Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
The Farmer in the Dell Makes a Request
While Lizzy was busy at Ashbourne Manor, Butterbell had been traveling around the area informing the other brownies of the newest way to be warded, and a number of them found the idea pleasing.
Butterbell shared how the other brownies could request the warding of the master of the home or estate where they dwelt, and if agreeable, the gentleman or lady could bring them to the Crown and Staff in Matlock.
He would inform the warder of their need.
Butterbell did mention it might take a day or two before the special warding could be performed because the warder had an estate to ward before any other wards could be created.
As a result of Butterbell’s efforts, Lizzy found five requests for individual warding awaiting her when she arrived back at the Inn.
She left responses to the request saying it would be two or three days before she would be able to fill the owners’ requests, and that she would send messages the day before she could begin performing the special wards.
The following day, Butterbell accompanied Lizzy to the manor.
While she worked on warding the area used by the brownies to move from one place to another on the estate, Butterbell used his time to spread the word about the special warding.
A number of the brownies living at Ashbourne were interested in the service but would need to wait for their master to return before requesting the individual warding.
When Lizzy returned to the manor shortly after noon, she found Mr. Darcy waiting for her.
“Miss,” Mr. Darcy greeted her. “I heard two of my uncle’s brownies speaking about a new ward you are able to perform. Can you really ward an individual brownie?”
“Yes, sir,” Lizzy replied with a smile. “This ward will not last as long as the one around an area, but it will still protect the brownie allowing him or her to leave a warded area without being vulnerable to harmful use of power.”
“My sister has a personal brownie. She prefers not to leave Pemberley because it means leaving Featherleaf behind. They have been together since the day my sister was born. I never saw such a bonding between a human and a brownie like that before. If you could agree to ward Featherleaf, it would mean she could travel with my sister.”
“I would be happy to, sir, but you do realize it will be after I finish my work for your uncle,” Lizzy happily replied.
Her willingness to provide this special ward brought her a feeling of great achievement.
“It would also have to wait until I complete the same warding for several requests I received yesterday. Those I will perform at the Inn, but I should be able to travel to Pemberley the day after.”
“I am completely aware of your need to finish your work in this area first. I would never assume you would leave any task uncompleted,” Darcy replied as he thought about how pleasing her smile looked.
In return, Lizzy noticed his smile revealed dimples on either side of his face, making him even more handsome in her opinion.
“If you will excuse me then, I will begin my work around the house.” Although Lizzy found it pleasurable speaking to the gentleman, she knew her first duty was to the earl and his estate.
As occurred the day before, a maid brought a tray out to Lizzy containing lemonade, sandwiches, and biscuits. The maid pointed out a small seating area in the garden where Lizzy was working.
“Miss, I will place the tray on the table. You may stop to eat when you have a moment. Someone will come out later to retrieve the tray.”
“Thank you,” Lizzy replied to the maid before the young girl turned and walked back toward the manor.
Lizzy had just finished warding the areas around the manor, when an older gentleman came out of the house and walked toward her.
“I believe you are the young lady performing the wards,” the gentleman said as soon as he was near enough for her to hear him.
Lizzy smile. “Yes.”
The gentleman bowed as he said, “I am Lord Ashbourne.”
Lizzy curtsied. “I am pleased to meet you. Your nephew said you would return before I finished warding your estate.”
“Darcy mentioned you are now able to ward individual brownies. Is this correct?”
“Yes, my lord.”
“I have a special request of you,” the earl began.
“I have a son who has a personal brownie. The brownie lived on the estate but became attached to my son. When my son joined the military, the brownie decided he could not allow my son, Thomas, to leave home without him. For the past eleven years, Beechwood has been unprotected. If you are willing, I would pay you extra to stop in London where my son is currently stationed and create an individual ward around Beechwood. I know my son would greatly appreciate the protection since one never knows where my son might be sent next or who he might encounter during his travels.”
“Lord Ashbourne, I would be more than pleased to perform this duty for you. I will need your son’s address in London, and I will arrange my travels so as to stop in London on my trip home.
