woken to a tight hug around the neck. Now the two breakfasted together—it was still very early—while Lucy found some extra sleep.
This worked until a small cry was heard from the bedroom. Anne made certain that all porridge was washed from Meg’s little face and hands before explaining that they would go in quietly in case Lucy was still asleep.
Meg, her face alight with excitement, agreed to all of this until she saw her mother. The toddler flung herself onto the bed and into Lucy’s arms, who laughed in delight.
“We tried to be quiet,” Anne explained, having gone to the cradle to scoop the tiny infant girl into her arms.
“It’s all right,” Lucy said wearily. “That kind of welcome is always worth waking up for.”
“How are you?” Anne asked, gentling bouncing a still crying Liz.
“I’m lying here worrying about seeing to both Meg and Liz. Can you stay a few days, Anne?”
Making it sound like the simplest task in the world, Anne said, “Of course I can.”
Lucy smiled and said, “Then to answer your question, my friend, I’m fine—very fine indeed.”
Chapter Five
Weston started his morning in Collingbourne at the office of Mr Vintcent, an architect. He explained what he was looking for, even going so far as to show the man his rough sketch, and was encouraged when the architect became animated with ideas. Weston knew he would not agree to anything today, even if the man offered references, but in an hour’s time, Weston was certain that Mr Vintcent knew exactly what he was looking for.
“I can come out later this week to ascertain the exact location. Once I have that, I can put an estimate on paper for you.”
“Excellent. I’ll plan on that.”
“Brown Manor, you said?” Mr Vintcent took notes as he asked.
“Yes. Friday morning would be good for my schedule. May I expect you then?”
“Eight o’clock?”
“Perfect.”
The men parted company, Weston well pleased with the meeting. He was finished earlier than he’d planned, and the moment he walked from the architect’s office, he knew he wasn’t ready to head home. He hadn’t been in Collingbourne for any length of time in years and had a sudden yearning to explore.
Not bothering to climb back into his carriage, he told his driver to meet him at the other end of town and began walking down the street. He had no particular plan in mind, but as soon as he saw Benwick’s, he remembered Mansfield mentioning he’d been there. Weston made directly for the door, stepping inside to the soft chime of a bell.
Things were quiet—the bell didn’t appear to rouse anyone—and Weston began a slow tour. He hadn’t been in the first aisle two minutes when the chime sounded again, but he was too busy with the contents of Benwick’s shelves to give it much notice.
Just moments later a female voice floated over to Weston’s aisle. “What are you looking at?”
“Oh, nothing, really,” a second voice answered, sounding distracted. “I just spotted this bit of tapestry and thought it pretty.”
“It is pretty, but finish your story first.”
“Well,” the woman launched back in without further prompting, her voice growing dramatic. “She was gone for days and isn’t saying where she was or whom she was with.”
The first woman sighed. “She won’t be showing her face around town very soon.”
“That’s just it. She’s in town! Lucy Digby’s just had a baby, and she’s here helping her.”
“A gentleman’s daughter—a military man no less—acting as a midwife for Lucy! And shopkeeper’s daughter or not, we both know that Lucy married below herself. If they aren’t two of a kind, I don’t know who is!”
“Good morning, ladies.” Having come from his back room, Mr Benwick himself cut into the conversation, not having any idea what they’d been speaking about. “May I help you with something?”
Still in the next aisle when he heard the other man’s voice, Weston realized he’d been standing
This worked until a small cry was heard from the bedroom. Anne made certain that all porridge was washed from Meg’s little face and hands before explaining that they would go in quietly in case Lucy was still asleep.
Meg, her face alight with excitement, agreed to all of this until she saw her mother. The toddler flung herself onto the bed and into Lucy’s arms, who laughed in delight.
“We tried to be quiet,” Anne explained, having gone to the cradle to scoop the tiny infant girl into her arms.
“It’s all right,” Lucy said wearily. “That kind of welcome is always worth waking up for.”
“How are you?” Anne asked, gentling bouncing a still crying Liz.
“I’m lying here worrying about seeing to both Meg and Liz. Can you stay a few days, Anne?”
Making it sound like the simplest task in the world, Anne said, “Of course I can.”
Lucy smiled and said, “Then to answer your question, my friend, I’m fine—very fine indeed.”
Chapter Five
Weston started his morning in Collingbourne at the office of Mr Vintcent, an architect. He explained what he was looking for, even going so far as to show the man his rough sketch, and was encouraged when the architect became animated with ideas. Weston knew he would not agree to anything today, even if the man offered references, but in an hour’s time, Weston was certain that Mr Vintcent knew exactly what he was looking for.
“I can come out later this week to ascertain the exact location. Once I have that, I can put an estimate on paper for you.”
“Excellent. I’ll plan on that.”
“Brown Manor, you said?” Mr Vintcent took notes as he asked.
“Yes. Friday morning would be good for my schedule. May I expect you then?”
“Eight o’clock?”
“Perfect.”
The men parted company, Weston well pleased with the meeting. He was finished earlier than he’d planned, and the moment he walked from the architect’s office, he knew he wasn’t ready to head home. He hadn’t been in Collingbourne for any length of time in years and had a sudden yearning to explore.
Not bothering to climb back into his carriage, he told his driver to meet him at the other end of town and began walking down the street. He had no particular plan in mind, but as soon as he saw Benwick’s, he remembered Mansfield mentioning he’d been there. Weston made directly for the door, stepping inside to the soft chime of a bell.
Things were quiet—the bell didn’t appear to rouse anyone—and Weston began a slow tour. He hadn’t been in the first aisle two minutes when the chime sounded again, but he was too busy with the contents of Benwick’s shelves to give it much notice.
Just moments later a female voice floated over to Weston’s aisle. “What are you looking at?”
“Oh, nothing, really,” a second voice answered, sounding distracted. “I just spotted this bit of tapestry and thought it pretty.”
“It is pretty, but finish your story first.”
“Well,” the woman launched back in without further prompting, her voice growing dramatic. “She was gone for days and isn’t saying where she was or whom she was with.”
The first woman sighed. “She won’t be showing her face around town very soon.”
“That’s just it. She’s in town! Lucy Digby’s just had a baby, and she’s here helping her.”
“A gentleman’s daughter—a military man no less—acting as a midwife for Lucy! And shopkeeper’s daughter or not, we both know that Lucy married below herself. If they aren’t two of a kind, I don’t know who is!”
“Good morning, ladies.” Having come from his back room, Mr Benwick himself cut into the conversation, not having any idea what they’d been speaking about. “May I help you with something?”
Still in the next aisle when he heard the other man’s voice, Weston realized he’d been standing
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