‘And good for you,’ said Thea. She eyed the still smiling Frankie, wondering why she had been let into the secret.
‘I didn’t think many people had,’ said Frankie. ‘But Mr Gordon wasn’t sure.’ Then Thea realised that while Frankie might be excellent at her craft, her knowledge of the wider growing world was limited. Thea had access to anyone she wanted, even if they didn’t value her contribution. She felt a strange pride that she had been able to offer a little insight and sought to nurture their connection.
‘Would you tell me how you did it?’ she asked.
Frankie nodded, but her eyes darted round the garden.
‘Shall we have a seat?’ asked Thea, gesturing at the table and chairs in front of them.
Frankie looked horrified. ‘Herbert wouldn’t like that.’
‘He did seem a little… out of sorts,’ said Thea, choosing her words carefully. ‘But surely you are allowed a sit down?’
‘Not on these chairs,’ said Frankie. ‘And only twice a day.’ Thea raised an eyebrow, feeling a little surge of rebellion.
‘Then I shall insist that you sit with me, and he can deal with The Duchess of Hartford if he dares.’ She injected just enough haughtiness into her voice to make Frankie grin. They both sat, and Frankie told her all about the cultivation of theCassia, the mix it was planted in and its careful positioning near a warm wall on a southern aspect.
‘Frankie!’ came a shout as Frankie was outlining the quantity of bonemeal she had applied in August. ‘Where the devil are…’ Herbert must have spied her, and Frankie shot to her feet. ‘What the hell are you doing? If I’ve told you once I’ve told you–’ the voice stopped as Herbert rounded the corner, hand outstretched as if to take Frankie by the collar. ‘Oh. Your Grace,’ he acknowledged, with anything but grace, Thea thought. She stood and drew herself up to her full height, for once keen to demonstrate her rank.
‘My apologies, Dr Herbert,’ she said politely. ‘I had asked Frankie to sit with me and she refused until I absolutely insisted. I was too keen to hear about theCassiawhich I am excited to see is seeding.’ She and Frankie shared a knowing glance, and that little bit of rebellion inside her grew. Dr Herbert looked from her to the yellow plant.
‘I should prefer her to concentrate on plants of consequence to medicine,’ he said, before turning back to Thea. ‘Whilst it is a delight to see you, Your Grace, I trust you have taken all of my gardener’s time that you need?’ She understood that she was being dismissed, and while she could have asserted her status,she had made her point and wished to cause no further problems for either Frankie or Speckle. She nodded her assent and then turned her back on him, throwing Frankie a wink. She saw Frankie smile before Dr Herbert flicked his head in the direction of the glasshouses. ‘There is dirt on the path by the pool.’ Frankie scurried away without a backward glance.
‘Your Grace,’ he said again, nodding at Thea before guiding her back down the path towards the house.
Chapter 7
October 1764
‘Where is she, Wade?’ asked Thea, dropping her cloak into the butler’s arms as she and George entered her family’s house at Portland Square.
‘Her room, I believe, Your Grace,’ he said in his deep voice as he held out a hand for George’s coat. Thea was already halfway up the stairs.
‘Good to see you Wade,’ she shouted behind her.
‘And you, Your Grace,’ came the fading voice in the hallway. She heard the smile in his voice.
‘Urs!’ she exclaimed as she rounded the door on the first floor. Her sister turned at the toilette table, a huge smile lighting her face.
‘Thea!’ They embraced warmly, Agnes standing back from fixing Ursula’s hair but keeping hold of a curl in one hand. Thea missed her youngest sister more than she could say. They wrote frequently, but now their country retreats were in different counties and Ursula rarely ventured to town, preferring to stay with the plants, open countryside and stairless access to her rooms at the Morell’s Milford estate in Sussex.
‘How long are you staying?’ she asked, eager to have her sister in town for a while.
‘Around four weeks,’ said Ursula. ‘Father thinks we should travel back before December and the worst of the weather although of course Mother wants to stay on for the new year. It’ll be nice to see people and catch up, but you know how it is.’ Thea did. Why her parents couldn’t put a room downstairs in London for her sister Thea didn’t know – on the first floor she was dependent on someone carrying both her and her chair every time she wished to move from bedroom to living. She nodded.
‘Then I shall have to make the most of you.’
‘I wish Tab felt the same,’ said Ursula. Thea looked at her questioningly. ‘She isn’t coming,’ said Ursula sadly. Thea frowned. They had arranged this dinner as a welcome for Ursula, and the whole family was supposed to be there.
‘Why not?’ asked Thea.
Ursula shrugged. ‘She’s back from the continent but can’t afford the travel to London or doesn’t want to, I suppose.’ She sounded disappointed but resigned. Thea wouldn’t have her sad, just because their irresponsible middle sister couldn’t manage her time or her finances.
‘Then you shall have to make do with me,’ she said, whilst Agnes piled hair on top of Ursula’s head. Putting the final pins in place, she left to fetch powder.
‘How are you?’ asked Ursula as soon as they were alone. She gave that probing look only her sister could give. Thea swallowed.
‘Fine.’ Ursula gave her a look which said she knew it wasn’t true. Thea couldn’t lie to her completely, but she could keep from Ursula just how bad the situation was. The last thing she wanted to do was to make her sister feel guilty. She put on a smile. ‘You know I’m fine, Urs. I have a job, I do it as well as I am able, and I have three gorgeous children out of it.’
