“It’s not fat. It’s a symptom of insufficient protein in the diet.”
“I was ignorant before,” Ellen stood, wearing a determined expression, “but I cannot sit back and do nothing. I wish to be brave like you. What must we do?”
“I talked to your housekeeper while she was bossing us around for our baths.” Reese walked over to the desk. “She said there is a good supply of fabric here. At least until we get that place cleaned up, I don’t want to expose too many people in case there’s anything really contagious there. Then we can arrange for more people to help with the houses and that horrible cesspool. Something we’ll need to drill into those people is hygiene.” Reese chuckled. “We should have a sign that says, ‘Cleanliness is next to godliness’ in every house.”
Ellen gave a sleepy nod. “We have much to do tomorrow.”
“Yes. We’re going to change those people’s lives for the better.” Reese turned to her maid. “Thank you for your help in this too. I couldn’t have done that today without you.”
Lulu nodded and curtsied. The look she gave Reese warmed her heart, because for the first time, the little faerie wasn’t giving her a look of warning or admonition, but one of respect.
***
The next two days were exhausting, but with the help of Aunt Nellie’s people and some of the Kellworth servants, Reese and Ellen were able to get the people dressed, fed, and provided with supplies to get clean.
Reese had wondered if Jem might come with them, but one of the servants had said he had gone to London with Kaitlyn and Cyrus. Reese hadn’t admitted to herself, until the sharp stab of disappointment hit her, how much she had hoped he would come after her. Which was just stupid of her. She didn’t need to complicate things between them further.
While she and Ellen sat in the drawing room after dinner, a servant tapped on the door and entered carrying a silver tray with an envelope on it.
“My Lady, a messenger delivered this letter for you from the Earl.” He set the tray on the table beside Ellen and left the room.
“Wonderful,” she said as she read. “Gareth has finished his business in London early and plans to be here tomorrow. This is most excellent. Perhaps we can invite your cousin to join us—” Ellen broke off and tapped her fingers on the paper. “Would you perhaps prefer to meet my brother and his guests first? You would know better if they will suit.”
“Now you’re saying something I’m not sure I understand,” Reese said. “I’ve heard the term ‘suit’ used for courting couples who decide they’re not a good match. I’ve never heard it used for house guests. Do you mean they might not get along?”
“My brother sometimes invites . . .” Ellen frowned, “interesting friends to be his guests. I believe Gareth and Mr. Jem would deal well enough.”
“But you’re not sure Jem would get along with your brother’s company?” Reese felt a twinge of concern. What kind of people did the Earl bring into his home? “Is your brother a partier?” At Ellen’s confused expression, Reese added, “Do he and his friends get drunk and then misbehave?” She didn’t get into that kind of thing herself and had little patience with people who didn’t recognize their limits.
“No, not Gareth. I will not know about his guests until they arrive. Last summer was . . . different than in past years. Some of the men were not quite the thing.” Ellen bit her lip, her expression unhappy.
“Don’t get all delicate with me.” Reese pinned the girl with a firm gaze, her anger at the Earl building. “Is your brother allowing guys like Sir Slimy into his home when you’re here? Are you afraid one will try to take advantage of you?”
“Of course none of his friends would try to take advantage of me.” Her eyes flashed at the insult to her brother. “None would dare incur Gareth’s wrath.”
Reese found that answer lacking on so many levels, she didn’t know how to put her next question into words. Did Ellen mean Gareth’s guests wouldn’t mess with her because it would tick off her brother, but they might pull stunts on other guests? Or servants? Reese felt confident she could take care of herself just fine. In fact, the way she felt at the moment, she wouldn’t mind needing to take care of herself, but that would only embarrass Ellen.
“Is it appropriate for me to be here when they are?” Reese asked.
“Oh, please do not leave yet.” Ellen looked almost panicky. “The gentlemen will likely go shooting or engage in sporting activities during the afternoon. In the evening, when they are more likely to become lively, you and I may retire early. My brother is used to me doing so.”
