Page 6 of The Widow’s Christmas Surprise

“It is nothing more than rumor, but, of course, with nothing substantial for people to turn their minds to, they will dredge up old scandals and give them a new coat of paint.” Jane scowled, her frown almost reaching her nose. “If the wretched heir could have been found two months ago, all the talk would have been laid to rest once everyone’s attention had focused on the new earl.” She made a snort of disgust, then turned kind eyes on Maria. “Do not worry overmuch, my dear. It will take years before the property is forfeited.”

Clutching her cup, Maria’s heart sank. The longer it took to find the heir, the longer it would take for talk to die down, which meant she couldn’t show her face in Town and so could not find another husband. Of course, as long as the heir was absent, she could live quietly here at Kersey Hall. At least she hoped she could. Her gaze met Jane’s. “So I could stay here all that time?”

“That, I’m afraid, is a question for Mr. Clarke.” Jane shook her head. “Such things are far beyond my knowledge. But I assume if your steward can keep this estate running properly, and you require the other properties to give quarterly reports to him, that you can manage them yourself with . . . What is your steward’s name again?”

“Mr. Granger.” Maria had already come to rely heavily on the handsome young man in the past few months. He managed the day-to-day business of the estate and the outlying tenant farmers with ease, consulting her from time to time when he felt it warranted, but generally doing what he deemed necessary with great efficiency. “Alan said he’s been here for quite some years, and knows his work exceedingly well. I frankly don’t know what I or the estate would have done without him these past months.”

“Well, thank goodness for that.” Her cousin nodded as she set her cup on the table with such force it clattered into the saucer. “Speak with him about taking over the management of the earldom’s other holdings. He may be doing so already.” She paused. “Do you know how many there are?”

Maria shrugged. She and Alan had never spoken about business at all. He had been so young there didn’t seem to be any rush for him to explain to her how the earldom operated. That was something he would do with his son one day. By the time the duel was imminent, they spoke only briefly, but she’d been so angry at him they hadn’t talked of anything save his infidelity. “I’m sure Mr. Granger does. Alan seemed to depend on him quite a lot, so I expect he knows all about the other properties as well.”

“If I were you, I’d seek him out and make sure those properties are also being managed as well as possible. Oh, and I had another thought you can ask him as well.”

“What is that?”

“Ask if there is a dower property on the estate.”

Maria frowned. “What is that?”

“Last night I remembered Letitia—Lady Theale, that is—talking about her mother-in-law moving to the estate’s dower house when Lord Theale brought Letitia home after their marriage. It’s a smallish manor some estates use to house the previous lord’s widow. She becomes the dowager countess or marchioness, or what ever her title is, so there will be no confusion with the wife of the current lord. With the lord’s permission, the widow can often stay there until her own death.”

A small ray of light in a pitch-black tunnel. Maria clasped her hands together, pressing them so tightly her nails bit into her flesh. She didn’t want to hope again only to have it dashed, as previous expectations had been. “You think the baby and I would be allowed to stay there?”

“It is a possibility. If there is indeed a dower house on the property.” Jane rose. “I must write to Lord Kinellan and postpone my journey to Scotland once more.”

“I am so sorry, Jane.” Maria’s cheeks stung with heat, distracting her from this newest chance at a future. She’d kept Jane with her these many months as a companion and friend and as a result, she’d come to depend on her very much. Jane had time and again put off her trip to see Lord Kinellan, for whom, Maria understood, her cousin had a bit of a tendre. Maria hated to impose on her so, but she would be completely lost without her excellent counsel.

“It’s no great matter.” Jane’s eyes held a glimmer of sadness before she put on a smile and turned toward the door. “I suspect he will be disappointed, at least I hope he shall be. But my duty is here, at least until things are more settled.”

Maria jumped to her feet and flung her arms around her cousin. “You are too good to me, Jane. I declare, I do not know what I would do without you.” She leaned back to face her cousin. “Do you think Lord Kinellan will be terribly angry?”

“If he is, all the better.” Jane tossed her head, a confident smile on her lips. “If the mountain will not come to Muhammad, perhaps Muhammad must come down from Scotland.”

“Why doesn’t the mountain invite Lord Kinellan to visit?” Maria linked arms with her cousin and they strolled out into the corridor.

“That could perhaps be done. Although it would be much better if he simply appeared out of the blue as though he couldn’t stand another day without me.” Jane gazed down the staircase, a satisfied smile on her face, as though she could see Lord Kinellan striding up the stairs in search of her. “Yes, that would be quite satisfactory.”

Tears pricked Maria’s eyes. If only her life could be handled so easily. Determined not to become a perpetual watering pot, she blinked back the incipient downpour and started down the steps.

“Where are you going?” Jane’s voice held a note of surprise.

“The weather is so nice I thought I’d sit out in the garden for a short time. The leaves are so pretty swirling about. Soon they will be gone.” As she herself would, most likely.

“Be sure to put on something warm. You do not want to come down with a cold or a severe chill.” Her cousin put on her best “mothering” expression, looking down her short, upturned nose.

“I promise.” Maria waved her hand over her shoulder and continued down the steps. Mothering was all well and good, and she’d be sure to wrap up, even though the day looked warm. One never knew when the wind would change.

That was why Maria needed time to herself, to think things out and form a plan. Relying on Jane all her life was no solution. As she stepped onto the floor, she straightened her shoulders. She must think how to begin yet again.

* * *

“Tend to Galahad, please Peter.” Hugh Granger slid down from atop his roan gelding and tossed the reins to the young groom, who bobbed his head and quickly moved off to walk the horse as he cooled down. The ride had been long and the news at the end of it hadn’t been the best. He shouldn’t put off telling Lady Kersey, much as he hated to add to her burdens.

The lady who’d arrived at Kersey Hall, almost a year ago now, had had Hugh’s sympathy from the moment he’d been introduced to her. Very young she had been then, carefree and seemingly much in love with her husband. Hugh had wished his master and mistress happy, although based on his then only two months’ acquaintance with Lord Kersey, he doubted that the lady would remain so infatuated with the earl.

From the moment the old earl had died, the new Lord Kersey’s behavior had been less than circumspect. Even while he’d been in mourning for his uncle, Kersey had managed to entertain himself on a regular basis with local women. The man had been generous with his coin, so Hugh had gleaned from the servants downstairs, but he’d had no compunction against taking his pleasure as often as he pleased, with little regard for whether the girl was completely willing or not.

Heading for the front entrance in search of Chambers to discover Lady Kersey’s whereabouts, Hugh slowed his brisk strides a trifle. His anger always got the better of him if he didn’t pause and reflect. The earl was dead and in his grave these past six months. No further punishment could be levied against him, save that doled out by God in heaven. Or Satan down below. Not that Hugh had any doubts which way the late Lord Kersey had journeyed. Still, he couldn’t help the fury that overcame him whenever he thought about the burdens Lady Kersey had had to bear because of the earl’s perfidy. Not only the shame of discovering her husband’s infidelity, but uncertainty of her future here at Kersey Hall.