“Yes...” He chuckled nervously. “That too—good lord!” Mr. Andrews shuffled to the window in the carriage, peaking outside with a look of abject confusion. “What on earth is going on?”
It took Hudson a moment to understand what the man was on about. He bent down and gazed down the drive, seeing nothing out of the ordinary...until he did.
Streaming around the side of the manor, he now saw, were dozens of workers. They carried planks of lumber. Panes ofglass. Rolled barrels which were filled with what Hudson could only imagine. Some, he saw, carried potted plants, others shared literal trees between them. At first, he thought that perhaps they were tearing up his back garden, only to realize that the men were carrying all these supplies toward it.
“I...I have no idea...”
“Whatever it is, it looks expensive,” Mr. Andrews said. Hudson turned back and glared at the man, who gulped. “Not that it is any of my business.
No. The business lies with me. Business which I have had just about enough of.
Hudson was quick to exit the carriage once it pulled up, reminding Mr. Andrews to send for him as soon as the papers were filled out, while also reminding him that whatever this was that he was seeing just now was not to be spoken about to anyone. Mr. Andrews, predictably, was eager to assure him so.
Hudson stormed around the side of the manor, bypassing all manner of workers and builders and gardeners, most of whom barely paid him any mind as they were far too focused on what they were doing. Whatever it was that they were doing.
It was when Hudson breached the back garden that he saw it. And if he had been confused before, that confusion quickly gave way to anger.
The back garden of Worthington Manor dated back to his great-grandfather, a man whom Hudson had never known, but who was said to have an eye toward landscaping. He had designed it himself, with its colorful flowerbeds, and the styled hedges that cut through the large pace, paired with the perfectly selected statues and marble benches and water features, supposedly modeled after the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Now, it lay in ruin!
The back corner of the garden had been pulled to pieces and flattened out; space made for what looked to be some sort of greenhouse. It was still in the early stages of construction. No walls yet. No design. Just the floor, currently being paved by eight men.
Hudson’s mouth hung open as he took it in, shock rolling through him. He might have wondered how this had happened, who gave the order! But there was no need to ask the question, as standing back from the building sit, arms folded across her chest, looking mighty pleased with herself, was his dear wife.
He balked at the sight of her, for he had not laid eyes upon her for some time and was caught by surprise. The smile on her face, the excitement in her movements, the sheer sense of joy radiating from her....it made his stomach turn and his mouth salivate, and his knees shake.She is beautiful...
But that would not dissuade Hudson. A shake of the head and he started toward her. “What on earth is going on!”
“Ah, Hudson!” she beamed at the sight of him. “I had no idea you were home.”
“I asked you a question!” He stepped around three men who were tearing out a row of hedges, very nearly snarling at them to stop. But they were not the problem.
“I thought the answer would be obvious, no?”
“Is this funny to you?”
“Am I laughing?”
Hudson came to a stop several feet away from her. The momentary shock of the situation had passed, and with it, so had his immediate rage. Hudson didn’t like getting angry. He didn’t like losing his cool. Any emotion, whether it be happiness or fury, was a weakness, as it caused one to act in ways that they ordinarily would not do. Almost always to negative effect.
He felt now that his wife was trying to bring this side out in him. That she was trying to upset him purposefully. Why she wished for such a thing...again, he assumed it was because she was trying to force his hand. This or a baby. This or admitting defeat.
Hudson took a deep breath and forced calm. He would not let her get to him.
“I assure you, it is nowhere near as bad as it looks,” she continued when she saw that he was not going to respond as she likely expected. “There really is no need to get upset.”
“Who said that I was upset?”
“I suppose all the shouting and arm waving just confused me.” A curt smile from her. “Now that you are here, I do wonder what you think.” She opened her arms and gestured to the construction site. “It will make a fine addition to the garden, no?”
“An unnecessary one,” Hudson responded, keeping his cool. “You are aware that my great-grandfather designed this garden’s original motif and layout. It has been a part of this estate for generations.”
“Did he?” She tilted her head curiously. “I had no idea. Although how could I?”
“You might have asked.”
“And when might have I done that, I wonder.”
He grimaced at the response; the point she was trying to make so very clear. She was baiting him. He knew that she was. But he would not be baited!
