“If it goes well, there may be more work,” Rob told him, folding up his notes. He immediately regretted it.How do I know what work is to be had? I won’t be here. If Lucy approves Miller’s work, I’ll see what she thinks.She’d become Lucy to him after the stable fiasco, though he couldn’t say why other than he admired the way she stood up to him.
“Needs watching, that one” Da didn’t speak until the last of them filtered out.
“Miller? Aye. But the rest of the crew are Ashmead men. They’ll notice if he’s up to funny business.”
“It’s hard to hide on a work crew,” Morgan said.
“Like the army?” Rob asked.
“Yes, and more so for the sort of skills and devilment you’re looking for.”
Rob wondered what Morgan knew about work crews. He studied his friend thoughtfully. “Thanks for your help. Will you be returning to London soon?”
Morgan tipped his chair back and beamed at the older Robert Benson. “The comforts of The Willow and the Rose may keep me here a while. Clean beds, warm room, good food, a sunny bower to read in. What else could a man want?”
The old man called for Clara to bring Morgan ale. “What else indeed. One for you, too, Robbie?”
“I can’t resist the Willow’s ale. That’s for certain,” Rob said. He still hadn’t confronted his father. When they sat in accord like this, he struggled to remember why he wanted to.
After a few moments of quiet fellowship over their pints, Morgan grinned at Rob. “Besides, Benson. There’s to be a party next week. Your sister insists I stay.”
*
The whirlwind thatwas Emma kept the inn and all those in it in an uproar for the next week. Rob had no opportunity to get his foster father alone for the much-delayed conversation, no time to consider the state of Willowbrook’s actual finances, and no idea what to do about Lucy Whitaker’s future.
Eli rode over on Tuesday, skillfully evading his sister’s efforts to dragoon him into hanging bunting on the windows of the inn, and pulled Rob out to the bower by the river.
“News?” Rob asked.
Eli shook his head. “I was hoping you’d heard from the earl. We’re stuck until I get my hands on the will and the bank accounts. They claim they’re waiting for the earl’s permission, but I think Spangler is stalling.”
Rob’s heart sank. He had hoped to avoid David Caulfield. “If we don’t hear this week,” he decided, “I’ll write myself.”
“I don’t know, Robbie,” Eli said. “You may have to ride on back to London and knock on the man’s door if he won’t respond.”
“Wait until Emma’s party is over. If we haven’t had word, I’ll consider that.” It would give Rob a chance to meet with Rockford as well. It made sense, but it didn’t appeal as it ought.
On Thursday, Lucy brought an order of candles for the assembly rooms. Emma decreed that the event be held in the big room above the village offices that had fallen into disuse these past few years. “We need space for dancing, don’t we?” A crew of Ashmead wives had been scrubbing and waxing for days.
“The tributes will begin at the assembly rooms, followed by dancing,” Emma explained to Rob’s baffled wonderment and to Lucy’s obvious amusement.
“Then why have I been stocking barrels of ale, seeing to stabling, and airing rooms?”
“Folks will come in from around the shire, silly,” Emma said, “And after the dancing, we’ll have a family party here, won’t we, Lucy?”
The inclusion of Lucy was Rob’s clue that Emma’s view of “family” was a bit larger than his.
Lucy, when asked, expressed satisfaction with the crew working to repair the stables. She pronounced Miller knowledgeable and personable if a bit closed-mouthed about his past. There had been no more trouble.
Rob glanced at Emma. “I can’t get away the next few days, but I’ll ride out to check as soon as this party nonsense is over.”
Both women glared at him, but he suspected they had different reasons.
“Has Mr. Morgan returned to London?” Lucy asked. He couldn’t tell if she hoped for a yes or a no.
“I have Brynn Morgan repairing the struts to the mezzanine for the band. He’s going to play for us as well. Did you know he plays the violin, Robbie? I was that surprised!”
Lucy didn’t linger, and Rob thought her wise. Emma would have recruited her, and he suspected her claim of work waiting at Willowbrook was true enough.
