The Raven Prince (Princes #1)(26)

“Aye, milord.” The farmer slapped Lord Swartingham on the back. “My thanks for helping us out. Don’t remember when I’ve seen a grander splash.”

That set the men off again, and it was some little while before the earl and Anna could leave. By the time they were mounted, the earl’s body was shaking with cold, but he showed no sign of hurry.

“You’ll catch your death of cold, my lord,” Anna said. “Please ride on to the Abbey ahead of me. You can go much faster without Daisy and me to slow you down.”

“I’m quite all right, Mrs. Wren,” he replied through teeth clenched to keep them from chattering. “Besides, I wouldn’t want to be deprived of your dulcet company for even a moment.”

Anna glared at him for she knew he was being sarcastic. “You don’t have to prove how manly you are by catching the ague.”

“So you consider me manly, Mrs. Wren?” He grinned like a little boy. “I was beginning to think that I battled a stinking sheep for nothing.”

Anna tried, but it was impossible to keep her mouth from twitching. “I didn’t know landowners helped their tenants so,” she said. “Surely it is unusual?”

“Oh, certainly unusual,” he replied. “I suppose the majority of my peers sit in London letting their arses widen while their stewards run their estates.”

“Then why do you choose to wade into muddy streams after sheep?”

The earl shrugged his damp shoulders. “My father taught me that a good landowner knows his tenants and what they are doing. Then, too, I am more involved because of my agricultural studies.” He shrugged again and smiled at her rather ironically. “And I’m fond of wrestling ewes and the like.”

Anna returned the smile. “Did your father wrestle ewes as well?”

There was a silence, and she feared for a moment that she’d asked too personal a question.

“No, I don’t remember him getting that dirty.” Lord Swartingham watched the road ahead. “But he didn’t mind wading into a flooded field in spring or overseeing the harvest in fall. And he always took me with him to mind the people and the land.”

“He must’ve been a wonderful father,” she murmured. To have raised such a wonderful son.

“Yes. If I’m only half as good a father to my own children, I’ll be content.” He looked curiously at her. “You had no children from your marriage?”

Anna glanced down at her hands. They were clenched in fists over the reins. “No. We were married for four years, but it was not God’s will to grace us with children.”

“I’m sorry.” There seemed to be honest regret in the earl’s eyes.

“As am I, my lord.” Every day.

They were silent then until Ravenhill Abbey came into sight.

WHEN ANNA REACHED home that evening, Pearl was sitting up in bed and eating soup with Fanny’s help. She was still thin, but her hair had been pulled back from her temples with a bit of ribbon, and she wore one of the little maid’s old dresses. Anna took over the duty and sent Fanny down to finish making the supper.

“I forgot to thank you, ma’am,” Pearl said shyly.

“It’s quite all right.” Anna smiled. “I only hope you feel better soon.”

The other woman sighed. “Oh, I just need some rest, mostly.”

“Are you from around here, or were you traveling through when you became ill?” Anna proffered a bit of beef.

Pearl chewed slowly and swallowed. “No, ma’am. I was trying to get back to London where I live. A gent brought me out here in a fine carriage promising to set me up proper like.”

Anna raised her brows.

“I thought he was going to put me up in a little cottage.” Pearl smoothed the sheet under her fingers. “I’m getting older, you know. I can’t be working too much longer.”

Anna remained silent.

“But it were just a con,” Pearl said. “He only wanted me for a party with some friends.”

Anna cast about for something to say. “I’m sorry it wasn’t a permanent position.”

“Yeah. And that weren’t even the worst of it. He expected me to entertain him and his two friends.” Pearl’s mouth twisted down.

Two friends? “You mean you were to, um, entertain three gentlemen at once?” Anna asked faintly.

Pearl pursed her lips and nodded. “Yeah. All together or one after another.” She must have seen Anna’s shock. “Some of them fine gentlemen likes to do it together, sort of showing off to each other. But the girl gets hurt lots of times.”

Good Lord. Anna stared at Pearl, appalled.

“But it don’t really matter,” Pearl continued. “I walked out.”

Anna could only manage a nod.

“Then I started feeling bad on the coach back. I must’ve dozed off, ’cause next thing I knew, my purse was gone and I was having to try to walk since the coach wouldn’t let me back on without my money.” Pearl shook her head. “I would’ve been dead for sure if you hadn’t found me when you did.”

Anna looked down at her palms. “May I ask you a question, Pearl?”

“Sure. Go ahead.” The other woman folded her hands at her waist and nodded. “Ask me anything you want.”