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Chapter 13
Louisa and Alex decided atsupper that they would tour the estate grounds together. So the following morning, bright and early, Samuel met them outside with two saddled horses, as arranged.
“Sorry the sidesaddle isn’t as up to snuff as ye’re used to, melady,” Samuel said after greeting them both. “The former viscountess didn’t use it much at the end, and then there weren’t no need.” He looked down at his feet.
“I’m sure it will be fine,” Louisa replied. “Did she use to ride a lot before then?”
“Oh, here and there, in the early days. After our William—er, the current viscount—were born, she stopped for the most part. O’ course, the viscount were away in Town a good share o’ the time, and she preferred to spend time with the baby, like any good ma.” He paused and scratched at his chin. “Mostly got out o’ the habit, I’d say.”
He wasn’t telling her everything, but she didn’t press him for details. He assisted her into the saddle while Alex mounted his own horse.
“Ye be visiting the village, then?” Samuel asked.
“No,” Alex replied. “We’ve decided to tour the estate.”
Samuel looked alarmed before quickly smoothing his features and saying, “T’ain’t much to see on the estate these days, I’m afraid. Only a bit o’ the farmland is bein’ used at present. Matthew will tell ye that several good tenants up and left after Lady Farleigh passed on. Now, the village, that’s a lively place, and if I were going wid ye, I’d suggest a visit to the George and Dragon, and there’s a shop on the corner makes the best apple tarts—”
“Oh, there you are!” A harried-looking Mrs. Holly rushed toward them, her skirts and apron blowing about her. “I didn’t realize you’d finished your breakfast,” she said, breathing quickly from her exertion. “Mrs. Brill just told me. I had thought we’d be spending time today going through the inventory, and Mrs. Brill said she’d love to have you tour the kitchen in detail.”
Matthew came loping around the corner of the building. “Lord Halford, if you have some time, I’d like to show you the records for the estate in more detail. What do you say?”
Louisa and Alex shared a glance. It was patently obvious the others were doing everything they could to keep them from exploring the grounds; they hadn’t even flinched yesterday when Alex had toured the stable yard and Louisa had been shown the manor house. But now they were scrambling to keep her and Alex occupied and away from the estate grounds, which only convinced Louisa that she and Alex were on the right track.
“Thank you, Mrs. Holly,” Louisa replied. “I would enjoy doing both of those things. But it’s a lovely day, and the estate is beckoning me. I think Halford and I will use it to our advantage. Perhaps the two of you can set aside some time for us this afternoon after tea.”
“Any objections?” Alex said, looking at each of them with a raised eyebrow that meant he had better not hear any.
“No, milord,” Mrs. Holly said. She shot a look at Matthew.
Matthew took a step forward, picking up on her cue. “I’d like to go with you, then, if I may,” he said. “I don’t wish to speak out of turn, mind you, but as groundskeeper, I know the land better than anyone here about, shortcuts and such.” He waited for a reply, looking up at Alex meekly, a look Louisa suspected he most likely developed over years of dealing with the former viscount. She’d gotten the impression earlier that Matthew was smarter than most people gave him credit for. Except for William, that is, who had recognized intelligence in him and had entrusted him to oversee his land as steward . . .
“Very well,” Alex said with a bored sigh reserved for exclusive use by noblemen. “Get your horse. But be quick about it.”
Samuel and Matthew both dashed to the stable to saddle up a horse.
“Are you sure you’re up to something quite so vigorous after your long journey from London yesterday, milady?” Mrs. Holly asked, obviously unwilling to simply capitulate.
“Quite sure,” Louisa replied.
“Thank you, Mrs. Holly,” Alex added firmly.
She curtsied deeply and scurried off to the house.
“I believe we’re finally onto something,” he whispered when Mrs. Holly was out of earshot.
“Yes,” Louisa said.
Matthew was approaching them on horseback now while Samuel stayed back by the stable doors. “I thought we’d start by meeting some of the tenants still working on the home farm,” Matthew said. He pointed south. “This way.”
“I believe we’ll go north,” Alex said.
“But—”
“North,” Alex said again.
Matthew slumped in his saddle. “Very well, milord. North it is.”
They headed down a small lane that led from the courtyard at the front of the house around one side of the stable and continued on in a northerly direction. It was considerably overgrown, but it appeared that a conveyance of some kind had recently used it, based on the wheel marks and freshly crushed plants that were visible.
