3 Exploring #2
He smiled widely then, setting down his laden plate and sitting down opposite her so that she had the full benefit of that smile.
“It was wonderful! After two days in a carriage and then to find myself expected to sleep in the duke’s house, it was glorious to get out into the woods.
They’re so beautiful at this time of year, still with the winter light getting through the canopy and the early flowers just peeping out, the birds beginning to sing — so much life in a forest, don’t you think? ”
“I believe you are right,” Cora said. “It is the insects I notice most — nasty, biting creatures, in the main, and even if they choose not to bite or sting, they buzz around one in the most annoying manner.”
“But the insects are the pollinators, who create the fruit we eat. Bees give us honey, and where would we be without that? And butterflies — no one could object to butterflies, I’m sure.
But it’s the other insects that are the most fascinating — the ones you would never see unless you know where to look.
The beetles — so many different beetles, and all of them beautiful.
” Maria pulled a face, but he went on, “No, no, don’t look like that!
They have the most exquisite iridescent shells, some of them.
And then they spend their lives hidden under rotting wood or in cracks in the bark of an oak tree, never to be seen by human eye.
I wonder sometimes what God was thinking when he hid away such little beauties. ”
“We cannot know God’s purpose,” Maria said sharply.
“No, but it does make the world very mysterious,” he said.
“You had better eat your chops before they get cold, Mr Garford,” Cora said.
“Oh…” He stared at his plate in momentary confusion, as if he had forgotten about it. “I suppose I should. Forgive me for rattling on at such boring length.”
“Not in the least boring,” Cora said, as he picked up his knife and fork and set to with a will. “I should very much like to see one of your beetles.”
He swallowed hastily, setting down his knife and fork again. “Are you interested? But it’s the wrong time of year for the adult forms. Nothing but grubs just now — they’re not so pretty.”
“Ugh!” Maria said, closing her book with a snap. “What a subject for the breakfast table! I shall be in the library if anyone wants me.”
“Are there any Greek books on the shelves?” Cora said. “Written in Greek, I mean.”
“Masses, but scattered all over the place. Greek, Latin, Hebrew, other ancient languages I cannot even identify, and plenty in Italian and French. That library needs cataloguing properly, if you ask me.”
So saying, she swept out, just as Froggett returned with a footman bearing Mr Garford’s ale.
“Greek, Cora?” Hester said in her mild way. “I was not aware you were familiar with the language.”
“I am not, but Mr Garford is, according to Miss Garth. You must make use of the duke’s library while you are here, Mr Garford. I am sure Maria can direct you to the volumes in Latin and Greek. She spends most of her life in that room.”
He looked up from his plate with that devastating smile. “I dare say books nourish her soul the way trees nourish mine. I like a book as much as any man, but that’s for a winter evening by the fireside. When the sun is high, I’d rather be outside.”
“Are you going out again… back to the woods?” Cora said, trying to keep the eagerness out of her voice.
“If no one wants me for anything,” he said.
“The duke is never up and about before noon,” Hester said, “and none of the other gentlemen has indicated a need for your attendance, so you are quite at liberty.”
“In that case, I’ll go exploring again.”
“May I come with you?” Cora said. “I should love to see the woods through your expert eyes, Mr Garford.”
“I’d like that,” he said simply.
And then he smiled again, and her stomach turned over in the most alarming way. What on earth was happening to her? Was it possible that, even at the advanced age of two and fifty, one could fall in love? Surely not!
***
Cal met Mrs Merrington in the overpowering entrance hall.
She was sensibly clad in stout half-boots and a dark woollen cloak over a plain morning gown, not like the lace-encrusted confection she had worn for breakfast. He had half expected her to bring her troop of indistinguishable daughters with her, but she was alone, thankfully.
He had no objection at all to company on his wanderings, and a comely woman was always acceptable.
So long as she wasn’t a chatterer, they would get along perfectly well.
“Now that the new bridge is up, we can cut across the river that way,” she said. “That will take us straight into the woods.”