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“What?” they both asked and then laughed.
Neither could resist going on. “To go and live at Tresigan,” they caroled in unison.
They stared at each other with surprise and growing delight.
“I asked Cecelia if we might, and she agreed,” Sarah said.
“I just discussed that very plan with the duke. He did too.”
Their gaze held, suddenly full of hope. Kenver squeezed her hands. They were always better when it was just the two of them. Like now. He couldn’t wait. “It may be a ramshackle household.”
“I don’t care.”
“I don’t know what staff we may be able to…”
“I don’t care,” Sarah repeated.
“I know how to roast potatoes in the ashes of a fire,” he noted.
She laughed. It was the most carefree laugh he’d ever heard from her and a joy to hear. “I’ve read so many tales of explorers camping in the wild,” she said. “I will be glad to put that knowledge to use.”
Kenver was certain that her head was full of useful schemes.
“I’ve arranged for the Pendrennons to take Tresigan,” James was telling Cecelia among the castle ruins.
“Youdid?”
“Yes, Cecelia, I did. Why shouldn’t I? The Pendrennons’ living situation is much on their minds.”
“You noticed. Yes.”
“The issue was rather…noticeable.”
“It’s just that you never take any interest…” Her voice broke off as she glimpsed a challenging look in his dark-blue eyes. “It is an odd coincidence. I just told Sarah the same thing.”
“Indeed? Great minds think alike.”
She looked at him. “I suppose they do.”
“Can there be any doubt?”
Cecelia was more puzzled than doubtful. “I’m glad we came to the same conclusion.” Unusually, she searched for words. “They will be good tenants.”
“Though paying very little, I fear.”
“But bringing happiness to the house, I hope.”
The duke examined her for a moment before saying, “As do I.”
Their Tintagel picnic became a celebration of the new arrangement, and they rode past Tresigan on the way back to check on progress. Fortunately, the workmen had found that the structure was sound and only a few repairs were required to the roof. Some floorboards needed to be replaced, and the interior was to be freshened with new paint. But this would take days rather than weeks. Sarah and Kenver couldn’t stop smiling at each other as they rode on toward Poldene.
They said nothing to Kenver’s parents about their plans, not being so foolish. But as the pall of their disapproval descended over her once again, Sarah relished the idea of escape.
Eleven
By the first day of the village fete, it was clear that they would be able to move in a short time, and Kenver savored this knowledge as they set off for the opening of the celebration. He smiled at Sarah in the carriage, and she smiled back. He’d noticed that his parents were puzzled by their unshakable good humor. Sarah had been blithely unaffected by several of his mother’s barbs. Kenver, reminding himself of the duke’s advice to disengage, rested in the knowledge that he was getting Sarah away from them. He thought the Terefords were enjoying this too. Kenver particularly appreciated their shared secret as they prepared for their first public event since his marriage. All of them would be on show today.
But as they walked about the village square admiring examples of local crafts and husbandry, his patience wore thin. His mother acted as if Sarah wasn’t there. It was always Kenver who brought Sarah forward and introduced her to any friends and neighbors she had not encountered before. Mama was losing no opportunity to slight her, Kenver thought, trying not to grind his teeth. This was different from dinner table gibes. This was public rejection and impossible to ignore.
