Chapter 7
Hunter knew better now than to look for his wife in the house.
Sure enough, after he trampled through the fresh snow that had fallen overnight and entered the stable, there she was, making her rounds from one horse to the next.
The woman loved the animals, that was for certain.
He didn’t recognize the mount she had ridden the other day, and he assumed she had brought the horse with her.
“Of course,” she said when he asked that very question as he strode into the barn, causing her to whirl around at his voice and the sound of his footsteps through the straw.
“I could never leave Star behind. Why, he would have no way to understand what was happening or why we were being separated. We have also been together long enough that no other horse knows me as he does.”
“He’s a fine horse,” he agreed, coming to stand next to her, as he stroked the horse’s mane, his hand less than an inch from Scarlett’s, their shoulders brushing.
He could feel her stiffen beside him, and she stepped back, but not before her scent washed over him.
She smelled like … spruce trees, he thought, and something akin to frankincense.
For all he knew, it could have been some kind of love potion, for the way that it captivated him, pulling him toward her.
“…take the sleigh?”
Hunter shook his head, realizing that he had been so focused on watching her walk away from him, her hips swaying back and forth beneath her riding habit, that he hadn’t listened to anything she was saying.
“I asked if you would want to take the sleigh out this morning.”
“The sleigh?” What was she on about? “Why in heaven’s name would we want to take the sleigh? It’s old and it’s cumbersome, and it will take us much longer to travel from one place to the next.”
“Not today,” she said, turning to him with a raised eyebrow.
“Did you not just walk across the same yard that I did? It’s covered in a foot of snow!
The wheels of the carriage are likely to become stuck and then you will never find your way back to London.
We cannot simply ride the horses as I have items to take with me.
Besides,” she said, chewing her lip and a wistful look came over her eye.
It was then he knew that she had him. How could he say no to a face like hers, the one time she asked something of him?
“It’s near Christmas, and a sleigh ride is always fun this time of year. ”
It was his turn to bristle. She had shown him not an ounce of warmth, but suddenly she was the type of woman who became nostalgic over Christmastide celebrations?
“Christmas is but another day on the calendar, Scarlett,” he said, shaking his head.
“There is nothing significant about the day, besides the fact it is a religious holiday, and all the sleigh rides and dinners won’t change that. ”
He had said it nonchalantly, but when he looked over at her, he was shocked by the incredulous expression she wore on her face. Her hands were on her hips, her eyes wide and her lips parted slightly.
“What?” he asked, running a hand through his hair, which he never allowed Spicer to wet on his head, despite the current style. He didn’t have time to worry about vanities like that. “Did I say something to offend you?”
“That’s … so sad,” she said, her voice just above a whisper. “How could you not care for Christmas?”
Pieces of dust and straw circled her head in the light that entered through slats in the wood of the stable, highlighting the beautiful planes of her face, and she looked so crushed that he felt guilty for a moment — which was ridiculous.
“It’s just never been important,” he said, brushing by her, not wanting to discuss it any further, and seeing her staring at him so, those hazel eyes boring into him, made him want to tell her anything she wanted to know.
“Well,” she said following him as he went to find the groom. “It is to me.”
“Nia always wanted to celebrate Christmas,” he muttered. “No one ever found the time.”
“What was that?” she came up beside him so quickly that her deep purple riding skirts whirled around her, and he caught himself before he revealed anymore.
“Nothing,” he said. “Nothing at all. Ah, Carver, there you are!” Relief filled him as the groom came into sight. “Prepare…” He looked over at Scarlett, who stared at him with a look of such hope that he gave in with a sigh. “The sleigh,” he said. “Prepare the sleigh.”
As much as he hated to admit it, Scarlett had been right.
The sleigh was the best conveyance to cut through his land.
He hadn’t seen her fill the sleigh with anything, but with a quick look at the full bags within it and then a glance over at Scarlett and the satisfaction on her face, told him that this had been her plan from the beginning.
“This was nice of Carver, providing us with a blanket and a warming stone,” she said, though a bit of consternation entered her tone. “He only sent one though. I suppose we will have to share.”
“It’s fine, I’m not cold. Carver’s normally not quite so shortsighted,” he murmured. “I’ll speak with him when we return.”
“Don’t,” she said, placing a gloved hand over his, and when his gaze flew up to hers, she hastily pulled it away. “He’s a nice boy, truly, and I don’t want any trouble. I’m sure he just forgot. We were rather hasty.”
“I suppose,” he said, looking into the distance, seeing the smoke rising from a chimney. “Here’s Thomas and Molly Baker’s house.”
“I know,” she said, and he looked over at her, remembering Stone’s information regarding the money she gave to the families. How often had she been out here?
He pulled on the reins when they reached the drive, and when he turned to help Scarlett out of the sleigh, he was surprised to see that she was already on the ground and making her way down the cleared path in her sturdy black boots.
“Bring a basket!” she called to him as she rounded the stone entrance, and just then a little figure came hurtling out the door to greet her.
“Lady Oxford!” the boy cried as he barreled into her while Hunter watched with astonishment. Never in his life had he seen such a sight before. His mother would be utterly horrified if she knew Scarlett was even speaking with the families let alone — was she lifting the boy in the air?
“Fly, birdie!” she cried, and the boy erupted in giggles as she spun him in a circle.
He couldn’t have been more than four, he thought, as he watched from the sleigh, finally lifting the cover to reveal a pile of baskets, full of candies and liquor bottles and heaven only knew what else Scarlett had placed inside them. Good Lord, how much had this cost him?
