Dinner had already come and gone by the time he and the lads stepped out of the stables. During his cleaning, Caleb had come across the man who had driven his aunts’ carriage, and asked that he assist the lads, to which he readily agreed. He’d not been aware of the situation, though thought it odd that there were so few stablehands about.
“Thank you again, Mr. Copeland.”
“It was my pleasure.” Which it truly was. He enjoyed working in the stables, even the nastier parts such as mucking out stalls. “Get something to eat and some sleep. These next days are going to be exhausting.”
Four
This morning had beena pleasant surprise and Lucinda enjoyed her visit with Lord F, though it was quickly decided that they would not suit. And now that her ten lords had been reduced to nine before luncheon, she went in search of Mr. Copeland.
He’d disappeared yesterday and never returned, not even for supper or breakfast, and she’d looked forward to seeing him again. It took a bit, but Lucinda finally found him near the woodshed and watched as he lifted the axe, his muscular shoulders and arms straining against the linen of his shirt, before he brought it down, splitting the wood. He took the two pieces and tossed them in a growing pile before he prepared to split another.
“May I ask what you are doing?” she called.
Mr. Copeland stopped and turned. Lucinda nearly sucked in a breath at the vision. His coat and waistcoat had been discarded, as well as his cravat, if he’d worn one, and his linen shirt was open at his neck with sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Such a fine form of a man.
“It’s not obvious?” he questioned with a bit of teasing in his green eyes. “My first impression of you was that of intelligence.”
“I can see that you are chopping wood,” she laughed. “Why?”
“There isn’t enough to sustain the manor before the servants return,” he answered, setting the axe aside.
Lucinda glanced into the woodshed. “It’s not so depleted.”
“Not as of yet,” he stated. “However, I am also doing this for me.”
This took her aback. “Why?”
“Restlessness, I suppose.” He picked up the axe and in one powerful swing, split another log. “Why are you out here? Weren’t you supposed to be courted by one of your leaping lords this morning?
“Don’t call them that.” Lucinda laughed.
“It’s preferable to the other names I’ve considered.” He grinned.
“In that I must agree, as I’ve had a few unpleasant thoughts as well.” Lucinda stepped closer. “Perhaps we can share and compare one day.”
Copeland put a hand on his heart. “I wouldn’t dare voice my uncharitable thoughts in the presence of a lady.”
Oh, she did like Mr. Copeland, very much.
As he placed another log on the stump to be split, she began gathering the ones cut to be stacked.
“I can see to stacking the wood,” he said.
“If a guest in our home is chopping wood, the least I can do is stack it for him,” she insisted.
“A lady should not—”
“—Be careful what you say, Mr. Copeland, for if I hear one more time what my place should be, I just might box your ears.”
“My pardon,” he bowed as he laughed.
Besides, gathering wood and stacking it was a simple enough task. If anyone knew how often she helped load and unload smuggled crates in the caves below the manor, they’d not think her so frail.
* * *
Lady Lucinda wasone of the most interesting, delightful and beautiful ladies Caleb had ever encountered. “You never answered my question. Why aren’t you with yourlords?”
“This morning I was to spend time with Lord F, but we came to an agreement that we’d not suit.”
