noticed the roughness of her hand and knew that work had produced that roughness. At the moment, in spite of her vibrant colouring, she looked about to drop.
"The trees can wait until tomorrow," Richard said. He figured he could put up at Mr. Croft's inn, which had seemed pleasant and clean enough.
"But won't your employer complain if you are detained?"
He could not miss the anxiety in her voice. Richard wondered just exactly what their anticipated visitor had been expected to accomplish. It was quite possible that the man would show up tomorrow, but until he did, and as long as Richard did not lie to her, precisely, he told himself he had nothing to worry about.
"I have all the time I need," was all he said on that subject. "And, besides, it seems I must wait anyway for the gentleman with whom I am to conduct my business."
At this, instead of telling him when he might expect to see the gentleman in charge, Selina drew herself up. "You will have to conduct your business with me, sir. You see—" she beckoned Augustus forward, and the boy made Richard a low bow—"This is Mr. Augustus Trevelyan, Esq., and I, as his sole living relative, represent him."
"Do you." Richard's rhetorical question conveyed none of his shock at her pronouncement. This investigation was becoming more intriguing with each passing moment. Selina, then, must have been the person who wrote the letter of application, though why a boy's sister should do such a thing he could not imagine. And were there really no more members of this household?
Richard found himself fascinated by the mystery.
"Well, miss—" He could not bring himself to call her Trevelyan again, not when she had used his name without permission. "We shall have plenty of time tomorrow, I trust, to carry out our business."
His tone must have conveyed its usual authority, for Selina nodded and said, "Augustus, why don't you help Mr. Lint and bring him all he needs to fix the fence while I attend to our supper?"
Richard winced at her mistaking his name. He was not used to practicing deception, but at the moment, he saw no way out of his. Tomorrow, he trusted, would be soon enough to rectify it.
Augustus agreed cheerily and ran into the barn to fetch some tools. Selina curtsied again, and Richard admired the straightness of her back.
Tired with work she might be, and disappointed, but still she carried herself like a lady. Her graceful curtsey had been worthy of a presentation gown. Her shoulders were elegant though broad, and the dress she wore hugged them tightly, showing off their alluring curvature. But Selina seemed oblivious to her charms as she excused herself.
Richard watched her move towards the house and had to admit that the view was just as good from this side: the way she walked with her head held high, the slight swing of her hips beneath her tattered gown, her narrow waist just beneath the luxuriant fall of hair.
He had to admit that the girl had pluck, too. He almost regretted his errand now. He would not enjoy embarrassing, perhaps even arguing with a girl who needed his help.
And, who did not like to accept it.
Remembering how she had reacted to his offer, Richard decided he had best get to work before Selina changed her mind and sent him packing before he could fix the fence. He removed his woolen jacket and rolled up his sleeves.
Chapter Three
Feeling relieved of a burden, which for her was a rare sensation, Selina was half-way to the kitchen before she remembered Clarissa and the milk. The cow could not be left so swollen, or the milk left to sour in the bucket. Since Augustus was busy helping the stranger, Selina would have to milk the cow herself. And if she did not hurry, she told herself wearily, she would have to light a lantern in order to find Clarissa's udder. With a sigh, she turned her steps towards the barn.
Clarissa was still standing where she had left her, tied in the stall and looking pitiful. Selina swallowed her irritation and
"The trees can wait until tomorrow," Richard said. He figured he could put up at Mr. Croft's inn, which had seemed pleasant and clean enough.
"But won't your employer complain if you are detained?"
He could not miss the anxiety in her voice. Richard wondered just exactly what their anticipated visitor had been expected to accomplish. It was quite possible that the man would show up tomorrow, but until he did, and as long as Richard did not lie to her, precisely, he told himself he had nothing to worry about.
"I have all the time I need," was all he said on that subject. "And, besides, it seems I must wait anyway for the gentleman with whom I am to conduct my business."
At this, instead of telling him when he might expect to see the gentleman in charge, Selina drew herself up. "You will have to conduct your business with me, sir. You see—" she beckoned Augustus forward, and the boy made Richard a low bow—"This is Mr. Augustus Trevelyan, Esq., and I, as his sole living relative, represent him."
"Do you." Richard's rhetorical question conveyed none of his shock at her pronouncement. This investigation was becoming more intriguing with each passing moment. Selina, then, must have been the person who wrote the letter of application, though why a boy's sister should do such a thing he could not imagine. And were there really no more members of this household?
Richard found himself fascinated by the mystery.
"Well, miss—" He could not bring himself to call her Trevelyan again, not when she had used his name without permission. "We shall have plenty of time tomorrow, I trust, to carry out our business."
His tone must have conveyed its usual authority, for Selina nodded and said, "Augustus, why don't you help Mr. Lint and bring him all he needs to fix the fence while I attend to our supper?"
Richard winced at her mistaking his name. He was not used to practicing deception, but at the moment, he saw no way out of his. Tomorrow, he trusted, would be soon enough to rectify it.
Augustus agreed cheerily and ran into the barn to fetch some tools. Selina curtsied again, and Richard admired the straightness of her back.
Tired with work she might be, and disappointed, but still she carried herself like a lady. Her graceful curtsey had been worthy of a presentation gown. Her shoulders were elegant though broad, and the dress she wore hugged them tightly, showing off their alluring curvature. But Selina seemed oblivious to her charms as she excused herself.
Richard watched her move towards the house and had to admit that the view was just as good from this side: the way she walked with her head held high, the slight swing of her hips beneath her tattered gown, her narrow waist just beneath the luxuriant fall of hair.
He had to admit that the girl had pluck, too. He almost regretted his errand now. He would not enjoy embarrassing, perhaps even arguing with a girl who needed his help.
And, who did not like to accept it.
Remembering how she had reacted to his offer, Richard decided he had best get to work before Selina changed her mind and sent him packing before he could fix the fence. He removed his woolen jacket and rolled up his sleeves.
Chapter Three
Feeling relieved of a burden, which for her was a rare sensation, Selina was half-way to the kitchen before she remembered Clarissa and the milk. The cow could not be left so swollen, or the milk left to sour in the bucket. Since Augustus was busy helping the stranger, Selina would have to milk the cow herself. And if she did not hurry, she told herself wearily, she would have to light a lantern in order to find Clarissa's udder. With a sigh, she turned her steps towards the barn.
Clarissa was still standing where she had left her, tied in the stall and looking pitiful. Selina swallowed her irritation and
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