At last they reached the fishing hole. Tory estimated their hike through the woods was at least a mile. She wanted to sit down, not because she was tired but because the boots she wore weren’t made for trekking through open country. She hoped she didn’t have blisters by the time they made it back to the house.
Speaking of houses … I noticed a few homes in the distance when we crossed the field. Aren’t they on the duke’s property?”
“Yes, those are his tenants,” Sir Aldrich said. “He has nearly a dozen.”
“A dozen tenants?”
“No, a dozen homes housing tenants. At last count, there were about forty tenants, including the children. By now there may be more. I know one tenant was with child – I escorted the duchess to the woman’s home last month to deliver a basket of gifts for the babe. I’m sure you’ll be doing the same while in her employ. Visiting the tenants is one of Her Grace’s favorite things.”
Tory didn’t respond. For Heaven’s sake, even the farm hands catered to the duchess’ eccentricities? Wasn’t that going too far? Though if the price was right …
Sir Aldrich stopped on the grassy bank and stretched. “Why not relieve yourself of your load, Barnes, and take up a pole?”
Barnes did, dropping everything but the picnic basket, which he handled with special care. “Shall I lay out the picnic now, sir?”
“No, let’s wait. I want to show Miss Phelps some of the finer points of fishing.”
“That sounds complicated,” she said with a laugh. “Or do you mean the Reader’s Digest version?”
Aldrich raised an eyebrow. “What does reading have to do with anything? Or do you refer to a written guide?”
“I’m sorry – you don’t get Reader’s Digest here? Maybe it’s an American thing.”
“Indeed?”
“It means just the basics.”
“I see. Then yes, that’s what I intend to show you.”
Tory was about to comment when she caught the butler’s cringe. “Don’t worry, I won’t fall in.”
“Let us hope not, Miss Phelps,” he said.
“Tory, call me Tory.” Gosh, how many times would she have to tell people that?
“I’m afraid I can’t do that. It wouldn’t be proper.”
Aldrich laughed. “Please don’t force Barnes to go against his deportment. It might do worse damage to him than falling in the water.”
Tory smiled at Barnes. “Sorry. Miss Phelps it is, then.”
“Thank you, Miss.” Barnes picked up a pole, handed it to her, then did the same for Aldrich.
The rest of their time was spent laughing, talking, and – for Barnes anyway – making sure to stay on dry ground. Tory concluded that his shoes must be worse than hers! Parts of the stream bank were steep and slippery – Aldrich helped Tory get over the worst sections, but poor Barnes was on his own. They hiked down the stream, stopping now and then to cast a line. Aldrich did indeed show her the finer points of angling and made it look easy.
But when she tried … “Damn it! I’m sorry, I keep catching my line on branches …” She caught Aldrich and Barnes staring at her in shock. Barnes had gone red as a beet. “What?”
Aldrich smiled stiffly. “Are you always so … vocal when frustrated?”
“Vocal … what do you mean?”
“I refer to your free use of profanity.”
“What? You mean because I said ‘damn it’?” She scoffed. “Look, we’re nowhere near the duchess. You can drop the act now.”
“Act? Whatever do you mean?”
“Both of you, in fact. Don’t you get tired of it? I don’t mean that it’s stupid or anything – heck, I’m doing it! But you don’t get paid to do it 24/7, do you?”
Aldrich and Barnes exchanged the same look of confusion, as if they hadn’t a clue what she was talking about. Barnes even shrugged.
Tory sighed. “Acting” still seemed to be the order of the day. “Fine, fine, whatever. Let’s fish.” And they did, for an hour before heading back up the bank.
By then, Barnes had laid everything out on a blanket, and Tory marveled at the sight. She hadn’t even noticed he’d left. “How did he do that so fast?”
Aldrich shrugged. “It’s his job.”
Tory stared at the beautiful china and glassware – no wonder he’d set the basket down so carefully. There were sandwiches, a roast chicken, an assortment of cheeses, apple slices, grapes, even a bottle of wine. “Wow,” she whispered.
