Page 53 of Regency in Color

“I best let you go. I have much to do myself,” Mary said and pressed a kiss to his cheek. She went to Harold and gave him a stern look. “Ensure you do not overstress yourself. Moira will be very cross with you if you don’t dance with her tomorrow.”

Harold chuckled, his cheeks coloring. “I will do my best to allow the younger men to do all the heavy work.”

Along with the older man, Thomas walked to where men had arrived with the horses. The animals were beautiful and quite restless. It took time to get them brushed down, watered, fed and in stalls. Later that day, the animals would be loosed into a corral until the night.

One of the newly hired stable men led one of the horses into the stable. Thomas looked on as the man brushed the animal down. The man looked up, meeting his gaze. “Who is that dark woman to you?”

Thomas did his best to keep a flat expression. “Why do you ask?”

The man shrugged. “Looks different. Seems strange that she’s allowed so much liberty.”

“Measure your words.”

Unperturbed, the idiot continued undeterred. “I’m sure you agree with me that no one wants her kind about.”

“She’s the mistresses’ companion and close friend...” Thomas started closing the distance between them until they were nose to nose. “She will be my wife tomorrow.”

The man’s eyes widened as he realized the huge mistake he’d made during his first week of employment. “I didn’t mean...”

“Pack your belongings. I will see about what you’re owed. It won’t be much.”

“Sir, please. I need this job, I have a wife...”

Thomas could barely keep from slamming his fist into the man’s face. “I am sorry for your wife, to have a man like you for a husband.”

“Thomas?” Harold entered the stables looking from one to the other.

The imbecile turned away to appeal to the older man. “Thomas is firing me. Does he have the authority to do so? I said something, I didn’t mean anything by it, I swear.”

“What did you say?” Harold said pinning the man with a hard look.

The man looked to the ground. “Just asking about the dark-skinned woman. Why she was about.”

“I agree with Thomas. Your services are no longer required.” Harold looked to Thomas. “The men who delivered the horses need to be paid. They are about to go to the village to find a bed for the night.”

Harold usually handled the payments and ensured anyone who came to the estate was given a small meal before going on their way. Obviously, he wanted Thomas to go and not end up in a fight the day before his wedding.

Moment later, his ire must have still been evident because while the men, who’d brought the horses, ate, Moira pulled him aside. “What happened?”

Having to repeat the idiot’s words made him angrier, but he managed it.

Moira rolled her eyes and huffed. “Do not allow an imbecile like that to ruin things for you. Mary is a beautiful and kind woman. There will be other times when you will face judgement because of the color of her skin. I am not saying to get used to it, but to accept that it will happen.”

“I am not sure how to react, other than to get angry and defend her.”

Moira sighed and nodded. “There is no better reaction than to love your wife and show judgmental people their opinions don’t matter at all.”

“This is the first of many, I suppose.”

“Yes it is. Local people will come to know her and become aware that she is considered part of the family. They will think twice before insulting her, because it would mean losing access to the most prominent families in the area.”

* * *

The next daycame and Thomas was much too busy to consider it was his wedding day. Mary was conspicuously absent, which he was a bit thankful for as he didn’t have time for the distraction her presence brought.

As the visitors arrived, the newly hired coachmen took their carriages away to where the stable workers would handle the care of the horses. Everything went smoothly, and Thomas had to admit, he enjoyed the duties as steward.

He peered out from his position by the door noting there were no carriages on the horizon. Mentally, he went over who was yet to arrive, noting only one set of people had not come.