He found her in the kitchen, seated on a stool, drinking tea. The cook was nearby, stirring porridge over a massive cast iron, wood-burning cookstove. Next to it was the ubiquitous Rumford roaster set in its brick housing in the wall, and on the other side, a bread oven.
“Good morning, Mrs. Georgie,” he greeted the older woman first, hoping for a goodly portion of breakfast. She looked over her shoulder with a friendly nod. “And good morning to you, mylady.” Adam wanted to restore Alice to her rightful place, even if only by showing her the respect of her title.
“Good morning.” She still had that slightly wary look upon her face, which she’d worn ever since they’d swived. “Did you sleep well?” she asked him.
“I did. Thank you.” Adam took the other stool. “I would say I slept like a baby, but I can recall my youngest sister as a baby awakening every few hours. Bri fussed and cried and woke up the entire household.”
“Bri?” she repeated. “An unusual name.”
“It is short for Brilliance,” he told her.
The cook glanced over her shoulder again, and her expression mirrored Alice’s.
“Do you not know any of my sisters?” Adam asked.
“I don’t,” Alice said. “Lady Beasley mentioned you have two older ones and two who are younger. The older ones were probably out in society before me for I do not remember meeting them.”
“Probably so. They are Clarity and Purity, both with husbands and children.”
He saw her exchange a look with Mrs. Georgie.
“And your other two sisters?” she asked. “Are they out in society yet?”
“To tell you the truth, I have lost track of whether Bri and Ray, short for Radiance, have been presented at court already.”
Another wide-eyed exchange.
“In any case,” Alice said, “I am sure I have not met any of them. While I doubt whether any of them would remember my name, I am certain I would remember any or all of theirs.”
Then she changed the subject. “Are you ready for some tea and porridge?”
While porridge wasn’t his favorite way to start the day, he agreed to a bowl of it.
“The weather is fine. May I take my mug and bowl outside? And will you join me?”
With an encouraging nod from Mrs. Georgie, Alice rose to her feet, her mug in hand, and accompanied him out the door and onto the back terrace. Unfortunately, there was no furniture. They sat together on the granite steps leading to the gardens.
“You have a lovely home.”
That made her laugh. “A spartan home at present, but I agree.”
After another moment, he asked, “What do you intend to do?”
Alice cradled her cup in her hands. “About what?”
Was she being obtuse?“About everything?”
“Thank you for the clarification. I am enjoying a little peace and quiet, or I was until you came along, all curious and handsome.”
It was his turn to laugh.
“Truly,” she added, “those are unsettling traits. In answer, I can honestly say I do not know. I cannot sell if I wanted to, as it must go to my heirs. And yet, it is doubtful I shall have any children. Moreover, if the roof starts to leak or any other calamity, there won’t be anything left for them to inherit.”
Adam thought she was too young to make such an assumption about her fertility. But on the other point, he wondered if he could offer assistance.
“One of my brothers-in-law is a solicitor. I wonder if there is some clause in the will that allows you to sell due to hardship. I cannot believe you are forced to let an estate like this crumble away. It would be better to sell while it still has a good roof. You could pay these people any wages owed to them with the profits.”
Alice shrugged, not looking inclined. “I would hate for them to lose this home with no way to earn a living.”