“Barnes, you’ve outdone yourself,” Aldrich said, motioning for Tory to sit.
She did and looked once more at the basket. “I can’t believe you managed to fit all this in there.”
“As I said before, the man is a marvel when it comes to packing a lunch.” Aldrich took the plate Barnes handed to him and passed it to Tory.
“Thank you.” She took it. “This looks wonderful.”
“It is,” Aldrich agreed. “The duke employs one of the finest cooks in the county, if not the Empire.” Barnes gave him a glass of wine, and once again he handed it to Tory. But of course he would – he was sitting between her and Barnes.
Tory took the glass and carefully set it beside her, hoping she didn’t knock it over. She began to eat, then noticed Barnes wasn’t. “Aren’t you hungry?”
The butler looked taken aback for a moment. “My job is to see to your and Sir Aldrich’s comfort, Miss Phelps.”
Aldrich laughed. “She’s an American, Barnes – she’s not used to our ways. Come, sit and eat. We’ll never tell.”
Barnes’s face lit up for a second, then quickly sobered. “But, Sir Aldrich …”
“Sit down, for crying out loud,” Tory said. “Have some lunch.”
Barnes audibly gulped.
“That’s an order, Barnes,” Aldrich added.
“Well, if you insist, Sir Aldrich.”
“He insists.” Tory smiled at her handsome lunch companion. “Don’t you?”
“Of course.”
Barnes looked at them warily. “Thank you, sir, Miss Phelps.” He sat, pulled a plate out of the basket, set it on his lap and began to pile food on it.
“Have some wine,” Tory offered.
Now Barnes seemed panicked. “Oh, but I couldn’t, Miss Phelps.”
“But …” She looked helplessly at Aldrich.
He shook his head. “Even I won’t cross that line.”
“Well, all right,” Tory said. “But I don’t see anything wrong with it. I mean, it’s not like he’s driving us home.”
“No, but it’s a long walk back,” Aldrich said. “We wouldn’t want the man to come staggering into the kitchen. If Cook got a gander at him in such a state, she’d give him a good tongue-lashing.”
Tory giggled as Barnes’s ears turned pink. “Well, we wouldn’t want that.”
“No, Miss Phelps,” Barnes agreed heartily. “We most certainly wouldn’t.”
Tory and Aldrich spent the rest of the meal chatting about this and that, with an occasional comment coaxed from Barnes. She found it odd the man would be so hesitant to eat with them, but maybe he was a true butler through and through, not just playing a part. His uniform was definitely period clothing, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t the real deal. But couldn’t a modern-day butler bend the rules occasionally?
When they finished, Barnes packed everything up and they headed back to the house. Sir Aldrich educated her on things like the area weather, the different seasons, what fish could be found in the streams and the other local wildlife. “We should go for a ride tomorrow after you give the duchess her lesson,” he suggested as they crossed the field.
“Lessons! Oh no – I wonder if she expected one today.”
“Obviously not, or she never would have agreed to let me steal you away.”
Tory sighed in relief. “Good, I was worried. I don’t want to blow my teaching gig.”
“Gig?”
“I mean, job.”
“Another American term?”
“Yes. I have a lot of them.”
“I can imagine – you are an American.” They both laughed. Barnes even cracked a smile.
“Last time I checked,” she joked.
When they reached the house Barnes sported a heartfelt smile. Maybe his feet hurt as much as hers did. “Will you be needing anything else, Sir Aldrich?” he asked as they entered.
“No, Barnes. I’m sure Miss Phelps will want to rest until tea.”
“Very good, sir.” And Barnes was off like a shot. Well, as quickly as a butler could go without abandoning propriety.
Tory sighed. “He couldn’t leave fast enough.”
“Indeed,” Aldrich said with a laugh. “He’s not one for the outdoors – he much prefers the house and gardens.” He offered her his arm, and she took it and let him escort her to the staircase.
Becky appeared at the entrance to the drawing room. “Sir Aldrich, Miss Phelps,” she said, drawing their attention.
“Ah, Becky, you’re just in time to help Miss Phelps,” he announced. “She’ll be resting until tea.”
