Chemistry of Magic: Unexpected Magic Book Five (Unexpected Magic #5)(24)

“That is most odd. We were told the house would be ready, and I’d so hoped to see the staff again. I should visit Mrs. Wiggs and see how she fares. Her sister is out toward Willow Lane, isn’t she?” Emilia made that up. She remembered the name of one of the village lanes but knew almost nothing about the housekeeper’s sister.

“Other direction,” Mr. Thornbull corrected curtly. “Aster Cottage, as you come into the green.”

“I thank you most kindly, sir. Should my husband come looking for me, tell him I’ve gone to Aster Cottage, if you would. And if you know of anyone seeking employment, please send them to us.”

They parted on a slightly better basis than upon her entrance, Emilia decided as she strolled to the green in search of Aster Cottage. Her mother and sisters had always done the shopping, but Emilia was comfortable with stationers. Her family was never short of servants since Lady McDowell saved women from the streets and workhouses and sent them to Emilia’s cousin Aster for training. Emilia knew at least partially-trained staff could arrive in weeks, if she asked.

But she wanted to know what had happened to her grandfather’s staff.

Ashford’s enormous berlin occupied nearly one whole side of the small village green. They really needed a gig, but there had been none in the stable, and she couldn’t ask Dare to walk any distance.

She debated stopping to ask directions, but she thought she’d look for asters first. They wouldn’t be blooming yet, but plants, she understood better than people.

The task was easier than expected—Mrs. Wiggs was sitting in the yard by the time Emilia walked down the street. The stout housekeeper’s hair had turned completely white over the years, and she’d gained weight, but her hug was as strong as ever. Emilia felt pinpricks from every ache the woman suffered before she could break the connection.

“You look that much like Sir Harry in his youth that I would have known you anywhere,” Mrs. Wiggs exclaimed, looking Emilia up and down. “And you’re all grown up and married! Come in, come in, have a sip of tea. My sister is out. We can have a good coze.”

Emilia recalled her great-grandfather as gray-haired, brown from the sun, wrinkled and speckled with sun spots. But Mrs. Wiggs had been with him since they were both young, so she tried not to wince at the comparison.

After pleasantries were exchanged, Emilia brought the conversation around to her purpose. “Lord Dare and I were led to believe that you and Mr. Barton were still in the house. I was disappointed to find you had moved on. Do you know who was appointed in your place?”

Mrs. Wiggs looked puzzled. “We weren’t told of no one. We understood the old place was to be sold for the new railroad. I left everything ready to be packed up and moved.”

“Railroad?” Emilia asked in horror. “I know nothing of a railroad. I mean to continue grandfather’s gardens. Who told you this?”

The housekeeper looked puzzled. “I don’t know precisely. There were some gentlemen about last winter, about the time Mr. Barton took his fall. Then Mr. Crenshaw said as we weren’t needed anymore. When we heard the rumors about the railroad, with you never coming back, we decided the rumors were true. The village has been talking of naught else since. What do we need with a railroad, I ask you?”

Emilia had no better idea than Mrs. Wiggs about railroads. She’d never even seen one. After ascertaining that her housekeeper was willing to return a few days a week to train staff, she left in search of Dare.

She found him swilling his wretched medicine and leaning against the carriage as if he were exhausted. He straightened those broad shoulders she’d glimpsed last night and put on his most charming smile at her approach, but she could tell simply by touching his arm that he ached in too many places for her to discern one from the other, rather like Mrs. Wiggs.

It was disconcerting to realize that such a wide strong chest could conceal such damage. She pressed one palm against his shirt front, enduring the warning prickles up her arm while attempting to send a spurt of healing energy. He covered her hand with one of his and leaned down to kiss her cheek. She was coming to enjoy those little gestures of affection, even though she knew he meant nothing by them.

“Mrs. Wiggs will be out to the house tomorrow,” Emilia told him once he settled on the seat beside her. “She will bring maids, but Cook has found another position.”

“Supplies will be delivered this afternoon, and I’ve made arrangements for hay and grain for the stable. It is the mysterious Mr. Crenshaw who was supposed to pay staff who eludes me. His name is on the books, but no here knows of him. The funds were deposited at a bank in Harrogate, so I suppose I must go there next.”

“Not while the fair is in session,” she warned. “Rest a bit before making another journey. Perhaps something will turn up. Mrs. Wiggs told me that she heard the house was to be sold for a railroad,” Emilia said in indignation. “Wherever would that lie have started?”

She glanced up when her husband said nothing. He reddened and started to cough.





Chapter 8





The carriage was pulling up their drive before Dare recovered from his cough. Emilia wished she had the courage to press her hand against his chest again. But she preferred to experiment when he was asleep. She really didn’t want her dashing new husband looking at her as if she were demented.