“As soon as Lord Marsden returns,” Ned said. “I’ve sent word. He will come when he is able.”
“And what do we do in the meantime?” Shielding asked. He was a short man and a bit pugnacious. He was not the best lawyer. He had made mistakes that had cost many in the parish plenty. He was tolerated because he was a village son. “I’ll take on her claim for us and put her in her place.”
Lord, Ned didn’t need that. “The magistrate will deal with it.” He knocked the dirt from the comb and reached for the saddle on the rack. “However, if we need more help, I shall turn to you or Michaels.”
That seemed to mollify Shielding.
The others were not so easily pleased.
“I think we should run her out,” Dawson said. “Just go over there and toss her on her arse. The duke agrees with me.”
“Do you agree, Your Grace? We shouldtoss her on her arse?” Ned challenged.
“It is a figure of speech,” Winderton replied.
“And how will that go over with your mother, who has apparently decided to be one of Mrs. Estep’s patronesses?”
Winderton swore under his breath.
“Yes, I agree,” Ned said.
“We must stop her,” the duke pressed.
“That is my intent.” Ned set Hippocrates’s saddle on his back and faced the men. They were soignorant in their arrogance, they made him feel ancient. “I don’t want her there, either. I was going to purchase the building, remember?” Or at least he was going to attempt to do so. He was comfortable but not wealthy.
“Is it for sale?” Winderton asked.
Shielding spoke up. “The property was a freehold. Old Andy won it in a game of cards decades ago from Marsden’s father, who had owned the property. However, Andy died without a will, as far as we could find. We were going to wait until The Garland reverted to the Crown and came up for sale. Mr. Thurlowe plans on making an offer.”
If he could afford it,Ned wanted to add. However, he had been saving.
“That could take ages,” the duke said.
“It won’t be quick,” Shielding agreed. He looked to Ned. “So she has the will?”
“I don’t know. She says she has proof that Old Andy left The Garland to her. She refuses to show it to me. She will have to show it to the magistrate. Still, we must do this right or we’ll have the village set against us. Have you forgotten what happened last night?” He looked directly at Dawson, whose mother had not been pleased with him. “The women in the village are excited about Mrs. Estep’s plans. We must be careful.”
No one’s head nodded agreement.
“Mars might take weeks to return,” Michaels protested.
The duke warned, “By then, the women will be entrenched. We will never remove them.”
Sheepishly, Fitz said, “My mother is already celebrating the arrival of a tea garden. She will be taking several plantings from our beds to Mrs. Estep today.”
“See?” Dawson said. “This is what the lot of them were talking about after church. Oh, they are just chirping and planning. Even the husbands were over there. The Reverend Summerall can’t do enough for Mrs. Estep. He is practically at her feet.”
Ned tried to urge calm again as he cinched the saddle. “Mrs. EstepclaimsOld Andy wanted her to take over The Garland. She says she has proof, but we are going to challenge her claim. You know the earl will see the matter in our favor. I have no doubt on that. Until that time, as chairman of the Society, I want you gents to cool your heels.”
“And where do we drink until then?” Dawson asked sulkily.
It was on the tip of Ned’s tongue to say that they could try staying sober a night. That would be wasted breath. “Meet at a different location again.”
“So we come here?” Fitz said.
“No.”Ned had just finished bridling his horse and he turned so fast with his answer, Hippocrates gave a start. He steadied the animal with a hand on his neck. He was not giving up his plans for a decent night’s sleep. “After all, you’ve gone through my larder.”
“That is true,” Shielding agreed before asking, “Where else can we go?”
