparently, the man used to dine most evenings. The table in here was not as large as in the formal dining room, but it could seat four at a pinch—provided the diners were sitting cheek by jowl. For himself and George alone, there was ample room.
George was already in the study, perusing the bookshelves. He turned at Theo’s entrance, holding up a volume in one hand, his expression all delighted astonishment. “Guess what this is?”
Theo shrugged. “Judging my your excitement, I’m going to say something to do with crop rotation.”
