‘She was kinder to me earlier than she has been in the past,’ said Martha. ‘I think she understood, despite everything.’
‘She is some woman,’ said Thea. ‘I was always scared of her, but now I suspect that one has to be formidable to survive in the Hartford family.’
‘And you have joined their ranks,’ said Martha. ‘You were absolutely impressive with the constable and when you put Herbert and Fletcher in their place.’ She paused a little. ‘I am devastated at what Fletcher did, but I am proud of you.’
‘You figured it out,’ said Thea. ‘About the letters. You always knew there was more to it than George and Knachbull.’
‘I did,’ said Martha. ‘And you provided a conclusion and made it impossible for them to pursue their case. We make quite the team.’ Her arm encircled Thea’s shoulders, no longer worried to be seen together on the estate. Thea took hold of the hand over her shoulder.
‘I suspect that there will be more teamwork required as this household gets nurtured into a new way,’ said Thea. ‘I wondered how you might feel about joining the team permanently?’ Shelooked up at Martha, hoping that she would understand her meaning. Martha stared back at her. For a second Thea feared that she was going to kiss her, right there amongst the trees. That, they couldn't risk anyone seeing.
‘Are you asking me to move in with you, Your Grace?’ Martha asked, her eyes intense and a smile flickering at the corner of her mouth.
‘We already split ourselves between the country and London,’ said Thea. ‘It doesn’t make sense for us both to go between country houses too. Here or Denbury, I don’t mind.’
Martha seemed to think about it. ‘Here. The estate needs more management. And I’ll need my own water closet.’
A chuckle bubbled from Thea. She felt a little awkward on what was supposed to be a solemn day, but she didn’t feel solemn. She felt liberated. ‘Naturally. And I’ll build you a new glasshouse. A really big one.’
‘Can I have Frankie?’ asked Martha.
‘Don’t push your luck,’ said Thea.
‘We could use Foxmore Square as our London residence?’ suggested Martha in a hopeful way that almost broke Thea’s heart.
‘Perfect,’ she said. She was about to pull Martha into the shade of a tree and steal a quick kiss, but then she heard a dull thudding. ‘What’s that?’ she asked.
‘Footsteps?’ asked Martha.
‘Surely not out here,’ said Thea. ‘I thought we might at least get a little privacy?’
They turned to see Frankie running through the long grass, looking left and then right until she spotted Thea and Martha. Then she made straight for them. Thea’s heart skipped – surely nothing else was on fire?
‘Your Grace, Lady Foxmore,’ gasped Frankie, evidently having run all the way. ‘You are going to want to come and see this.’
Chapter 35
‘Well, I’ll be…’ said Thea as they stood over a blackened sand bed in the remains of the glasshouse.
Frankie stood with her hands on her hips. A fragment of burnt beam crunched under her weight as she shifted. ‘I just don’t know how,’ she said, a crease remaining in her brow.
‘Why on earth didn’t I think of it before?’ asked Martha, leaning forward to pinch a morsel of the ash covering the bed’s surface. Her words caused both Thea and Frankie to tear their eyes away from the small forest ofProteaseedlings newly sprouted in the bed.
‘You know?’ they both said at once.
‘It makes perfect sense,’ said Martha, straightening and brushing hair out of her eyes. It left a black smear on her forehead, almost in keeping with her funeral dress.
‘What does?’ asked Thea and Frankie, again in unison.
Martha looked at them both for the first time since entering the wreckage of the glasshouse. ‘Proteaare part of the Fynbos flora at the Cape. Every few years, wildfires take hold and burn the vegetation to the ground. Then the whole landscaperegenerates from seeds.’ Martha nodded at the litter of seedlings. ‘Just like that.’
Frankie stared at her.
‘So, you’re saying they need to be burnt to germinate?’ asked Thea.
‘I suppose so,’ said Martha, looking thoughtful. ‘I didn’t see it as it was never burning while I was there, but the local guides are clear that it is a regular occurrence.’
‘The fire removes competition from other plants, I suppose?’ said Thea as her brain wrapped itself around the idea.