“Maybe you should come with me to Nellie’s for a visit while these people are here,” Reese suggested, still not sure.
“No, I am sure now we must send an invitation to your cousin,” Ellen said with a note of finality. “His presence here, I am sure, will put your mind at ease.”
Her obvious excitement about having Jem come—and perhaps receive her brother’s approval as a possible beau—made up Reese’s mind. She couldn’t let the girl keep thinking of him that way.
“I need to warn you about Jem.” She found it hard to look up, worried that her own hot cheeks would give away her feelings for him.
“What do you mean?”
“I know Aunt Nellie said he and Cyrus were also eligible—” Reese searched her mind for a reason that would make sense to Ellen. “Uh, they came to chaperone us. Neither one of them is looking for a wife.”
“Few men their age are.” The corners of her mouth turned up, her expression dreamy.
“You mustn’t set your sights on Jem,” Reese said as gently as she could. “He can’t be your Mr. Darcy.”
“And why not?” Ellen turned into her ladyship in a flash, her cheeks flushing. “You have said yourself that I must be free to choose whom I will marry. Why should I not attempt to fix my interest in him?”
Because I’m in love with him.
“Because he won’t stay here. His life is in America,” Reese said. “I doubt your brother would approve of a marriage to a traveling actor. What kind of life would that be for you?”
“If we married, he would settle down and live like the gentleman he was born to be.” Ellen’s chin lifted. “Now, about my brother. He and his company should arrive near tea time. I am afraid I will not be able to accompany you to the village, as I must oversee preparations.”
Well, her ladyship certainly had the knack for shutting down a discussion she didn’t want to have. Reese had tried.
“Do you want me to stay here and help?” she asked.
“Oh no. You must go. You have such an air of command about you. The workers would not dare to grow lax under your watch.” Ellen shot her a smug glance. “One day, soon I imagine, you will make a fine mistress of a great house.” The look and the tone of voice made Reese think her friend had a particular house in mind.
Reese tilted her head and narrowed her eyes.
Ellen rose to her feet. “Well, I must speak to the housekeeper before bed, and I believe you have an early morning planned.” She glided from the room.
That girl definitely had matchmaking in mind. Who did Lady Ellen Hildebrand have in mind to match Reese with? It had better not be the evil Earl.
Chapter 15
REESE ARRIVED AT THE KITCHEN early the next morning to find the poor cook freaking out.
“I have no idea how her ladyship thinks I can cook for those slovenly tenants and the Earl’s guests.” The woman was hurrying from one part of her large kitchen to another.
“I’m sorry to have added this burden to you,” Reese said. “What can I do to help?”
“Just get your wagon off so I have the space to work.”
“You’re wonderful. Thank you.” Reese planted a quick kiss on the woman’s cheek before heading out the door. Lulu followed with a basket of food.
As soon as their wagon came in sight of the village, people hurried from the cottages.
“Bless you, miss,” a woman said, and others took it up until it was a
lmost a chant.
Reese could only nod to them, blinking back tears.
The first stop on their arrival was the home of the little boy, Jimmy, who they had seen the first day. The tonic Nellie had sent over was already working its magic on the child’s body. It would take time for him to flesh out, but the distended belly had already gotten smaller. She then went to the homes of the other children who had shown varying signs of the malady.
Her goal for the day had been to start instruction on basic nutrition. It turned into another day of inventorying when she discovered that few of the homes had adequate cooking utensils and none had ovens. The women did their cooking over open fires when they had dry wood. Too often, it seemed, they ate their food cold. Most homes only had one pot which was also used for bathing when the people bothered to clean themselves. Even Lulu had seemed appalled.