Tory felt a prickle of defiance but quickly suppressed it. After all, he was only play- acting, not ordering her around. Or maybe he was just looking out for her. Tory smiled at the thought. “Yes, I could use some help getting these boots off.”
“Certainly, Miss Phe … I mean, Miss Tory.”
“Thanks for remembering,” Tory said.
“Remembering?” Aldrich said, eyebrows raised in question.
“I asked her to call me Tory when we first met this morning. Didn’t I, Becky?”
“Indeed you did, Miss Tory.”
Aldrich released her arm and put his hands on his hips. “You’re determined to upset the servants here, aren’t you?” He winked conspiratorially.
She smiled. “It’s a gift we Americans have. Revolutions, you know.”
“I believe it’s working. But please, do leave your namesake the Queen alone – no sense overthrowing the whole Empire.” He smiled and turned to the maid. “I leave Miss Phelps in your capable hands.”
“Where are you going?” Tory asked.
“To my room to change. I’ll not discuss business with His Grace dressed like this.”
Tory looked him over. He looked fine to her – better than fine, with his hair all windblown. He hadn’t worn a hat, which made her think he was done role-playing, until he’d kept it up the entire outing. But no matter – maybe he’d drop his act the rest of the day. She yawned. “Oh my goodness. I don’t know where that came from.”
He smiled tenderly. “You must be tired from your journey. I should have taken that into consideration before stealing you away for hours. I apologize if I’ve caused you any undo labor.”
“No, no, I’m fine. But I guess I could use a nap.”
He gazed into her eyes a moment before replying, “Then off with you. I’ll look forward to tea.”
She gazed back and, unable to speak, nodded instead. Great, Aldrich was having an effect on her. And not just a “wow, he’s a great-looking guy” effect – more like an “omigosh, I could so fall for this guy!” effect. And that was dangerous. She didn’t have time to get wrapped up in a whirlwind romance, especially with someone like him who probably had dozens of girlfriends. For all she knew he came to visit the duke and duchess to get away from them.
“Is something wrong, Miss Tory?” Becky asked when they reached her room.
Tory glanced at her as she sat in the nearest chair. Her jet lag must be catching up again. “How well do you know Sir Aldrich?”
Becky swallowed hard, her eyes darting around. “Well, he comes to visit Stantham Hall several times a year. He and the duke met at a ball some six years ago.”
“But what does he do?”
Becky stared at her like a doe about to be hit by a truck.
“For a living?” Tory prompted.
“He’s a gentleman, Miss Tory. He has a small estate in Kent that he inherited from his father and his father before him and … well, the Wolfes are a very old family.”
An image of Mr. Mosgofian suddenly popped into her head. “Wait a minute, Wolfe … Wolfe … as in the battle of Towton?” Places and names began to fill her brain. Atticus de Wolfe, Rule Water Castle, Titus, Isobeau, Warren de Winter …
“I believe that is from his family’s history, yes. They’re a very old family of knights and warriors. Noble, some call them – for their deeds, not only because of blood.”
Tory’s mind was full of questions. “What the … why on earth would I have had a class on Sir Aldrich’s lineage?” she mumbled to herself. “That doesn’t make sense – unless it’s to help in the duchess’s lessons …”
“I beg your pardon, Miss Tory?”
Tory met the maid’s inquisitive gaze. “Nothing, Becky. I have this bad habit of thinking out loud.”
Becky nodded, then got on her knees before her. “I’ll remove your boots now, Miss Tory.”
“Thank you,” she said absently, her mind reeling. She braced herself as the maid pulled the cursed boots from her feet. “Oh gosh, that feels so good.” She bent forward and massaged one foot. “Those things were killing me. Now help me out of the rest of this getup – I want to lie down.”
Not just lie down, though - Tory wanted some time alone to think. This was starting to get weird – not to the point where she’d try hitching a ride back to London and catching the first plane out, but definitely enough to make her wonder what exactly was going on and come up with a few good questions to ask. Starting with whom to ask.