‘Let’s walk back,’ she said, managing a faint smile. ‘I am sure you will figure it out.’
‘It’s strange,’ said Martha, flicking open her pocket watch and checking the time as they walked. ‘They germinate everywhere at the Cape without any help at all. I wonder what the difference is?’
Thea shrugged as the house came into view. It always made her shudder a little, as it had the first time she saw it. Grand, imposing, and a reminder of the Hartford’s wealth and status in the country. ‘Maybe it’s something in the air or the soil? I tried everything with the seed you sent before. Warmth, cold spells, compost, no compost, dry, wet. Nothing. Some others at least germinate here before they are frozen to death or cooked by the firewall, but with the protea there was nothing at all.’
‘Hmm,’ said Martha, ‘but there must be something. I can get more seed. We can approach this methodically.’
‘I have plenty of ideas,’ said Frankie as they arrived at the potting shed. ‘If we have enough. We can trial every way in Philip Miller’s dictionary, and I have some thoughts of my own.’ She stopped dead and looked between them both. ‘Wewilldo it.’ Martha looked at her and nodded once, before stalking away.
Thea looked between them. Two capable growers who had determination in spades. It would start to happen now, now they were here. Frankie had transformed the glasshouses in a matter of weeks. Martha had sailed the globe and had seen things Thea could only dream of. She pushed down feelings of her own inadequacy and resolved that her part in the team was neither skill nor experience.
So what was it?
Chapter 18
March 1765
‘There will be a shooting party at Upper Plumbthorne this summer,’ said George, lowering the letter he read over his eggs. He had been back at Hawkdean for fewer than twelve hours, had expressed his displeasure at many things including her hiring of Frankie, and was now beginning to organise her life.
‘How generous of Neville,’ said Thea tactfully. ‘I hadn’t realised he had his shoot ready.’
‘First season,’ said George absently. ‘You will accompany me.’
Thea stilled, knowing her initial response was not the one that should be verbalised. She was sore from his chiding over all the things she had done wrong, but the defiant bit of her swelled. ‘I am sure you should not want me in the way.’
‘On the contrary,’ said George. ‘Neville is keen to provide Cecily with entertainment of her own and we can help with that. My sister and Emma will apparently attend.’ He squinted at the letter again. ‘And Mrs Henry. You will be there also.’
Thea nodded. At least Harriet would be there. She sipped her coffee and tried not to look sour about it. There was no point arguing, George’s moods had worsened now his doctor had recommended laudanum for a pain in his shoulder and she had learned to be increasingly wary around him.
‘You might even learn something,’ said George. ‘Crumpacker is invited and so apparently is Lady Foxmore. I suppose it can’t hurt to make the most of our mutual connection.’ He smiled toothily at Martha, who inclined her head generously towards him.
‘Mr Crumpacker is due today, I believe,’ she said.
‘Good,’ said George, going back to his paper.
‘With Mr Fenwick for the children’s tutoring and Mrs Jenkins, Lady Foxmore’s housekeeper,’ said Thea.
George raised his eyes to her, and then to Martha. ‘You are bringing your housekeeper, Lady Foxmore?’
‘I permitted it,’ said Thea quickly, before Martha could respond. ‘Lady Foxmore has been kind enough to send her carriage for them all.’ George raised an eyebrow.
‘We have plenty of carriages to send, I am sure?’
‘The duchess has been so generous as to host me at Hawkdean for the past month,’ said Martha carefully. ‘However, now you have also arrived back, Your Grace, I thought Mrs Jenkins may ease the burden on Mrs Phibbs and I had to send my carriage for her in any case.’
‘Indeed,’ said George. ‘I am grateful to you for entertaining my wife, Lady Foxmore, and we would wish you to stay at least for the duration of Crumpacker’s visit of course. You will have business at Denbury afterward, I am sure?’
Thea swallowed. She knew he would be prickly about people in his space and had to navigate this carefully. Martha knew so too.
‘Of course, Your Grace,’ she said. ‘The duchess and I have much to catch up on and I am grateful for your hospitality, butI shall return to Denbury later in the spring. I hope the duchess might be able to visit me there.’
‘Perhaps,’ said George. ‘Although she is needed here for the house and estate, I am sure you understand.’
Thea prickled. She was neither in control of where she went, or who she had in her house, and she knew the situation must be just as vexing for Martha. At least George seemed to assume they were pleasant companions for one another. Despite that, she knew he would create a problem, just because he could.
‘Naturally,’ said Martha, but before she could go on, there was a knock at the door.
‘The Foxmore carriage, Your Graces,’ said Fletcher. ‘Just entered the long drive.’
