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When again she saw the Captain, she didn’t want to have dark circles under her eyes.
******
Lord Montgomery wandered through the garden and out through the back gate to the mews. Here at last was some action, a chestnut, cross-tied in the yard, being groomed by two men with another pair cleaning a chaise.
"Good morning, men," the Baron said with a friendly wave.
"Can we bring your grey, sir?" one asked.
"Not at the moment, thank you. I am looking for Captain Drew. Have you seen him?"
"In the tack room, sir."
Inside the building, Lord Montgomery heard voices from the end of the row of stalls. When he stuck his head around the door, he saw the Captain and one of the coachmen examining worn straps on a harness.
"Ah, good day, my Lord," Drew said. "How can I—"
"When you have a moment, I’ll be outside. Finish your talk here, if you please."
Only a few minutes passed before the Captain joined the Baron.
"We'll need some privacy, Drew."
"Let's go over to the harbour where no one will bother to notice us," the Captain suggested.
They walked to the inlet where men off-loaded barrels and sacks from some boats, while filling others with cargo. The hum of voices, creaking of winches, and rumble of carts provided plenty of cover for their conversation.
"I am not experienced in this kind of discussion," Montgomery said. "My wife's bailiwick for the most part. But in this case, I have a question, Captain. What are your intentions regarding my daughter Veronica?"
He saw Drew's mouth drop open and the look of astonishment on his face, an expression of surprise. He'd obviously caught the man unawares.
After a moment of hesitation, Drew shook his head.
"My Lord, I find your daughter a most worthy young lady, far above any intentions I might imagine. I assure you, I am a humble innkeeper. I consider Miss Montgomery a friend… but…"
"Ah, Captain. I did not mean that the way it sounded. I am not accusing you of anything untoward. But you may have noticed that she holds you in high regard."
"She is very kind. But there is nothing between us. I cannot believe that she sees me as anything more than the manager of the Royal Arms."
"Veronica seemed to disagree with you on that when I spoke to her a little while ago."
"But sir, you are a peer of the realm, and I am the son of a Berkshire farmer, far removed from nobility. How could I ever aspire…?”
"You are also an officer. A gentleman. My daughter's happiness means far more to me than matching her with some twig of an insignificant aristocrat's family."
"But…"
"I suppose I ought to be asking if you have any feelings for her?"
"I never dared imagine…" Drew fumbled for an answer. "I do. Yes, I do have feelings for her, though I've tried to quash, to escape, them."
"I suggest that you two have a little conversation. See where it leads."
"You mean, that is, you are giving me leave to, ah, to express my affection for Miss Montgomery? To seek her feelings for me? To pay suit to her?
"Drew, that is precisely what I am saying. Get together and see if you two might have a future. Once your friends have departed."
The way his thoughts swirled in his head, Drew wondered if he could ever concentrate on anything again besides his emotions toward Miss Montgomery, passions he'd so far crushed.
