Thrusting that foolish thinking aside, Theo said, “It’s not impossible, but you must see that your father’s arrangement with Kit Redford is far from typical. For one thing, your family estate is vast—no one would blink an eye over your father hosting a score of house guests at any given time, or even having guests who end up staying with you for years on end.”
George gave a muted huff of laughter at that. “Fair enough,” he said, “but do you really think there’s no one else in this world who manages to quietly live their lives together?”
“I have no idea, George,” Theo said, truthfully. “If they do, I have not noticed.”
“Exactly,” George said quietly. Thankfully, he dropped the subject then.
When Mrs. Ford returned some time later to clear the table, she eyed the empty dishes with satisfaction. “Did you enjoy your meal, Mr. Asquith?”
“It was delicious,” George said. “I think those were the lightest dumplings I’ve ever eaten.”
“Do you have room for some ginger pudding?” Mrs. Ford asked, hopefully.
“I could never say no to ginger pudding,” George replied, with perfect seriousness.
“And how about you, Mr. Caldwell?” She raised her brows at him.
Ordinarily, he would refuse pudding, but since this one thankfully had no currants in it, and since it was obvious it would please her, he said, “I think I could manage a small piece, Mrs. Ford.”
She smiled approvingly and sailed out, returning a short while later to set down pudding dishes and a jug of warm custard sauce, fragrant with nutmeg.
“This smells delicious,” George said, before adding innocently, “Did you used to make this dish for Mr. Lockhart and Mr. Martin?”
Theo glanced at him sharply, but George kept his eyes on Mrs. Ford.
“I did indeed,” Mrs. Ford said, “And they were both very fond of it too—not to mention those dumplings you just had. Mr. Martin used to ask me to make those quite often.” She smiled wistfully, remembering. “He was a handsome charmer when he first came here, so I usually agreed.”
“That must have been some time ago, from what you said earlier?” George said, his tone politely interested.
“Yes,” Mrs. Ford said, easily. “He was here from the first. Came to Blackfriars when the master first moved here.”
“He was the steward right from the beginning?”
“In a manner of speaking,” Mrs. Ford said. “Mr. Lockhart didn’t know the first thing about farming when he came here, but he couldn’t afford a proper steward. That was why he brought Mr. Martin with him, from his London household. He knew how to work a farm, you see, what with him coming from farming stock down Essex way. Mr. Martin didn’t know much about keeping account books and managing rents, though—not back then—but between them, he and Mr. Lockhart muddled their way through the first few years well enough.”
“And how long ago was it that they came here?”
She tapped her chin, thinking. “Thirty years? No, thirty-one! Good heavens!”
“You couldn’t have been working here then!” George exclaimed, with creditable disbelief. “You’re far too young!”
Mrs. Ford chuckled, a pleased if sceptical sound. “Away with you, flatterer!” she said. “When he came here I was nineteen and assistant cook. Mrs. Graham was the cook-housekeeper back then. She passed away almost twenty years ago. That woman taught me everything I know.” She sent George a sideward glance. “Including that dumplings recipe.”
George crossed himself piously. “Then God rest her soul.”
Mrs. Ford chuckled and began piling the empty dishes onto her tray.
When the door closed behind her again, George said, “Well. What do you think to that? Thirty-odd years together?”
“I don’t know what to think,” Theo admitted. “It’s curious, I grant you.”
“She said Martin was part of your uncle’s London household. What do you think he did there? A footman, or?—?”
Theo’s laugh seemed to startle George. “I doubt it! According to my mother, my uncle kept the cheapest of rooms in town, ate in chop houses, and spent every penny of his extremely limited income on gaming and drinking.”
George’s eyes widened. “You don’t think Martin was one of your uncle’s servants?”
“I don’t think my uncle had any servants before he came here.”
