‘Huh?’
Thea sighed; all dignity gone. ‘Society does not understand me, but you do. I enjoyed spending time with you, and I thought maybe it was something else and then I realised what it was.’ She stopped, the humiliation sitting heavily, but it was worth it for the broad smile on Frankie’s face.
‘You realised what?’ asked Frankie, stepping forward at last.
Thea hesitated.
‘Mrs Rogers?’ asked Frankie, mischievousness dancing in her eyes.
Thea took a breath, resigned to it. ‘I find you intellectually stimulating,’ she said, a little more loudly than necessary.
There was a pause, and then a laugh burst from Frankie. Thea wasn’t sure if she was simply going to mock her awkwardness, but after a moment she turned and picked a cloak off the rack.
‘Less of the dirty talk,Your Grace,’ she said, emphasising the last two words and making Thea’s heart grow exponentially. ‘Take me home and let me into your plants.’
Chapter 12
New Year’s Day 1765
Thea had graced Mother Courage’s palm with enough silver to keep her employees going for months, but she didn’t care. Frankie was with her at Whitehall, and she felt a little spike of hope. She might not yet be able to move on from Martha emotionally, but she could distract herself with productive pursuits.
On New Year’s morning they slept in, Frankie with a hastily made-up bed in a room shared with the fire girls on the top floor as she had nowhere else to go. The first thing they did was to tour the small Whitehall garden. The growing in London was limited due to space and soot, but Thea kept a few of her favourites for the winter season.AcerandCotinusfor the autumn colour, and snowdrops and hellebore to herald the warming ahead of spring. Then, Thea sent Frankie and Sanders off to collect Frankie’s things and sat down for a late breakfast. Much to her consternation, George joined her before she had finished her first cup of coffee, the girl who had presumably shared his bedfor the night swiftly ushered out of the door. Thea sighed and lathered a sweetened roll in butter and jam as Joan arrived with a new scarf t0 replace the one she had accidentally dipped in her coffee already.
‘Good morning,’ she said as cheerily as she could manage. George only grunted as he sat down. Joan bobbed to them both. ‘Thank you, Joan,’ said Thea, and indicated she was dismissed.
‘That one turning out ok?’ asked George, flatly.
‘Excellent,’ said Thea. ‘Thorough and attentive.’ She looked at him, a little puzzled. ‘But she has been with us for five years.’
‘Can never be too careful with that type,’ said George.
‘What type?’ she asked, certain that she already knew.
George waved his hand in the direction of the door as Sanders filled his cup. ‘You know exactly what I mean,’ he said. ‘I know your family are used to foreigners in the house, but the Crowes are not. Too risky.’
‘I have no need at all to be careful with her,’ Thea said, the hairs on her neck standing up in rage. ‘I should struggle without her.’
‘Should be grateful for what she has here,’ said George.
Thea clenched her teeth and took in a slow breath through her nose. That English people so readily assumed that anyone not from England should be grateful to them, however hard they worked, never failed to astonish her. She decided it was best to change the subject and steeled herself for the conversation. ‘I have taken on a new head gardener,’ she said as George reached for a roll. He paused in his selection, and Thea held her breath. She knew he liked to be consulted, even if she managed the staff. ‘I have let Elton go so there will be no impact to the current estate finances,’ she added, ‘which I assume you would be happy for me to continue to manage?’ She said it meekly, but it felt a little defiant. The estate was his role that he was failing in.
The look in his eyes was hard, but he retrieved a roll and put it on his plate. ‘Fine,’ was all he said. There was a silence and she sipped her coffee. Surely it couldn’t be that easy?
‘The gardener starts with immediate effect and shall be sent to Hawkdean as soon as we can manage.’ She tried to keep her tone light. She had expected more challenge than this.
‘Fine,’ said George again, sitting back and rubbing his temples. Her heart rate started to slow a little, before he spoke up again. ‘If, as I hope, you have taken on a decent one this time, we should send some plants to Knatchbull.’
She sat quietly, wondering how to respond in a way that wouldn’t anger him. ‘Of course,’ she tried eventually, ‘but I thought you considered him a superior grower even though you dislike him?’
‘Indeed, on both counts,’ said George, ‘but it is plants he values and we must maintain reciprocal relationships with influential families. His influence is rising, I am afraid to say and he sends us game from his estate on an almost weekly basis. It is quite irritating.’
‘His influence is rising in politics or with the royals?’ asked Thea, still confused.
Her husband dismissed her interest with a wave of the hand and she knew not to pursue the subject any further. He had always tried to limit her and she knew he wouldn’t support her place on the queen’s advisory board if she germinated theProtea, but he had never shown an interest in being able to influence Knatchbull through botanical gifts before. What had changed? She didn’t dare ask.
Instead, wondering if she could take further advantage of his presumably sore and absent state, Thea put down her cup.
‘I hope to travel to Hawkdean at the same time as the gardener. I would like to ensure the place is set up for when youreturn.’ Her heart beat fast. She knew he wouldn’t like it, but she was so keen to get on with Frankie.
