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Maggie glanced his way before she answered, and he desperately hoped that she would choose her words carefully.
“I’ve only been retired these last two years my dear, and it’s sad that I am not able to be so useful as I once was. I miss seeing the young lad often, as he is busy now, so efficiently managing his family estate, and I’m not so busy at all sitting here.”
“John Hanson is actually the estate manager, Maggie, as well you know. But yes, I’m enjoying the role of overseer. John is a good man and needs little guidance, but I still want to exercise my responsibilities”.
Mrs Millwood had set the teapot and cups on the table, and now asked Maggie if she would join them.
“Yes, but I’ll sit here if you don’t mind my girl, I’m enjoying the fire yet this morning. Let Daniel get on with the telling of what is on his mind.”
Taking his cue, Daniel smiled as he outlined his plan to move Mrs Millwood to his hunting lodge, closer to his own house, with staff to care for her there, and thus ease the burden on Maggie. He did not mention his message to Lady Wexley. But as he completed his explanation, he was surprised to see Verity’s lovely face draw into a frown.
“But sir, how can I accept such generosity? I am well, and can help Maggie here with her necessary chores and cooking. I’ve only almost fainted once, and I don’t really expect to do that daily.”
“May I call you Verity, when we are here? I want to behave as friends and feel free to speak my opinions, and you really must call me Daniel.”
Daniel realised that he was looking at her with an intensity which was disconcerting her, to the extent that she was blushing. He looked away, just as she gathered herself enough to speak.
“Of course Mr. — er...Daniel. You have heard my opinion about moving. Maggie, what do you say?”
The old woman took a moment to form her thoughts before she spoke.
“I have loved having you here Verity, but if I am honest, I am more ailing in my bones than I generally admit to. It worries me that I may not be able to provide the help you need, as you progress with this wee one. You are too wan. I’d like you to go to a physician, and I cannot pay for that. If Daniel wants to provide help for you, it is more proper that it happen away from the Inn, away from prying eyes and possible gossip. Did you know that he once knew your husband?”
Verity’s startled look told Maggie that she did not – which Daniel knew, of course, for he had said nothing to her of his memory of a Millwood, when he was at university. Verity turned to him, obviously most curious.
“Did you know him from society, Daniel, or did you know him at Oxford? At least, that is the only other place I can think of, where you might have met him. Edward mentioned only a few friends there, actually attending lectures. The drinkers and carousers weren’t friends. Surely you weren’t one of those?”
Laughing, Daniel debated how far to stretch the truth. He had already indicated to Lady Wexley that he was an intimate of her son at Oxford, and wanted to be consistent, rather than juggle levels of exaggerations.
“Oxford had more than one student, Verity. Edward was a bit younger than me, but I knew him somewhat, and certainly by reputation. You chose a fine man. Would that fate had let you keep him.”
This was another substantial exaggeration. But what else could he have said? He had only wanted to reassure her, and was alarmed to see tears trickling down her smooth cheeks.
He felt the urge to move closer, to pull her into his arms and console her. He had to admit, if only to himself, that he was glad to find her a widow – for had she still been married, he would have faced a terrible quandary indeed, conflicted between his feelings, and what was right and honourable.
She looked down, and in a small voice, whispered, “I apologise…”
That made him all the more desperate to reassure her – that she should apologise for her feelings was terrible, and he wondered who had made her feel that she needed to.
“Forgive me for causing you more sadness my Lady. It was only my intent to affirm his good character.”
She tipped her head down further in a vain attempt to hide her distress, then dabbed at her eyes and spoke again.
“You have a kind heart, Daniel. It will take time for me to completely accept that the dream I had held of a life with him will never be.”
“I understand that – such things are difficult, and from what you have told me, you have not been given any help by those who should most care for you. For the sake of Edward’s memory, please allow me to help you until you find your feet again. Firstly, I think that you should see a physician, as Maggie suggested. We’ll see if he agrees that you need the kind of specific nurture that a larger staff and peaceful seclusion can give.”
Daniel hoped that she would agree – indeed, he had already sent word to his family physician that he would be bringing a young lady to consult him today. He had thought that taking Verity to Simpson’s home, which was located in a quiet spot, away from other houses, would occasion less notice than if Simpson had called on her here.
*****
Verity finally managed to extract a handkerchief from her pockets, and patted her cheeks dry. Doing so gave her a moment to consider the offer which Mr Trowbridge… Daniel… had made, and what she should do. The thought also came to her that, from all that she had discovered of him so far, it seemed to her that he must be a man of far greater importance than he had implied he was. Every new piece of information seemed to further confirm her earlier suspicions.
How else would he have the ability to make the offer that he had? And the wealth to carry it out? To just ‘repurpose a hunting lodge’ for her use, and to supply it with staff to care for her, was not something that a man without great influence would have been able to achieve.
Verity looked at him for a long moment, swallowing, working to better contain her emotions. Regardless of how it was that he had the capacity to make such an offer, she had never expected such kindness. It seemed quite proper to allow it for poor Edward’s sake, and the child’s sake. Especially since Edward’s family had not seen fit to offer her that support.
She gave her quiet agreement, and Daniel smiled, looking almost relieved.
