Page 32 of Courting the Vicar’s Daughter

“Augusta? Is that you?” her father called, halting her examination of her feelings.

“Yes, Father.” She pushed away from the door. “And I have something from Lily.” She tugged off her damp shawl just as the maid appeared to help her with her bonnet.

Daisy attempted to put Harry from her mind, but his infectious grin and serious blue eyes were not easily dismissed.

Chapter Eleven

Have you heard, miss?” Katie, the maid of all work, helped Daisy in the kitchen. They were putting the finishing touches on pies for the fair. “They’re hirin’ on at Whitewood again. My sister, Betty, she’s goin’ to try for a position during the fair. Folk will have to go to the house to try for it.”

Daisy had been brushing the tops of the pie crusts with egg whites, an essential step to make them glisten, and she stilled, her hand hovering over a spiced apple pie.

“Whitewood? Mr. Devon’s property?” She studied the girl’s hopeful expression, wondering how Katie had come upon the news before Daisy had.

“It’s true enough. I have heard it from more than one source.” Mrs. Bramston, the housekeeper, was sitting at the table tying ribbons to little parcels of soap. She spoke with authority, as she usually did. The soaps were one of her specialties, and she’d always done well selling them during the larger fairs. Annesbury had only two, one in spring and another in autumn. Everything from ribbons to oxen were sold and traded, and even the great houses would bring out wares to sell. The first day was devoted to the selling of cattle and sheep, then other wares, and the final day was for hiring farm workers. The larger houses would advertise if there were positions to be filled, too.

“Do you think that means Mr. Devon intends to stay?” Katie asked, cutting out another leaf from the pie dough.

“I do not know.” Daisy clutched the brush tighter, remembered what she was doing, and hastily used her apron to

clean the table. Several large drops of clear liquid from her brush had fallen during her inattentive moment. She tried to concentrate on the pie again.

Cook came over to take the completed pies to the oven. “I’m not so sure I’d trust that kind of position. That old steward, the second the young gentleman’s back is turned, will send everyone packing.”

“Mr. Devon is hiring a new steward,” Daisy said without thinking, then bit her bottom lip when three sets of eyes looked up at her.

“How did you come by that news, Miss Ames?” Mrs. Bramston asked, her eyes curious beneath the lace cap she wore. “You aren’t usually given to spread rumors, so it must be true.”

“I hope it is,” Cook said, wiping her hands on her apron as she returned to the table. “I’ve got a nephew who’d like his chance as a gardener at a big house.”

Daisy put the brush down in the bowl and handed the last pie to her cook. They’d cut out leaves to cover the tops of every variety. It had become something like a signature on Cook’s masterpieces. On fair days, everything from their kitchen was covered in leaves. Already, an entire tray of shortbread baked in the shape of oak leaves sat to one side of the table. With the pies, it made for quite an impressive spread.

“I am afraid that is all I can do for the day. I am to visit the countess this afternoon and must clean up.” Daisy ran her hands down her apron, then reached up to check that her hair was still in its pins.

“You go on, miss,” Cook said with a wave. “And thank you for all your help.”

“I will be up shortly to help you dress,” Mrs. Bramston added. “I have but three more soaps to tie.”

Daisy nearly bolted from the room, the need to hurry away from her own servants unaccountably strong. She had been startled by the maid’s revelation, but it was more disconcerting to have it confirmed by both housekeeper and cook. When had Harry decided to hire more servants? He hadn’t said anything to her on their walk home after the storm.

Not that she expected him to share all of his business dealings with her.

But if he is to take on more servants, he must be planning to stay.

Though she originally hoped for such a thing, the idea now caused some anxiety. How had she allowed herself to grow so familiar with him in such a short time? The man called her by her childhood nickname, for goodness’ sake.

Calm down. She went to the basin of water in her room and washed her hands, then her face. She started to undress. I wanted him to stay, to take his place in the community. Knowing that he will should not change anything about our regard for each other as friends.

She turned her mind more firmly toward her visit with the countess, thinking on how she might present her plan to the lady in a convincing manner. By the time Mrs. Bramston appeared, Daisy had settled her nerves enough to discuss the fair with enthusiasm.

Once dressed, she found her father in his study, kissed him goodbye, and stepped out the door. She walked to Annesbury Park, the home of Lord and Lady Annesbury. It was the countess’s at-home day. Daisy rarely visited the great estate due to her status being far beneath Lady Annesbury’s. Not that the countess had ever made Daisy feel unwelcome in the past. Daisy simply couldn’t imagine they had enough in common to form anything more than a neighborly sort of acquaintance.

The leaves and gravel crunched beneath her half-boots at a steady rhythm. Daisy kept rehearsing her explanation of her school and how best to bring it into conversation without sounding as though she was hoping for money. It would be the height of rudeness to go visiting on such an errand. The purpose of this visit was to obtain the countess’s interest in the project, perhaps gain some support through her approval of the school.

Daisy bit her bottom lip when she came within sight of the large house atop its hill. It lazed about in the afternoon sun, stretched out, comfortable and old. The great big trees lining the path from road to house had all turned yellow, some tipped with brown leaves. Doubtless the gardeners would be coming through to rake up those that had fallen very soon.

She paused long enough to pick up a yellow leaf, newly fallen, and twirled it between her fingers. She tucked it in her reticule on an impulse. If all went well, the leaf would be a memento of the day.

The butler showed Daisy to an upstairs parlor and announced her to the room. Daisy entered just behind him and curtsied to Lady Annesbury. Thankfully, Daisy appeared to be the only caller at the moment.