Your estate is the last one on my schedule, but I have promised Mr. Darcy I will travel to Pemberley to perform the same service for his sister’s brownie.
After that, I will begin my trip home. I should be able to ward your son’s brownie by the middle of next week. ”
Lord Ashbourne smiled at Lizzy, and she noticed his smile slightly resembled Mr. Darcy’s but without the matching dimples.
“You have my thanks for everything you do for those of us who are lucky to have brownies living among us. I cannot even imagine a world without the presence of such loyal and caring individuals. My family has truly been blessed by their presence over the years.”
“I thank you Lord Ashbourne,” Lizzy offered.
“It is a pleasure to meet those who appreciate the brownies and allow them to retain their positions in their homes, on their estates, and around their fields and woods. I also cannot imagine a world void of brownies and all the tasks they willingly carry out. Imagine a field with more weeds than crops, or a wood littered with deadwood or the debris left after a severe storm.”
“I would prefer not to imagine such a world. I am happy with all the services my family’s brownies provide. Even the occasional mischief they can conjure up is better than not having them in my life,” the earl declared merrily.
“I find most landowners and homeowners share your belief. They too would rather tolerate the occasional pranks than be without the brownies in their lives.” Lizzy often heard the tales of the different pranks played upon human families.
“I do have one more request, Miss,” the earl started.
“I too have personal brownie, and for a few years he would travel with me to town and attend the parliamentary sessions with me. Then something happened to change all that. Hawthorne felt an evil and threatening presence and quickly left. I found him at our London home hiding in my dressing room. All he would ever say was that someone or something else had entered the area while he was with me, and for his own safety, he knew he had to leave. Since then, he has never ventured to travel anywhere with me again.” The earl sadly shook his head.
“He will never leave this estate unless he can feel fully protected.”
Lizzy smile, and when the earl paused in his request, she injected, “You wish me to put an individual ward around Hawthorne.”
“Yes, if you would be kind enough to comply with my request,” the earl responded with a sincere smile.
Lizzy smiled even broader. “After I ward the manor house, I will stop at the kitchen door. If you will have Hawthorne wait for me there, I will then ward him.” Lizzy pondered a moment before she decided to ask a rather personal and forward question.
“If you will not be offended, my Lord, might I ask if this request is because you miss Hawthorne’s company while in London or if his special ability helps your decision making during parliamentary sessions. ”
The earl gave a hearty laugh at the same time as Mr. Darcy walked out of the house. He starred curiously at his uncle and Lizzy. Lizzy did not miss look.
The earl then said, “Both, Miss. You are correct about the assistance I often received from Hawthorne when he was with me, but I confess, I also miss his presence when away from the estate. As with most of us who are honored by the presence of brownies, I find great pleasure in his company and friendship.”
Lizzy smiled, feeling pleased the earl saw Hawthorne as more than a tool to use.
“Might I tell you a story, Miss?” the earl inquired.
Lizzy saw Mr. Darcy smile and suspected he had heard this story numerous times. Then, Lizzy nodded to show her approval.
“One day while playing in the woods you warded yesterday, a brownie stomped through a thick strand of trees. I had never seen this brownie before. Being a curious ten-year-old, I approached him and asked if he was lost.”
The earl’s far-off look led Lizzy to believe he was reliving the event in his mind.
“I noticed he looked unkept, as if he had not been living in a home but wondering around in the woods trying to live in the open. His clothes were tattered and torn, he had leaves and twigs stuck to his clothes and hair, and he appeared weak. I felt a great deal of sympathy for him. At my age, I did not completely understand about age in reference to brownies. I thought he looked young and wondered if he had lost his family. When he finally looked up at me, I noticed his eyes looked old; at least, far older than me.” The earl chuckled softly before continuing.
“I often noticed the eyes of the brownies in and around our estate. My mother once told me you could tell a brownies age by his eyes.”
Lizzy nodded her head in agreement to that statement, and she noticed, from the corner of her eye, Mr. Darcy also nodding.