Chemistry of Magic: Unexpected Magic Book Five (Unexpected Magic #5)(27)
Arthur ducked his head and looked at his feet. “Railroad swell, I reckon. I got paid my wages for ta half year’s work I’d done and told I warn’t needed more. Didn’t seem right, but times change.”
Dare’s gut ground more, but he couldn’t believe anyone in his consortium would have done this. “Should you see the gentleman again, let us know. We paid to keep staff on, not let you go.”
The old man turned rheumy eyes toward him. “You mean I can have my place back?”
“If my wife approves. The garden is hers.” He certainly wanted no part of it anyway.
Arthur beamed with relief. “I’ll just start here. Her ladyship can let me know when she’s ready. Good to have you here, m’lord.”
Whistling through the gaps in his few remaining teeth, the gnome hobbled down to the kitchen gate.
Dare realized he was now responsible for a great peacock and an antiquated gnome, as well as their personal servants, one of whom was never around. What next? Circus ponies? Invisible men?
Maybe he should consider making everyone happy before he died and leave them to figure out their own security later.
As his father had.
Dane found a bush in which to cast up the contents of his churning stomach.
As the marquess’s borrowed berlin rolled down a narrow lane between stone walls in the direction of Alder Abbey, Emilia primly folded her gloved hands in her lap while her husband closed his eyes and rested his head against the seat back. He’d refused the lunch Mrs. Peacock had conjured from nothing and had taken a nap instead. Emilia hadn’t dared touch him for fear he’d notice.
She was terrified. She was so far out of her normal milieu that she feared she’d never feel secure again. She had a dying husband who really ought to be saved if possible, but she didn’t know how to approach him about the odd abilities he wouldn’t believe. Worse, she didn’t know if she’d shorten her own life even if he did allow her to try. And she was supposed to manage a household while continuing her experiments and producing the pharmacopeia that had occupied most of her adult life. That seemed to be the small tip of the iceberg in the ocean of responsibilities she was about to drown in.
The carriage turned up an even narrower drive into a jungle of neglect worse than her own lawn. She couldn’t decide if that was good or bad. She had thought the Pascoe-Ives had money, but then, a deteriorating abbey was a great deal of work, and they’d only been married a month or so.
The ivy-covered, L-shaped building and long low cloister walls loomed into view. The aging stone and medieval arches were picturesque. Emilia hoped they were sound.
Dare sat up as the horses slowed. He whistled as he studied the ancient stone walls. “They will need a king’s fortune to restore that place.”
“I understand the main portion was comfortably occupied until a few decades ago.” Emilia strained to see through the window. “It is beyond the cloister that most concerns me. The abbey would once have had an infirmary and a medicinal garden outside the walls. We are hoping we can raise funds to restore them.”
A tall, dark-haired Ives, who Emilia recognized from her cousin Aster’s mad household, trotted around the corner with a toddler perched on his shoulder. He chased after another toddler of approximately the same age as the first. The boy on foot raced up to the enormous carriage horses, shouting in delight. Grinning broadly, the man set down his daughter and waited for the footman to lower the steps, then held out his hand to assist Emilia down. “Lady Dare, welcome! Bridey has been dying to meet you. Aster sends her regards and says to send her a list of needed staff when you’re ready.”
“If you call my cousin by her name, you know we are informal. You must call me Emilia, sir. We are all family. I am still the annoyingly lofty creature your nephews complain about, when they notice my existence at all.”
“Surely not,” Dare said, swinging down from the carriage, the picture of health, as if he had not been pale and weak moments before. “Theo isn’t such a nod-cock as to complain about a lovely lady in the house.”
He stuck out his hand to shake Pascoe’s. “We met at Iveston, when I was consulting with Theo on microscope glass.”
“Devil Dare, yes, I believe I’ve heard the tales,” Sir Pascoe acknowledged. “I doubt you’ll appreciate the risk of this venture, but come in. Let us show you around—after I gather up my rascals.”
Their host scooped up the two laughing toddlers and handed them over to a harassed-looking nursemaid, who had just run around the corner in apparent pursuit of her charges. Emilia thought the curly-haired cherubs were adorable, but then, she didn’t have to run after them.
Could they afford nursemaids should she have a child? She certainly couldn’t take care of a babe! Aside from being paralyzed with fear about holding a babe, she simply didn’t have time or knowledge.
The impressive medieval doors opened onto an equally impressive hall of stained glass and a soaring cathedral ceiling. To either side of the hall, however, were more modern chambers.
Emilia caught only a brief glimpse of the salons as Sir Pascoe led them deeper into the interior. She knew he had earned his title and this property for aiding the king with vital national issues. She had met him as an intense diplomat in fashionable clothing, looking very much the black-haired imposing Ives that he was. But today, he was casually dressed in rural tweeds and leather and laughing as he gestured at gargoyles and saints carved into the walls and ceilings.