They were greeted by the owners themselves, a shipbuilder with a shipyard in nearby Brancepeth. Sir Thomas Park and his wife Lady Winnifred were selling the house to relocate to London to be closer to their grown children. But they had devoted their marriage and child-rearing years in Abbotsford Cottage and could not bear to sell it to strangers who might allow it to fall in disrepair or build on in a way that jeopardized the historical integrity of the original structure.
After introductions and chitchat about the journey, Joseph allowed Tessa to take over. Her natural charm and vitality made every corner of the grand house seem like her new personal favorite. Her questions were thoughtful and flattering, her manner warm and well-bred. She behaved like the queen.
When Joseph asked for a few moments alone to discuss the property with his wife, Sir Thomas led them to the garden.
Staring down into the fountain, Tessa asked, “Joseph, be honest. How can we afford it? It’s far too much. It’s grander than Berymede. It’s as grand as Willow’s home, Leland Park.”
“Do you like it?” he asked.
“Of course, I like it. But there is upkeep, there are servants—a veritable army of servants for a house of this size—there is fuel for fireplaces and lamps and candles. We had discussed a cottage.”
“It’s called Abbotsford Cottage.”
“I am aware of the name. I’m also aware that I’m standing in the garden of a full-blownestate. Please tell me you would not bankrupt us to buy this because you think it will impress me.”
“Are you impressed?” He put one shiny boot on the ledge of the fountain.
“Of course, I am impressed. But I was happy living in a cellar with two other women, a baby, and a goat. This is unnecessary. But I do love you for it.”
“Nope,” he said, “unacceptable expression of love. It rings false when you say it in response to this gift of a small castle. Keep trying.”
She laughed and shook her head. “Itispossible to hurt my feelings, you are aware? You can only toss this sentiment in my face so many times, before I will be forever wounded.”
“What if I told you that I do believe that you love me?”
She looked at him thoughtfully. “I suppose I would ask youwhyyou believe it.”
“Well, perhaps there are many reasons, but chiefly, firstly, because I was terrible to you and despite that, you wanted me back in your life. After I abandoned you. Not only did you want me, you made it possible for our brig to make landfall. You tried to correct things. Why would you do this, if you did not love me?”
She smiled gently, a sweet, gratified smile not for him, just for herself. He watched her, enjoying her pleasure. He’d gotten it right, then. He wanted everything he did to be right for her. She stared into the gurgling fountain and he drifted beside her and put his hands on her waist.
“Joseph?” she asked softly. “Have I told you how very sorry I am—for the way I handled our days at Berymede? For the deception and the entrapment? I was desperate and afraid and I wanted you so very badly, but that’s no excuse. I should have risked losing you by telling you the truth. That way, you would never doubt, even for a second, that I married you... for you.”
His heart expanded, straining against the confines of his mortal body. He pulled her against him and nuzzled her neck. “I forgive you, Tessa. My dearest. And Idobelieve you love me, but I shall never, ever grow weary of hearing you try to say it.”
“I’m nottryingto say it. Iamsaying it. I’ve said it many times.”
“Fine. Trying to say it exactly right.”
“Oh, perhaps I should use a different accent? The poshest pout of a gentleman’s daughter?”
“Now there’s a promising notion,” he said, trailing kisses along her jaw.
She sighed, by all signs enjoying his closeness, the texture of his lips and face, the smell of him; but then she glanced at the windows of the house and pushed him away.
“The sellers will toss us out if we are... inappropriate. But perhaps that’s what you want. Perhaps my fears about this house are warranted. We’ve seen it, we’ve been naughty beside the fountain, and now we will be asked to leave—and what a lark it was. Is that what you intend?”
“What I intend,” he said, “is to buy this house. Immediately. So I may carry on beside the fountain however I please. The money is not a concern, Tessa. You’ll remember a small investment of £15,000 in dowry money? This is your net gain. And myself, of course.”
He was about to tell her that he loved her, that there was a part of him who relished the opportunity to buy an ostentatious house for his beautiful wife, but Sir Thomas and his wife bustled into the garden, leading a contingent of servants with tea trolley and trays of food.
“I hope you have time for tea,” called Lady Winnifred, trapping them with the tea trolley and a scrum of servants who assembled a table and chairs.
“Oh, how lovely,” Tessa trilled. “You are too kind.”
“Sir Thomas and I have had a bit of a chat, and it’s all decided,” said Lady Winnifred, beginning to pour. “Youmustjoin us for dinner tomorrow and stay the night as our guests. We’ve dear friends visiting from Durham and a few other dignitaries from the county. Our cook is doing up a special meal. You’ll be too full to trundle off back to Hartlepool after the fun, so you may stay as our guests. It will give you some idea of how the house entertains, and you may sleep beneath the roof, walk the halls, and learn its secrets. I know you must have grown weary of that cramped, musty inn in town. They do a passable venison stew, but I’ll wager they’ve already run out of summer vegetables, and one does grow so very weary of turnip.”
“Our friends are active in the Whig-party politics, Mr. Chance,” said Sir Thomas, “one gentleman and his son in particular would be good men for you to know.”
