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Chapter Eight
Work had never beena dirty word to Matthew, but he found the balance between multiple enterprises and twenty-three different managers wasn’t as easy to juggle when he had—ah, what was the right word?—a nubile, experienced, distracting wife waiting at Highwood.
Thanks to that work, they’d barely spoken the last two days, but she had waited for him each evening to share dinner, share a few words then share her body.Raleigh had informed him the library was being renovated.Matthew’s only comment, “Whatever she wants to do, but make sure the project doesn’t meander.”
He sat at his desk in theDaily Informer’s building.Jack had already left, in a hurry to print the next edition of the paper.
Matthew’s newest idea, and most insane with no chance of financial return, was burning for fulfillment.The notes and post-scripts and tangents flew from his mind to the paper with dizzying acumen.As if he’d planned such things his entire life.Rose would be the perfect person to assist him, but he had to align several other things first.
His assistant, Davy Arnstead, tapped at the doorjamb.“Mr.Hardy, there is a woman here to see you?She didn’t give her name.”
“A source?”He didn’t look up.
“I don’t think so.She doesn’t have that look.”
“See what she wants.”
“You.She asked for you by name.Very certain, she was.”
Matthew placed the feathered quill into its silver holder.“Fine.She has five minutes.”
He stood as the worn and aged woman walked in the door.He could not tell the difference between forty and sixty with some women and this one looked as if she’d been worked hard all her life.
“Mr.Hardy?”
“Madam.”
“I’m Mary Trimble.A friend said you were looking for me.”
“Oh, well, yes!I guess I wasn’t expecting you without a search across England.This is a pleasant surprise.”It was Welliver’s duty to care for his offspring.Matthew felt the weight of that duty, likely because he was Welliver’s true first born, but also because he had the means and wasn’t a complete miser.
“I can’t say why.Never met you before.”
“Have a seat.”Matthew held a chair for her.“Would you like something to drink?”
“You wouldn’t have a whisky handy, would you?”She glanced about the room then back at him, her brows coming together.
