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“Oh, my Lady, you are an innocent one, aren’t you?” Bethany said, hiding a giggle behind her hand.
Jane had to school her features to not let her suspicions show. Far better to play the innocent, then Bethany would gossip to all and sundry about how she knew nothing of family traits and bloodlines. Yes, that would suit her aims most pleasingly.
Bethany stopped giggling and pointedly asked, “You are not still innocent are you, the Baron has got an heir on you already, has he not?”
Oh yes, this was playing out most perfectly. “Goodness, that is most impertinent.”
Bethany took a step back.
“I must apologise, my mouth runs away from me all the time.”
“No offence taken,” Jane assured her. “In fact, I do hope for some good news soon.”
“He’s not overdoing it? He could be so phlegmatic with the third Baroness. Nearly ate us out of house and home trying for the boy, fourth time around, would only eat and drink white food. Chicken breast only, potatoes of course, the palest ale, porridge with sugar and not honey, and the wheat had to be milled to powder before he’d eat the bread.”
Excellent information. Jane tucked it away.
“I believe he’s moved to greens, in my case,” Jane said, lowering her eyes and hoping a blush might rise to her cheeks to add to the authenticity. “He rather seems to enjoy Broad Beans, as do I.”
Bethany beamed with pleasure at this choice.
“Then we shall spare none for the Jardines and make sure cook hands them all to his Lordship’s footman.”
With that bit of gossip done, and having learned much more than she expected to, Jane bid farewell and walked back to the house.
She found the Butler in the cellar, counting the remaining bottles of wine. The stern man scared her a little, but she was the Baroness now, she did not need his approval or permission. He worked for her, and as much as he might carry some affection for the previous Baroness’s children, he needed to adapt to the new situation. And quickly.
“Stone, please tell Cook to set aside all of the Broad Beans for the Baron.”
“Yes, my Lady, right away.”
Goodness, that was rather fast. She’d expected him to complain or offer up some kind of comment. It didn’t feel right for things to be this easy. Intrigued, she kept her distance and followed the Butler towards the kitchens. If he queried her, she would ask him to give her a tour of the estate to make sure she was familiar with all the rooms and the grounds. It had only been a few days, this was something the new Baroness should know about her husband’s affairs and abodes. She had only just met two of the gardeners, and there could be a whole village of people living in cottages on the estate for all she knew.
Stone did not hesitate and walked directly to the kitchen. Jane hid behind a door and listened intently.
“The new Baroness wants all the broad beans for his Lordship. Make sure the footman takes them to him for his meals.”
“Broad beans?” Jane could hear the question in Cook’s tone. “He’s never liked them before.”
“And he did not care much for oatmeal, but if I recall it didn’t stop him gorging on the stuff when he was trying for a boy with the last one.”
“Broad Beans. Fair enough. At least it’s achievable. Good thing he’s not calling for apricots, they’re scarce as hen’s teeth and he loves them.”
Jane sucked in her breath at this news. Like herself, the Baron loves apricots. Loved, she mentally corrected. But another thing popped into her head. The staff were speaking about the Baron as if he were still living, which meant her subterfuge, as terrible a sin as it was, was working. She slipped out of her hiding spot and made it to the hall and waited for the butler to walk by again.
It was far too early to bring anyone else into the conspiracy at this point. But if she and Mama and Mister Foote were going to carry this off, they needed to know that they had the rest of the staff on their side.
“I should like to travel into town,” she said as he approached. “There are many crops that have failed here on the estate, and if I visit town, there may be some way to secure items that are growing in other areas.”
“I am hearing that it’s a bad growing season all around. Strawberries are few and far between, and I haven’t seen a cherry at all,” Stone confirmed.
“That is so disappointing. I am fond of strawberries and raspberries.”
“Will his Lordship be joining you?”
“He needs his rest, he appears particularly worn out today.”
“I saw the footman taking him for a push in the chair. I don’t know that the fresh air is doing him any good.”
