Page 47 of So Wild A Heart

Miranda turned and saw Rachel framed in the doorway. She looked, Miranda thought, especially pretty this morning. She was wearing a simple green morning dress that brought out the color of her eyes, and there was a touch of pink in her cheeks. Miranda wasn’t sure whether the country air was simply good for her, if the cause of her good looks was her happiness at her brother’s marrying, or if there were another reason altogether.

“Hello,” Rachel replied, her voice equally formal. “I hope I am not disturbing you.”

“No, of course not. Lord Westhampton and I were just chatting about restoring old houses. I found it quite interesting, but he, I am sure, would appreciate being rescued,” Miranda said cheerfully.

“I’m sure that isn’t true.” Rachel smiled at Miranda, then glanced at her husband.

“Oh, no,” Lord Westhampton protested, and the smile that had been so relaxed and friendly a few moments ago now seemed forced. “Lady Westhampton can attest to the fact that I am quite fond of much that most people would consider boring. It was kind of you to let me rattle on so.”

It seemed very strange, Miranda thought, that two such likeable people should be married—for several years, as she understood it—and still be so uncomfortable around one another. She wondered if Rachel had told her the whole story when she had described the separated state of their marriage.

Michael went around to hold Rachel’s chair for her, then said, “Well, I shall leave you ladies to talk. Good day, Miss Upshaw. Rachel.” He gave them a slight bow and walked out the door.

“Your husband is very nice,” Miranda said. “I enjoyed talking to him.”

Rachel gave her a small smile. “Yes. He is. One can always rely on Michael.” She got back up and went to fill her plate, saying, “I trust you slept well last night?”

“Yes, thank you.” Miranda accepted the change of subject.

“Would you like to go over the preparations for the wedding?” Rachel asked. “Or we could go to the church if you wanted to see it.”

Neither idea particularly appealed to Miranda. “I am sure that whatever you and your mother have decided will be fine.” Rachel looked at her oddly, and Miranda went on, “Not that I’m not interested. Of course I would love to go over them. But maybe later. I think Devin plans to show Papa and me around the house this morning.”

“This morning?” Rachel looked surprised.

“Why, yes, I believe so.”

“My, my. Already you’ve had a good effect on him.”

Miranda chuckled. “Actually, I think it’s boredom. He told me he had taken to keeping country hours because there was so little to do.”

“Well, I hadn’t noticed him up and about before noon since we’ve been here.”

Miranda privately thought that it was also quite possible that he simply would not show up. But before Rachel finished her breakfast, Devin strolled into the room. There was a faintly glazed look to his eyes, it was true, and he said in an amazed tone, “Is this your usual hour to rise?” But he was there when he had said he would be.

“Actually, I am usually at work by now,” Miranda answered with a chuckle. “I have been talking to Lord and Lady Westhampton for almost an hour.”

“Good God.” He looked appalled at the idea and went to pour himself a cup of tea.

After breakfast and two or three cups of tea, he seemed more alert, and they went in search of Miranda’s father, Rachel having quickly excused herself from an exploration of the old house.

Miranda opted to meet with the estate manager before they began the tour, so their first stop was at his office, which lay across the sideyard and was in the front of the small stone house in which he lived.

“Lord Ravenscar!” he said, looking surprised, when Devin knocked on the door and walked in.

“Hallo, Strong.” Devin glanced around the office.

“If you had sent me a note, I would have been happy to call on you in the main house, my lord,” the estate manager went on nervously, scurrying around and moving files out of one chair and dragging another closer. He was a short, stocky man, balding at the back of his head, so that he looked as if he wore a monk’s tonsure.

“Miss Upshaw had a fancy to see your office,” Devin explained. “Miss Upshaw, this Mr. Strong, the estate manager. Strong, the future Lady Ravenscar, Miss Upshaw.”

“How do you do, miss? It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Strong quickly covered up his first look of surprise and smiled at her, whipping out his handkerchief to dust off the seat of the straight-backed chair for her.

“Thank you.” Miranda reached out and shook his hand. “And this is my father, Joseph Upshaw.” She sat down in the chair while her father pumped the man’s hand.

Strong retreated behind his desk, casting a look at Devin. Miranda suspected he was not used to dealing with countesses who shook estate manager’s hands. “Congratulations on your marriage, my lord,” he said obsequiously. “I wish you very happy, ma’am.”

“Thank you. I am sure I will be,” Miranda said crisply. “I would like to talk to you this afternoon about the estate, after we finish the tour of the house. Just to get a general idea of what the problem areas are and what it will take to bring it back to a profitable working order. After the wedding, I shall get into it more deeply, of course.”