Erasmus looked across the tavern to the table where his fair-haired friend still sat. “Say, do you need others? Harold there was in the army during the war. Served an officer, he claims.”
“Tell him to come, too, if he is interested.”
After leaving the tavern, Gareth stopped by Mrs. Fleming’s shop to purchase one more item, then retrieved his horse from the stable and headed home.
Home.He had to smile at the word. In a manner of speaking, he had not had one since he was sent off to school as a boy. He rather liked that he did now, even if it was a derelict pile of rock.
Erasmus and Harold would be useful in many ways. They knew the town well, and its people. For example, they would know where Miss Russell lived.
CHAPTER5
Rebecca carefully stitched together a sleeve by the light of the front window. Eva worked on the bodice so that she might fit it today.
“Have you heard from Sarah yet?” Rebecca asked without raising her head from her work.
“I only wrote two days ago. I do not expect an answer right away.”
“Do you think she will allow us to stay with her? I would so love to spend several days in Birmingham, and not just the odd day.”
“I think that she will.”
Sarah was the daughter of her mother’s sister, and older than Eva. That side of the family had never been close, probably because her father’s family had not approved of his marrying the daughter of a merchant. A wealthy merchant, to hear it, who could have bought and sold Papa three times over even in the best of times.
She kept up a sporadic exchange of letters with Sarah, so that all connection would not be lost. That did not mean Sarah would look kindly on her cousins asking to impose on her hospitality.
If Sarah begged off as expected, the rest of that stash of coins would have to be badly depleted to pay for an inn or a hotel, and they could only stay one night instead of two or three.
Eva shook out the bodice and admired the fabric. She had chosen well. It appeared fresh, but not too girlish. Rebecca would have objected if she were made to appear a schoolgirl in this new dress.
“Who isthat?” Rebecca said.
Eva looked over to see her sister staring out the window. Rebecca stood and opened it so she could see clearly.
“Is it another of those strangers who have been about too much the last month?” Eva had seen another one crossing the field beyond their garden four days ago. He could have been a neighbor’s friend, of course. He was far enough away that perhaps he was not a stranger at all. Yet unease had prickled through her, much as it did with some of the unknown faces and figures dotting her world these days.
“He looks to be a gentleman, or a very wealthy man, and he is riding a big black horse and is quite dashing. Goodness, he is coming right to our door, I think!”
Eva walked over and peered out. She drew back quickly and shut the window, then looked around the library. “He is a new acquaintance of mine. I never expected him to call, however. Clear the fabric and notions off the divan.Quickly.”
Rebecca hurriedly scooped up her work and dumped it into the sewing basket. Eva tried to make the table where she sat more presentable, then turned the one chair to face the divan. She was thanking God that protective cloths draped the borrowed painting and her work in progress when the rap on the door echoed through the house.
She pointed to the divan. “Sit. We will give him the chair.”
“Who ishe? How did you meet him? Why did you not tell me you had a new friend?” The questions tumbled out in a low voice.
Eva had no time to explain. She went to the door and opened it.
Mr. Fitzallen stood there in all his compelling splendor. She had convinced herself that she exaggerated his appearance in her mind, but no, she had not. At least she did not gawk or fluster this time.
“Mr. Fitzallen, how kind of you to visit. Please join us, and tell me what I can do for you.”
He entered and followed her into the library. “I have not come to impose on your helpfulness, Miss Russell. I was riding by and thought I would pay a social call.” He made a bow to her, then one to Rebecca, but he did not give her sister any special attention.
The same could not be said of Rebecca. Eyes wide and face slack, Rebecca appeared struck dumb.Just as I did several times now,Eva reminded herself.
“How generous of you, sir.” She introduced Rebecca, took a place on the divan, and invited Mr. Fitzallen to use the chair.
“Do your efforts progress well at the lodge?” she asked.
