Page 31 of A Gifted Earl

“No… I… well…”

She laughed, shaking her head.

“I’ll take that to mean that yes, there is someone you miss, and that you don’t know what to do about it.”

He sighed – she’d always been good at understanding his moods, and the years he’d been away hadn’t changed that.

“You’re right.”

She nodded, smiling.

“Good – because I have some ideas about what to do. Tell me a little of your thoughts if you will, and then I’ll tell you what I want to suggest.”

*****

“If we keep just the one carriage, and just the strongest pair to pull it, plus a riding horse each, we should realise a decent sum. The brood mares are valuable, and the stallion will bring a good price, even if he is getting a bit old now. After that, we’ll be down to selling more of the paintings and some of the silverware, and as a last resort, reducing staff, but selling the horses and carriages should get us through to March if they sell well. I’ve sent letters to those we’ve sold horses to before, and given them first options.”

Venetia sipped her tea, considering her mother’s words. Her mind went back to London, to the hopes she’d nurtured, the hopes which revolved around Lord Templewick. She’d obviously been a complete fool. But she still dreamed about him, still wished for more.

When her mother spoke of needing a miracle, in Venetia’s mind, the miracle was presented in the form of one particular Earl. Those thoughts were so foolish that she nearly laughed at herself, but knowing that did not banish them.

“Have any of them responded?”

“It’s only been a week since I sent them – but yes, one has responded so far – Lord Crosswood is sending a man to assess the horses we have on offer, and potentially purchase on the spot. If we are lucky, he will arrive today, or perhaps tomorrow.”

Lord Crosswood! Wasn’t he the one whose man had sewn up her face?

“Wasn’t Lord Crosswood the one whose horse was collected the day of my fall?”

Her mother nodded, her expression holding sadness.

“He was – it was his man who did such tidy work on your face. Perhaps it will be the same man who comes this time?”

A shiver ran through Venetia at the thought – but she knew, in the same instant, that it would not be the same man. For she felt more and more certain that the man who had worked on her face was the same man who was now the Earl of Templewick. It was improbable, and she could not imagine how it could be true, and yet she felt that it was, with a deep inner certainty. Not that she could ever have asked him – that would have been unforgivably intrusive, and insulting, should it not be the same person.

“Perhaps…” It was at that exact moment that a knock came upon the front door. They looked at each other, and Venetia gave a half choked off laugh. “Have we summoned him with our words?”

“We shall see in a moment, shan’t we?”

They listened as the butler opened the door, and a few moments later, there was a tap on the parlour door.

“Enter.”

The door opened.

“My Lady, Mr Holley has come from Lord Crosswood – about the horses.”

They rose, and the man bowed, a little awkwardly, cap in hand. Venetia studied him carefully, but she knew, from her first glance, that this was a different man. She glanced at her mother, whose momentary expression showed that she agreed with that assessment.

“I am pleased to see you, Mr Holley. I will summon our groom, and he can show you the mares we are selling. Then, if you come back to the house, we can sit down in the office and discuss prices – assuming that you decide than some of them will suit Lord Crosswood.”

“Thank you, Lady Hardenwell.”

She turned to their butler.

“Please summon the groom.” He nodded, and left the room. She turned back to Mr Holley. “Mr Holley, I do believe that a different man came, last time that we sold a mare to Lord Crosswood – I had thought to perhaps see the same man again.”

Mr Holley shifted his feet, obviously far less comfortable in the parlour than he would be in the stables.

“Yes, my Lady. Mr Follett moved on from Lord Crosswood’s employ not long after he came here. He had a most unexpected inheritance – I’m told he’s now an Earl, after the previous Earl and his whole family were taken off by the cholera! We were all pleased for him – he was a good man to work with – and his good fortune – not the loss of his relatives, mind, but the inheritance - was also mine, as I went from Head Groom to Stablemaster as a result. He spoke well of the quality of your horses, my Lady, so I’m hoping that we can do business today.”

“I hope so too.”

Their groom appeared in the doorway.

“You sent for me, my Lady?”

Venetia barely heard the conversation as her mother directed their groom to show Mr Holley the correct horses, and to then bring him back to the house, where some refreshments would be provided whilst they discussed the details of whatever purchases were to be made. Her attention was all to her thoughts.

She dropped back into her chair, and her fingers went to the scar, tracing the fine bumps which were slowly fading to a softer pink.

What Mr Holley had said appeared to confirm her suspicions – for his story of the unexpected Earl aligned very closely with what she knew about the Earl of Templewick. Which meant that the man who had sewn up her face, the man she had dreamed about ever since, was one and the same as the Earl of Templewick – who also filled her dreams.

But if that was the case, why had he never mentioned it?