His fingers trailed down her belly, spreading heat in their wake. “It seems something much more pressing has come up at home.”
Eliza bent to her work, weeding the rows of red lettuce in the kitchen garden as the sun warmed her back. A delicious ache still rested between her legs from Malcolm’s attentions that morning. Even though their lovemaking had been a pleasant distraction, his strange response to her mention of Beatrice’s name had piqued her curiosity.
Eliza eyed Shirley, who was busy shaking a flurry of dirt from a bundle of carrots. She placed them in the basket at her feet, then moved toward the row of parsnips.
“Say, Shirley?” Eliza called.
“Yes’m?”
“I’ve been considering adding to our staff. Malcolm mentioned he’d like to hire a maid for me, and I thought someone already familiar with the manor would be a good fit, wouldn’t you think?” In reality, Malcolm hadn’t brought up any such thing. “Sarah Nelson and I were talking the other day, and she mentioned Ada’s maid. I believe her name was Beatrice?”
“Aye, mum. I remember her.” Shirley paused, the ruffled top of a parsnip within her chubby hand. “He’s said he wants to hire another maid? Really?”
“Yes. Did Beatrice leave a forwarding address or ever send for a reference?”
“I wouldn’t ken where to find her, mum. She left in a rush quite a few years ago. I believe she said she was going home to Guernsey or some such.” Shirley’s voice had risen in pitch from her usual alto rumble. “Nae, I’ve no help for ye on that count.”
What was it with Beatrice that had everyone in such a state?
Eliza sighed and stretched her back. “It’s just that I’m considering having a party, and I wouldn’t want you having to do all the work.”
Shirley brightened, her relief in the change of subject apparent. “Dinnae fash about my working. I’m built to the task. I’ve been managing things for many a year.”
“I’d want dancing and a buffet, and all the rest. That gorgeous ballroom has been closed up for far too long.”
Shirley brushed her hands on her apron. “It’d be nice to have a bit of merrymaking in this old house again. His lordship’s mother held a ghillies ball each fall before the hunt. She didnae care for parties, not usually, but she liked to keep her Scottish traditions.”
“Do you think we could pull off a ghillies ball at Havenwood Manor? By mid-October, perhaps?”
“Oh, mum. We most certainly could. I could help you plan the menu after tea! Wecouldbring in a pair of village girls to help with the cooking, I suppose. Just for the day. His lordship surely wouldn’t mind that. And unless the moths have gotten to it, I’ve yards of tartan bunting up the attic.”
“That all sounds marvelous.”
Just then, their happy plans were interrupted by a commotion of hoofbeats from the flagstone drive. Eliza shook out her skirts and went around the side of the house. She was greeted by the unexpected sight of Malcolm driving a fine new carriage—a varnished ebony wood landau with sweeping French lines and purple tufted upholstery. Apollo was hitched to the shaft, and next to him trotted a beautiful Friesian mare, black as coal shards, her crimped mane tied with violet ribbons. Malcolm pulled up to the terrace, his face breaking into a proud grin.
“Husband, what have you done?”
“I’ve retrieved your wedding present, darling. As promised.”
Eliza covered her mouth with her hands. “But this istrop cher! It must have cost a fortune.”
Malcolm hopped down and pulled her into his arms. “It’s also my apology. It’s not too dear at all, considering. Do you like it?”
Eliza laughed, incredulous. “How could I not?” She ran her hand over the beveled edge of the carriage door. “It’s gorgeous!”
It was more than gorgeous, it was extravagant—a carriage meant for a duke or a prince. A gildedHadorned the front fender, and its well-oiled wheels gleamed with gold plating along their spoked rims. But for all the landau’s finery, it was the new horse she was most anxious to see. Eliza went to the mare’s side, sweeping a hand over her velvet flank up to her neck. The horse turned her fine head to study Eliza with long-lashed, dewy eyes.
“She came all the way from Holland, with the very best bloodlines. Her ancestors carried kings.”
Eliza’s tears welled. “Hello, Artemis.” She placed a kiss on the horse’s muzzle and was rewarded with a soft huff of hot air against her cheek. “Oh, Malcolm. I love her already.”
“She’ll carry you well. And now you won’t have to walk to town when I’m away.”
“You made excellent time to Southampton and back. This carriage must be swift as the wind.”
He gave a puzzled look. “Did I? I’ve been gone since early morning.”
“I suppose for most people, nine in the morningisearly.” She winked. “You seemed rather unconcerned with the time.”