Reese stepped out into the light drizzle, grateful for once to have a bonnet. Considering England’s reputation for rainy weather, they’d been pretty lucky that the few storms they’d had since starting work on the village had been in the evenings. They hadn’t left the ground too wet to work the next morning. She missed weather forecasts. As she had fallen asleep the night before, she’d had to make contingency plans in case it rained during the day. The work had to go on, regardless of the weather.
Beside her, Lulu coughed. Reese glanced up and spotted a rider approaching the village. Even if she hadn’t recognized the gray, she’d have known the rider.
Jem had come.
How she’d missed him. With eyes that burned and a lump lodged in her throat, Reese’s first inclination was to run to him. She stopped herself before she took a step. For the first time, she understood why women in books took leaps of faith. But Reese was no book heroine, about to do something that made her too stupid to live.
Her second inclination was to turn her back on him. Jem had been her friend, though, and she would not cut him like she had Sir Slimy. Jane and Bingley. Reese could do this.
She put on a fake smile, gave him a nod, and strode toward him—and the wagon where the workers were loading up the tools.
Jem’s expression, which had been wary, lit up as she approached. He grinned and urged his horse forward.
“Hello, cousin.” She whispered to Lulu, “Stay with me, no matter what.”
“Aye, miss. I intend to.”
“Hey.” He dismounted and took a step toward her. “Looks like you’ve found a project to work on while we’re here.”
“Yes.” She kept her voice cool but not cold as she glanced around and surveyed the work that had been done that day. “What brings you here?”
“You,” Jem said simply.
A panicky feeling nearly overwhelmed her for a second. She wanted this, wanted Jem. To hear sweet words from him that matched the tender look on his face would be the fulfillment of dreams she’d carried with her for years. But behind it all was the memory of the growing sense of loss she’d felt as day after day had passed with no word from him. Knowing he planned to leave, she refused to set herself up to live through it again.
“Sorry. I haven’t the time. I have to get back to Ellen. She’s expecting company.” Reese moved away from him, toward the wagon.
He reached out to stop her, but she jerked back her arm. Reese had almost missed the movement because of her hat brim. Lulu stepped between them.
“It’s been nice seeing you,” Reese said over her shoulder. Jem’s expression had fallen, his shoulders slumped. Boy, was he good. It took all her force of will not to reach out to him. She clenched her fist and pinned it at her side. “Tell Kate I said ‘hi’ and hope she’s been having fun.”
Reese turned and went to the wagon. “Help me up,” she hissed to the footman who jumped to help her.
“Make haste,” Lulu said.
Reese’s lips trembled as they drove by Jem and the gray, leaving him standing in the rain.
***
Jem watched Reese leave. She had been glad when she’d first recognized him; he’d seen it in her eyes, the curve of her mouth. The change in her expression had marked when the wall had come crashing between them again.
Then he remembered the feel of her arms around him in the library, the way she’d run her hands through his hair, the feel of her lips on his. Reese had no guile in her. If she could kiss him like that, it meant something to her. What could possibly have changed between the time of them stealing touches to her stealing away from him with barely a note?
Did it have something to do with Ellen staying the night? Ever since the girl had first mentioned her brother, Jem’s gut had told him this Earl might be the other option. Had Ellen talked up her brother’s virtues during the sleepover? Was what he had to offer enough to keep Reese here?
Jem’s stomach went sour. She hated this time period, loathed the position of women in this society, and feared illnesses. Money and status would never draw her. He glanced around at the little village and the last of the wagons of workers pulling away. If the Earl offered her a chance to improve the lives of people like these, Jem’s instincts told him that might be the right lure.
He would have to watch how things played out, which meant he had to find a way to be here. It was time to visit the kitchens and work on his servant accent.
***
The ride back to Kellworth was quiet. It took a while before Reese had control of herself not to burst out crying. She was in bad shape if just seeing Jem could do this to her.
She had to focus on what she had control over at the moment. The cottiers. She reviewed the mental list she’d made of the few foods that made up the majority of the cottier’s meals: bread, butter when they could get it, potatoes, beer, and tea. Sometimes a family was able to get their hands on some bacon, but that was not often and no one in the village had been able to remember a time in the past couple of years that anyone had. No wonder the children were in such terrible condition.
