Replenish the Earth Read Online Free PDF

waves of pain had subsided. Most of the time she had no trouble walking, but just once in a while she jarred whatever it was that was wrong inside her. When she thought she could move without stumbling, she tried to pull away from him, but he kept hold of her arm, his eyes anxious.
    ‘Are you sure you’re all right now?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘You must have hurt yourself badly.’
    ‘I was born lame, sir. Today’s fall has merely jarred my bad hip. The pain will soon pass.’ She could hear how sharp her voice was, but couldn’t help that. She hated to display her weakness to anyone. ‘Thank you for your help.’
    ‘I’m sorry about Santo.’ He turned to the animal and said, ‘Friend,’ loudly, several times, patting her arm. It wagged its tail even more furiously at Sarah and panted vigorously, its pink tongue hanging out of one side of its mouth as if it was grinning.
    She couldn’t help smiling at it, then stole a quick glance sideways. The man was standing so close to her she could feel the warmth where his body was shielding hers from the chill breeze. His dark hair was tied back in a plain bow - his own hair, not a wig - and his skin had that fresh colour to it that came from working out of doors. His eyes were so dark as to seem almost black, and he had a straight, well-formed nose and wide, generous mouth, though this was set in a grim line at the moment to match the frown lines on his forehead. And although he was dressed in working clothes, they were not poor men’s clothes, but good, hardwearing stuff, a neat leather jerkin over a woollen overshirt to keep out the cold, knee breeches of broadcloth over knitted woollen stockings, and sturdy leather shoes with the low heels of a working man.
    ‘Are you really the new owner of Broadhurst?’ he asked abruptly.
    She was glad of an excuse to feel annoyed with him. Anger was something she knew, something that kept you going, not like this - this other feeling he inspired, a feeling she definitely didn’t trust. ‘Why should you doubt what I tell you?’ She drew away from him, relieved to find that her leg would hold her now.
    ‘I’d not expected the new owner to walk up a muddy lane and arrive unannounced.’
    ‘Well, I haven’t got a carriage, and if the state of my house is as they tell me, I don’t suppose I ever will have. If that’s any of your business.’
    He laughed, a short, mirthless bark. ‘Oh, but you do have a carriage! Two, in fact. They’re mouldering away in the coach house at the Manor. But you won’t be able to use them, because there aren’t any horses left to pull them.’
    ‘Well, they can just stay there and moulder, then. I’ve no money for horses, or for a coachmen to drive them.’
    The scowl returned. ‘Then I take it that you’ll be selling the Manor to Sewell?’
    ‘That’s my business, I think.’ 
    She saw him open his mouth as if he was going to speak, then breathe deeply and clamp his lips shut. What a surly fellow he was! Still, if he was a tenant, he had a right to worry about his future, and she had lived with uncertainty about her own future for the past year and wouldn’t willingly inflict it on anyone else. ‘I’m not selling.’ Honesty compelled her to add, ‘At least, I hope not.’
    He looked at her in both surprise and distrust, as if he didn’t quite believe her. ‘You’re not? But - how shall you manage?’
    ‘As best I can. And I take leave to tell you that you are impertinent, sir!’
    He stiffened. ‘I cry pardon! I meant no impertinence, Mistress Bedham. I was just - I should have introduced myself before now. I’m Will Pursley, you see. I lease the home farm from you and in addition, your lawyer has appointed me to act as your agent, collecting rents and so on. He said you’d be arriving, but not exactly when.’ And the lawyer hadn’t said she was so young. Will had expected an older woman, not one with pretty hair and clear grey eyes.
    ‘Ah, yes.’ Sarah inclined her head. ‘Mr