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“Henry and Weston are in the orchard,” Lord Dunsbourne said. “They are picking and creating tumps as fast as they can.”

“What about the others?”

“They are gone.”

“Gone?” Emily wrinkled her brow. “Gone where?”

“To Hereford,” Lord Dunsbourne said with a frustrated sigh. “They left this morning.”

“But you are nowhere near finished.”

He gazed out at the orchard on the other side of the yard. “I know. That is why we have been pushing so hard today. There must be at least two of us working in the shed, but with only two sets of hands in the orchard, we will be hard-pressed to bring in all the apples and process them before the weather turns.”

“Can you not hire new workers to replace the ones you lost?” Phoebe asked.

His eyes met hers for the first time since she’d arrived. She saw the anxiety there—along with something else she could not identify.

“It seems that no matter the wage, no one in the village wishes to work at Dunsbourne Manor,” he said.

Phoebe’s breath caught. Could the rumor about Lord Dunsbourne that had run unchecked for so many years have affected the local people as deeply as it had the gentry?

“How long has this been an issue?” she asked.

“That I cannot tell you,” the baron said grimly. “This is the first time I have attempted to hire anyone since my father’s passing.”

“I will happily work in the orchard,” Emily said.

Lord Dunsbourne swung back to her. “You cannot do that, Emily.”

“Whyever not?”

“You are a lady.”

“And you are a gentleman,” she countered. “That has not stopped you from working as hard as any laborer.”

Lord Dunsbourne glanced at his clothing, his look of chagrin indicating his sudden awareness of his appearance.

“Indeed,” he said. “And look at me. This is the consequence.”

“Those are merely your clothes, my lord,” Phoebe said. “They can be changed easily enough. The fortitude needed to push on through difficulties, however, is much more lasting and significant.”

He stared at her. “I was under the impression that fine clothing is of utmost importance to you, Miss Hadford.”

Phoebe felt her cheeks pink. “I believe it fair to say that although I have always enjoyed following fashion trends, that particular interest is no greater than my desire to associate with upright people. Unfortunately, as the wearing of fine clothing does not necessarily guarantee good character, I prefer to focus my attention on the latter.”

Lord Dunsbourne seemed momentarily dumbstruck. Given what she wished to say next, it was the best state she could hope for. “I shall wear something more suitable than my current gown when I come to pick apples tomorrow.”

The baron’s tongue loosed immediately. “Absolutely not.”

She feigned misunderstanding. “You wish me to pick in this gown?”

“Of course not.” His eyes flashed dangerously. “You will not pick Dunsbourne apples in that gown or any other.”

“You have already admitted to needing assistance. I can help.”

“Only a couple of weeks ago, you told me to spend as much time as I would like in the orchard,” Emily said. “I have decided to spend the entire day there tomorrow.”

“And I shall be with Emily.”