“Do you think he’ll like these?” Tabitha asked her maid, nodding toward the house.
“Of course.Thisis what one would call a mouth-watering basket—not the pathetic excuse Lord Hawthorne had brought to your meeting.”
“I agree.” Although, Tabitha couldn’t come down too hard on Nic. He really hadn’t known any better.
When nobody answered the door, Tabitha frowned. “Perhaps he’s not home.”
Sally leaned closer to the door and pressed her ear against the wood. Suddenly, her eyes enlarged and she quickly pulled back. “I hear someone coming now.”
Seconds later, the door opened, and when the man locked gazes with Tabitha, his smile grew. “Miss Tabitha. What a surprise to see you.”
“Good day, Mr. Jacobs. I hope my maid and I aren’t inconveniencing you, but we made some pastries earlier, and because we had so many left over, I just had to share them.”
“Pastries?” His eyes moved to the basket and he licked his lips. “Miss Tabitha, you have a heart of gold. Please come inside.” He opened the door wider, limping as he moved.
“Oh, think nothing of it, Mr. Jacobs.” Tabitha went in first as Sally followed. “We are just happy that you’ll eat them.”
Chuckling, he shut the door. “If they taste half as good as they smell, I won’t just eat them—I’ll devour them.” He motioned hishand toward the sofas. “Would you care to sit and visit for a little while?”
“Yes, we do have some time to visit.” Tabitha sat on one of the sofas and Sally settled beside her.
Scanning the meager front room, she noticed it was cleaner today than when she and Sally had been here before. Then again, the man didn’t have servants. It was just him and his daughter. Once more, she moved her gaze around the room, but this time, she listened for any sounds of Joanna. The little girl would be out of school by now. Tabitha didn’t detect any other sounds.
“Mr. Jacobs? Where is your lovely daughter? I’d hoped to see her again as well.”
His smile faltered. “Joanna has been working in the afternoons for Mr. and Mrs. Littleton as a way to help bring in extra money while I’m laid up. My leg hasn’t allowed me to work for very long during the day in my barn.” He shrugged. “The pay my daughter receives is not a lot, but it does help.”
Tabitha’s heart twisted. She knew very well how it was to help a parent earn money to put food on the table. Thankfully, though, her mother had a great employer—Lady Mathis, may she rest in peace.
“Mr. Jacobs, have you informed Mr. Woodland of your situation?”
His eyebrows arched in skepticism. “The clergyman? Why would I inform him?”
Sally glanced at Tabitha with a raised brow, looking at her as if she’d grown two heads. Obviously, Tabitha had spoken out of turn.
“To see if he knows of anyone who will be able to help you.” She folded her hands in her lap. “Forgive me if it’s none of my business, but I would think a man of God could assist you in some way. Also, he might know of others who could lend a helping hand until you’re back on your feet.”
Sighing deeply, he rubbed his forehead. “Miss Tabitha, I do appreciate your thoughtfulness, but I am a prideful man. It’s extremely hard for me to tell people of my dire situation. I’m not certain at this time whether I want Mr. Woodland knowing about my circumstances.”
“Please accept my apology then.” She smiled. “I didn’t mean to offend.”
“Oh no, you didn’t offend me at all, I assure you.”
“Then I shan’t say a thing to the clergyman, either. Unless you want me to.”
He chuckled. “No, Miss Tabitha. My knee is gradually healing and I’m sure I’ll be back to working all day in my barn very soon.”
“That’s very good to know.”
Perhaps it was wrong of her to offer the clergyman’s—Nic’s—services, but the idea merely slipped from her mouth. Regardless, she wanted Mr. Jacobs to know she cared about him. He was a very nice man, after all. During Aunt Clara’s birthday party, Tabitha had noticed him looking at her quite a bit. He had talked to her a few times, almost in a flirty way.
The man was perhaps ten years Nic’s senior. Where the marquess had dark hair, Mr. Jacobs was nearly blond. His eyes were a deep brown, and granted, they didn’t have that flirtatious twinkle in them like Nic’s did, but Mr. Jacobs was still a fairly good-looking man. For being a blacksmith, she half expected his body to be more muscular, but unfortunately, Nic still had broader shoulders and more muscles in his arms and legs.
What am I thinking?It didn’t matter if Mr. Jacobs wasn’t built like Lord Hawthorne. Inside a person was what mattered. So far, Mr. Jacobs had shown her a kind and loving man. Nic…well, all he’d shown her was how seductive he could be.
“Would you like to try one of my pastries?” She pointed to the basket as Sally brought it toward him.
“I thought you would never ask.” His grin broadened as he looked inside. “They all look so tasty.”
