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soothing about having her hands in the dirt, though she could not fathom why. Of course, in Town, she had to wear gardening gloves, which took away half the fun. Still, the soil under her hands always brought her comfort. And there was comfort in knowing that both the town house and their small estate in Devon were free of mortgages.
    Jim entered the family room without knocking and Catherine sighed as he addressed her mother. She reminded herself to speak to Giles about Jim’s need for further instruction on how to behave as an under butler.
    â€œThere is a gentleman caller to see Miss Catherine,” Jim announced, his Devon accent doing nothing to take away from the grandeur of his address.
    â€œDid he leave his card, Jim?” Mrs. Middlebrook asked, laying her pen down.
    â€œNo indeed, madam.” Jim stood silent then, not giving any further indication of who might be waiting for Catherine even then.
    Mrs. Middlebrook went back to her letter as usual, not caring about the running of her household. Catherine suppressed a sigh of martyrdom and told herself to stop being a fool as she rose to her feet with a smile. “I will be happy to greet the gentleman, Jim, but please, in future, obtain a calling card before you announce a visitor.”
    â€œYes, miss.” Jim bowed low, as if this stricture were a revelation, though Catherine was quite certain that he heard it once a day.
    Neither Mrs. Middlebrook nor Margaret took any more notice of the proceedings, so Catherine checked her hair in the mirror above the fireplace and smoothed her pink gown where it had wrinkled a bit at the waist. She stepped into the hall and made her way downstairs to the formal parlor, where her visitor waited.
    She took deep breaths and tried to pinch color into her cheeks, her only thoughts revolving around Alexander Waters. So when she opened the door and discovered Lord Farleigh waiting for her, she lost her train of thought altogether. At least she did not lose the manners that her grandmother had drilled into her when she was only knee-high.
    â€œMy lord Farleigh, good morning.” She left the door wide open behind her and curtsied to him prettily. He stood from his perch on the uncomfortable settee in the center of the room as soon as he saw her, and bowed with an elegance and grace she could not remember him displaying before.
    â€œGood morning, Miss Middlebrook. Do forgive the early call, but as the morning sun rose, I found myself hungering for a bit of a ride in the park. I know it is not the fashionable hour, but it would be my honor if you would accompany me.” His handsome features were schooled into a calm smile, which revealed nothing of his inner thoughts. As this was only proper, Catherine was surprised that she was disappointed.
    Catherine blinked at him, and wondered for a fleeting instant if he did not want to be seen with her. Despite his remote politeness, she dismissed this idea as vaporish nonsense. He had taken the time and trouble to call on her, after all. “Thank you for the kind thought, my lord. I would love a ride in your carriage. Let me go and fetch my pelisse. May I call for refreshments while you wait? Some tea?”
    â€œPerhaps another day, Miss Middlebrook. I find that the warm spring sun calls to me, and I fear we must take advantage of it before it is gone.”
    Catherine laughed. “That is true, my lord. So many fine days in the city seem to turn suddenly to rain. I will not be a moment.”
    She sent Marie for her pelisse and bonnet, and sent word by Jim to her mother that she was going for a drive in the park. It might have been her imagination, but she thought she heard her mother chortle from above stairs as she and Lord Farleigh closed the wide front door behind them.
    Before she knew it, she was perched high on the seat of his curricle, the matched grays charging down the sedate street as if they were at Newcastle. She watched as Lord Farleigh brought