“Bobby, let Lady Oxford come in — it’s freezing out there!” called a laughing voice from the doorway. “Lady Oxford, how lovely to see you!”
“How many times must I tell you, Molly, that Scarlett is just fine?” she said, a grin coming over her face as she made her way around the fenced pig enclosure to the entrance of the small cabin.
Scarlett? The woman who insisted on calling her husband Lord Oxford was telling a common woman to call her Scarlett?
Hunter certainly didn’t look down on these people the way many of his class did, but he had never in his life expected Scarlett to hold them in such high esteem.
Where was the cold woman he had come to know, who ate dinner in near silence, who hardly spoke to him with the exception of polite conversation when required?
Stunned, he began to follow her up the path, and just when Molly Baker was about to shut the door, she caught sight of him.
“Oh, my lord,” she said, lifting her worn brown skirt as she sank into a curtsy.
“My apologies, my lord, I didn’t see you there.
We were not aware you were in residence, and therefore were not expecting you.
Not that you require any advance notice.
That is — oh dear, I am rambling on. Please, do come in. ”
She opened the door wider, and the warmth of the fire in the corner of the small room drew him in. He might have declined to share the blanket, but he had to admit that the chill in the air was beginning to seep into his bones.
“Thank you, Mrs. Baker,” he said with a nod. “My arrival was unexpected, I will admit, but I am pleased to have the opportunity to visit with you.”
“Of course,” she said, turning her head sharply when she heard voices behind her rise in argument. “Children!” she hissed. “Our lord is here to visit. Come say hello.”
Four young ones of various heights dutifully dropped the doll they were fighting over and lined up in front of him, while the boy he had first seen stood beside Scarlett, his fist wrapped around the material of her skirt.
The door at the back of the house opened and Thomas Baker walked in, stomping his boots at the entrance to rid them of snow.
“Gads, it’s a frosty one out there, I tell ya, Molly. It?—”
“We have visitors, Tom.”
“My lord! Welcome,” he said with a nod, but when his head turned to Scarlett, ruddy coloring infused his cheeks, which had certainly not been present when his attention had been directed toward Hunter.
“Lady Oxford,” he said, “How lovely to see you. Bobby’s already latched himself to you, has he?”
“He certainly has,” she said with a laugh. “How are you, Thomas?”
“Just fine,” he said. “Though I’ve had to bring the animals into the shelter, as cold as it’s gotten out there. It seems this snow isn’t letting up. Are you sure you should be out in this weather?”
“We’ll be fine,” she said with a smile. “We aren’t far from the house.”
Hunter felt as though he were watching a boxing match as his head swung back and forth between them, conversing as though she were the landowner and not him. He should be the one speaking about such with his tenant.
“Thomas,” he said, feeling like an interloper as he cut into their conversation. “Have you a moment to discuss a few matters?”
“Of course, my lord,” he responded.
“Here, allow me to prepare you some tea,” said Molly, as she began bustling around the room, shooing the children out of the kitchen.
Hunter looked over at Scarlett, inclining his head toward Molly, suggesting that perhaps she speak with the woman while he discussed matters with her husband, but Scarlett looked away, pretending that she misunderstood his cue, although Hunter knew she was much smarter than that. He sighed. She was a handful, this one.
“Thomas,” he began, taking a seat in a scarred wooden chair which matched the table in front of it. “It has been some time since I have been here myself, as I have left my matters of estate business in the capable hands of Mr. Stone.”
Scarlett snorted from her seat beside him, and he cast a look of disapproval her way. They had to be united in front of their tenants, not questioning one another. He looked back at Thomas, who had covered his mouth with his hand, and Hunter had the distinct impression the man was hiding a smile.
“How fares your work?” he asked, pretending Scarlett wasn’t there beside him. “Have you had any particular issues?”
Thomas cleared his throat, glancing at both Molly and Scarlett in turn, before returning his gaze to Hunter. Scarlett sent a nod the man’s way, and Hunter’s irritation rose anew.
“I cannot say we’ve had an easy time of it lately, my lord,” he said with a bit of hesitation, and Hunter smiled, encouraging him to continue.
“You see … the rent is just too high for us to make a go of it. Try as I might, I don’t make enough off sale of the animals to cover the payments as well as feed and clothe my children.
If it wasn’t for Lady Oxford … well, I’m not sure that we would be able to continue on here, my lord.
She has been generous, but I would feel much better knowing I had less to pay up front.
I know that is much to ask, and I shouldn’t like to be presumptuous, but, well, I’m not sure what else to say. ”
Thomas dropped his head, and Hunter realized how much it had cost him to humble himself as he had in front of him.
“I see,” he said grimly. “Thank you for your honesty, Thomas. I will be looking into the matter, I can assure you.”
He spoke with the man for a few minutes more about various aspects of pig farming, though Hunter knew far less of it than he cared to admit. Eventually, he stood and shook the man’s hand.
“Thank you for your visit,” Thomas said, and finally the warmth he had bestowed upon Scarlett came over his face as he looked at Hunter.
“And before we forget,” said Scarlett, finally breaking into the conversation, “We have something for you.” She took the basket that Hunter had set it by the door. “Happy Christmas,” she enthused. “We will see you soon!”
The young boy gave her one last hug before they were on their way, back to the sleigh, Scarlett waving goodbye as the family watched from the door. When she turned to face forward, a guarded expression settled over her face, and all Hunter could do was wonder — who was this woman he had married?