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Authors: JOANNA MAITLAND
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myself. Whenever I visit such a garden, I cannot help but covet the glories I see there.'
'Then you have much in common with Mrs Anstruther. Oh, not the sins, I am sure,' he added hastily, 'but the love of plants and gardens. The colonel and his wife are creating a new garden at their manor near Castle Douglas, I believe.'
'The colonel's property is rather more than a manor, sir,' she replied with a twinkle. 'It is an ancient castle, built as a bulwark against the invading English. As you travel around you will see that there are many such, mostly in ruins. The colonel's family spent many years restoring it, I believe. Most other families preferred to build anew. A modern house can be more comfortable, I suppose, though it lacks the magic of the old places.'
'Ah, do I detect a lover of gothic romances?' She blushed. Delightfully. . -
'Forgive me, ma'am,' he said quickly. 'That was impertinent of me. Tell me, if you will, what places of interest I should Visit while I am staying in Dumfries.'
She named several, ending with Sweetheart Abbey. 'It was built by the Lady Devorguilla in memory of her beloved husband. His heart is buried there. It is a strange, haunting place, but very beautiful. You will find it an easy journey, in the day, though better on horseback than by carriage. Are you travelling alone?'
'For the present, yes. Though my man, Fraser, will be joining me in the next few days.' He dropped his voice to be sure that Mrs Anstruther would not hear. 'He will be quite horrified, of course, about what happened. He'll maintain, loud and long, that if I had allowed him to accompany me in the first place, as he'd tried to insist, I wouldn't have been thrown into gaol at all.'
She drew herself up slightly. Ross could not decide whether it was because she wished to distance herself from her own outrageous behaviour, or whether she disapproved of his obviously close relationship with his valet. 'You will tell him what happened?' Her voice definitely held a hint of hauteur. So, she didn't think a gentleman should confide in his valet. How little she knew. Having shared the privations of the Peninsular War with Fraser, Ross trusted his man implicitly. With his life, if necessary.
'It matters not a whit whether I tell him or not.' Ross grinned suddenly, remembering many instances when he had tried to keep information from Fraser. 'Fraser is the best gatherer of information I have ever known. He'd find out somehow. He'd have made a very successful spy.' Now that was not quite true. For, on occasion, Fraser had already made a very successful spy. And the British army, though unaware of the details of the man's dangerous service, had reason to be eternally grateful for Fraser's abilities. 'How very.. .interesting.'
He had lost her. The sparkling look was now veiled as she took his empty cup and returned to speak to Mrs Anstruther. Her brother had risen from his place and was bowing to his hostess. The pair clearly meant to leave.
'It was a great pleasure to meet you again, Miss Elliott,' Mrs Anstruther said. 'And you, too, Mr Elliott. I do hope you will come again soon, so that Miss Elliott and I can continue our discussions. I have rarely met anyone so young yet with such enthusiasm for plants and gardens. We share a common passion, I think.'
Miss Elliott smiled warmly. 'I cannot hope to match your knowledge, ma'am, but I should very much like to learn more from you. What you tell me of your new garden is fascinating.'
'I long to visit it again. But situated as I am—' she gestured impatiently at her useless legs '—it may be some time before I can do so. However, if you wish to visit the house and garden, please feel free to do so. My gardeners would be delighted to learn that there are other ladies in the world just as passionate as I am.' She looked sideways at Ross. 'Perhaps Captain Graham would like to accompany you? And your brother, of course.'
James Elliott cleared his throat and directed a swift warning
'Then you have much in common with Mrs Anstruther. Oh, not the sins, I am sure,' he added hastily, 'but the love of plants and gardens. The colonel and his wife are creating a new garden at their manor near Castle Douglas, I believe.'
'The colonel's property is rather more than a manor, sir,' she replied with a twinkle. 'It is an ancient castle, built as a bulwark against the invading English. As you travel around you will see that there are many such, mostly in ruins. The colonel's family spent many years restoring it, I believe. Most other families preferred to build anew. A modern house can be more comfortable, I suppose, though it lacks the magic of the old places.'
'Ah, do I detect a lover of gothic romances?' She blushed. Delightfully. . -
'Forgive me, ma'am,' he said quickly. 'That was impertinent of me. Tell me, if you will, what places of interest I should Visit while I am staying in Dumfries.'
She named several, ending with Sweetheart Abbey. 'It was built by the Lady Devorguilla in memory of her beloved husband. His heart is buried there. It is a strange, haunting place, but very beautiful. You will find it an easy journey, in the day, though better on horseback than by carriage. Are you travelling alone?'
'For the present, yes. Though my man, Fraser, will be joining me in the next few days.' He dropped his voice to be sure that Mrs Anstruther would not hear. 'He will be quite horrified, of course, about what happened. He'll maintain, loud and long, that if I had allowed him to accompany me in the first place, as he'd tried to insist, I wouldn't have been thrown into gaol at all.'
She drew herself up slightly. Ross could not decide whether it was because she wished to distance herself from her own outrageous behaviour, or whether she disapproved of his obviously close relationship with his valet. 'You will tell him what happened?' Her voice definitely held a hint of hauteur. So, she didn't think a gentleman should confide in his valet. How little she knew. Having shared the privations of the Peninsular War with Fraser, Ross trusted his man implicitly. With his life, if necessary.
'It matters not a whit whether I tell him or not.' Ross grinned suddenly, remembering many instances when he had tried to keep information from Fraser. 'Fraser is the best gatherer of information I have ever known. He'd find out somehow. He'd have made a very successful spy.' Now that was not quite true. For, on occasion, Fraser had already made a very successful spy. And the British army, though unaware of the details of the man's dangerous service, had reason to be eternally grateful for Fraser's abilities. 'How very.. .interesting.'
He had lost her. The sparkling look was now veiled as she took his empty cup and returned to speak to Mrs Anstruther. Her brother had risen from his place and was bowing to his hostess. The pair clearly meant to leave.
'It was a great pleasure to meet you again, Miss Elliott,' Mrs Anstruther said. 'And you, too, Mr Elliott. I do hope you will come again soon, so that Miss Elliott and I can continue our discussions. I have rarely met anyone so young yet with such enthusiasm for plants and gardens. We share a common passion, I think.'
Miss Elliott smiled warmly. 'I cannot hope to match your knowledge, ma'am, but I should very much like to learn more from you. What you tell me of your new garden is fascinating.'
'I long to visit it again. But situated as I am—' she gestured impatiently at her useless legs '—it may be some time before I can do so. However, if you wish to visit the house and garden, please feel free to do so. My gardeners would be delighted to learn that there are other ladies in the world just as passionate as I am.' She looked sideways at Ross. 'Perhaps Captain Graham would like to accompany you? And your brother, of course.'
James Elliott cleared his throat and directed a swift warning