As she tried to consider the needs of the cottiers, Reese couldn’t shake the image of Jem’s face. She knew what he looked like when he was hurt, and she had hurt him. Even now she wanted to go back and make it go away, say everything was okay. But it wasn’t okay.
Ellen, at some point soon, was going to invite Jem to come to Kellworth as a guest. What should Reese do? Continue trying to avoid him while they were both under the same roof? Or confront him with what she’d overheard and accuse him of toying with her? That would make for interesting after-dinner entertainment.
She needed a plan of action for his inevitable visit. If she hadn’t found the cottiers, she might have returned to Nellie’s when Jem did come, but Reese felt a commitment to the tenants. She had started something, and she meant to do the best she could for them. What they did once she left was up to them, but they would have the best tools to improve their lives that she could give them.
The other nagging worry was the Earl and his questionable guests. Reese didn’t plan to be around them much, but she knew she would have to interact with them once in a while. Would they mock her since her manners weren’t that of a gently-bred lady like Ellen? Reese didn’t want it to bother her, but she knew it would. She wasn’t like Jem, who could fit in comfortably with any group.
“My brother and his guests are late.” Ellen hurried to the wagon. “You have time to change before they arrive. But how are the children?”
“Looking even better than yesterday.” Reese jumped from the wagon. The footman had raised his hand to help her and heaved out a wounded breath before he began unloading the tools instead.
Ellen gave Reese’s appearance a quick glance and then looked at Lulu. “I will send my dresser to assist Miss Clarisse since you must see to your own toilette first.” Lulu looked about to protest, but Ellen shot her one glance, and the words died on the maid’s lips.
“Come. We must make haste.” Ellen took Reese’s arm and firmly guided her into the kitchen entrance. “We will use the servant’s stairs.”
“Why the rush?” Reese wa
s tired, physically and emotionally, and didn’t feel in a hurry.
“My brother has noticed how often I speak of you and has expressed curiosity about my new friend.” Ellen shifted uncomfortably. “I am anxious for you to meet him.”
And appear at her best before him? Reese stopped, pulling her arm free.
“Promise me you won’t play matchmaker, Ellen.” She crossed her arms and put on her sternest expression, one she had perfected when dealing with difficult kids at the health clinic. “Nothing good will come of it.”
“How can you know that?” Ellen stepped closer, wearing her own stern expression. “You are here to find a husband with a title. Who better than my brother?”
“I never said I was looking for a title,” Reese said. Or a husband.
Ellen’s expression softened and turned almost pleading. “I would love for you to be my sister in more than spirit.”
Reese was touched more than she could say, but she shook her head. She had a job, a purpose, in the future. A little voice whispered that she could do a lot of good in this time too. She shook her head more forcefully.
“Do not turn against him before you have met him,” Ellen said. “Please.”
“How do you know he won’t hate me on sight? I’m not like you. I could never be a gracious hostess, and I doubt if I’d ever want to be. I think all that is a waste of time. Your brother is part of the Ton, and they represent the kind of people I most despise.” At the girl’s hurt expression, Reese added, “Not you. For sure, not you. You’re different. You’re not full of yourself and arrogant. You’re teachable.”
Her ladyship seemed to consider that. “Do you think yourself above me?”
“What?” Reese blinked in surprise. “No. Why would you think that?”
“Ofttimes, when you speak to me, you remind me of some of those—” Ellen looked disturbed. “No. I do not wish to offend.”
“I think I’m the one who has been doing any offending.” Reese forced the girl to meet her gaze. “It’s my bossy nature. I prance around acting like I know what’s best for everyone. I’m sorry. Believe me. I do not think myself above you.” Her time was above Ellen’s but not Reese’s character, but that wasn’t something they could discuss.
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