“You don’t need to march through our whole list in one morning,” he said with a chuckle. “I think just having you here will help her immensely.”
“This is the one thing you’ve consistently asked of me while giving me so much. I’m not going to put it off for another day.”
He looked as though he might protest but then changed his mind. David might not know all my thoughts, thank goodness, butsometimes I felt as though he understood me better than anyone. I needed something to do to repay him for his kindness as well as to keep busy while living here, and I wanted it to be something that would help his family.
David leaned back in his chair and tapped a finger on the table in thought. “The only thing she has shown interest in is her studies. She plays the pianoforte at times, but she doesn’t engross herself in it, not like she does learning. She sits in on my lessons with Mr. Allen, but I’d like her to go outside more, to breathe fresh air and feel the wind in her hair. I’d like to see her taking more enjoyment out of life.”
I nodded. A few weeks ago, the task of bringing a young woman back to life had seemed impossible, but being around Davidhadchanged me. His confidence and trust in my abilities made me feel more capable. Honestly, even having him sit next to me, facing the world in his own surefooted way, made me feel more capable. “We could work on designing and planting a garden. Or perhaps if she is interested in animals—”
David’s finger stopped its tapping. “No animals.”
I glanced up at his face. It was closed off in a way I had only seen since he’d told me he wouldn’t marry me. I gave him a wary smile. Was that because of Charlotte? Had he ever allowed himself to care for any other animals after her? Or did he worry about bringing any living thing into a household where his father might visit? “A garden, then?”
It took a moment, and it looked as though he had to force his features back into their more familiar, relaxed form, but he managed it. “I think a garden project would be ideal.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Spring has not yet arrived.”
“Prepping for a garden should be done in winter, should it not? Then when spring comes, we can be ready to plant. You wouldn’t mind feigning interest in making a part of the estate your own while you are here, enlisting Julia’s help, would you?”
My interest in planning a garden for David’s home would not have to be feigned. The idea of having the space and capabilities to transform a piece of land into something beautiful was so far removed from who I’d been only a few weeks ago that it was difficult to digest. It would be an indulgence I would never have the chance to pursue without David, even if I wasn’t certain to be around to see it when the beauty of spring came. “I would love to do that. I will need a budget.”
“I’ll look into it this afternoon. I’m fairly certain we could enlist some help from the Mortensens. Their two oldest boys at home would be happy for some extra work.”
“Do you have any streams on the estate?”
“Several.”
“Ponds?”
“Not near the back garden. Some of the tenant farms have ponds for watering their animals.”
“Do you think Walter and Anders Mortensen would be interested in digging us a pond and diverting stream water to fill it?”
David smiled. “I think if you asked them nicely, they would jump at the chance. And while you are asking, you can speak to Mrs. Mortensen and Maren about her training to be a lady’s maid. I’ve become very particular about the servants who live here since my father moved to London permanently, and I think her lack of skill is more than outweighed by her trustworthiness.” Maren would be perfect. “But before talking to the boys,” David continued, “speak to Julia to see what she thinks of the garden idea. I’ll get to work on the budget.” He stood from the table and bent to kiss the top of my head before taking his leave.
His touch was so quick and so familiar, the touch of a husband and wife. Not a couple who’d wed only the day before but one who had lived years together in peaceful coexistence.
It robbed me of my breath and made my spine stiffen, but David had turned away from me, and if he noticed my reaction to him, he didn’t show it. Did he think doing things like this would make simple contact like that become ordinary? If so, it was only working for him. Nothing about his touch, even when brief and familiar, felt ordinary.
Since my agreeing to marry him, he’d kissed me twice and I him once. True, only one of those kisses had been on the mouth, and all of them had been very brief, but if David didn’t mind kissing being a part of our marriage, perhaps I would encourage Mama in her plan to offer us privacy over the next week after all.
W
Chapter 17
“Mama has been sick for a week. Dr. Clarke hasn’t said she could die, but he is frowning a lot. I know the vicar would tell me not to be selfish and to be happy that she would be in heaven and away from all her pain. But instead, I keep praying she can stay.”
—David Tate, 1837, Age 10
I found Julia in the library. She had several books laid open in front of her on the table. I stepped into the room, but her eyes didn’t lift from the book she was reading, so I knocked softly on the door. Her eyes shot up, and a hand came to her chest. I had startled her.
“Anna,” she said in relief, looking behind me.
“I’m alone.”
She nodded, and I took that as a welcome to come into the room. An extensive rug covered most of the floor, and my feet sank into it with each step. When I reached her, I inspected the books that had her so enthralled.
Latin.
