Chapter 5 #2
He raised an eyebrow. “This is quite the predicament.” He shifted beneath me which was entirely too personal a contact, but I determined to be reasonable about it.
What were we to do, after all? Shifting more still, he slid over to the side out from under me and then turned to help me rise, rolling the bush to the side in the process.
With both my gloved hands in his, I stood at last, staring up into his face.
Our breath mingled, his gaze capturing mine.
“Thank you.” The air between us pulled me closer to him.
I’d never felt anything like it, as if we were both encompassed by a cushion, cradling us both in a safe and lovely space.
His smile came slowly, but it was delicious the way it curled around his lips and lit his eyes.
When his gaze dropped to my lips, my heart pounded in alarm.
Oh dear, no. What was I doing? I dropped my gaze and stepped back rather quickly, but my heel hit the roots of the bush, and I tumbled yet again over the top of it.
I groaned, many branches digging into my back. Who even knew about the state of my dress. “I do remember agreeing not to topple backward?”
His eyes again caught mine. His laugh filled the air and eased my previous alarm as he reached a hand down to lift me up. “You did, didn’t you?”
This time, he kept his distance but his hand did not let mine go. He helped me step out and away from the bush and then stood surveying the damage with me, all with a hand clasped around my garden glove encased one. I felt the pressure down to my toes nonetheless.
What was I doing with this man? He was my aunt’s steward, mine now I suddenly realized. I was allowing my steward to hold my hand. I gently extricated my fingers with a soft smile. “Will she live?” My gaze moved back to the bush.
Several branches looked bent beyond repair but the main trunk and most of the branches looked fine, albeit slightly squished.
“She’ll be fine.” He brushed his own hands off. “Let’s get her in the pot though, shall we?”
The weight of the bush was much more manageable with both of us lifting and then we gently lowered the bush into the pot. The scooped-up piles of dirt soon filled the area around the roots, and she looked good as new.
“Have energy for one more?” His hopeful voice tugged at my insides.
“Of course. Though, perhaps I’ll let you free the plant from the ground this time?”
He nodded.
We potted three more before I determined to make my way back inside. “When do the servants arrive?”
“Most of them should come tomorrow or the next day.”
“And how many are there?”
“You have a typical household staff. Chamber maids, two footmen, a butler, housekeeper, cook and kitchen maids, gardener and his wife, and a stable hand if needed. He can also serve as an additional footman.”
“Because we have no horses.”
“Not really. Though if you do keep a carriage that will be remedied immediately with the acquiring of an additional stable hand or master if need be.”
“I do not have my own carriage, though I do wish to have a cart of sorts, so that I might make my way around.”
“Oh certainly and if you would like my help acquiring the horses, or if you need something nicer than a cart, we can of course assist…”
I didn’t yet know how to answer him. “I…I don’t know.” I cleared my throat. “Does the manor have an income for such things?”
He hesitated and then nodded. “Of a sort. It is much needed in upkeep of the property itself at the moment but those are decisions I have been making. If you wish to redirect funds toward an equipage that would be something you could decide. Shall we sit and discuss finances?”
I nodded. “I’d like that, thank you. And will you, that is to say, will you stay on in this role?”
He studied me a moment before nodding slowly. “It would be my pleasure to assist in any way possible.”
“Thank you.”
“Now, as for the rest of the plants and moving them to the barn. I believe I can use the garden cart and take care of that from here. Thank you for your assistance. It was not only helpful but entertaining as well.” His mouth twitched.
My smile reappeared on its own. “Glad I could be of service, on both counts.”
I shook her head. “And I believe I shall fetch my muff before returning to the house.”
“Very good, Mrs. Tynsdale.”
I told myself it was good to leave him be, to do whatever work he deemed important, that I had other things to be doing and that I could not take up all the hours of the steward’s time.
But as soon as I was out of sight, I felt his loss.
Perhaps I was drawn to him because he was the only other person besides Lucy present. Or perhaps he was intriguing. Was he handsome? I hadn’t noticed, had I? Perhaps I was missing my husband.
My heart clenched at that thought, not necessarily from great love.
I had not been in love with him when he was alive.
But we got on well enough together. I often felt as though I was a bit of a side note to the main stage of his life, but he was kind.
I was not surprised he had not yet determined a clear inheritance for me, his wife, before he’d passed, though to give him some credit, no one would predict to die so early. It had caught us all by surprise.
I would certainly receive what was stipulated by my dowry, but beyond that, I couldn’t even guess.
I wished again that I could write my dear aunt and thank her for this home.
But alas, no one received letters in heaven, or if they did, I had no knowledge of how to post that direction.