Page 89

Her sisters turned toward her.

Marina moved forward slowly, taking in the familiar cottage, which somehow no longer looked quite the same. The old shutters had been repaired, several windows sparkled with new panes, and even the path leading toward the entrance appeared freshly cleared. Then she saw the glasshouse. It still bore the scars of the attack, though the men working there had already made considerable progress. Some of the broken panes had been replaced, while others remained boarded over, awaiting repairs that would have to wait until the weather improved.

“Good heavens,” Harper murmured. “Marina, what happened here?”

Marina drew a slow breath.

“I told you. They made good on their threats,” she replied, attempting a smile. “And took the opportunity to express their displeasure.”

Sophia stared at her. “Someone did this deliberately?”

“I am afraid so.”

“And you did not think to tell us?” Harper asked.

Marina glanced between her sisters. “I had quite enough to occupy my thoughts without worrying Mama as well.”

“That has never stopped you from worrying about the rest of us,” Sophia muttered.

There was little point arguing with that.

Just then, a sharp bang sounded from behind the glasshouse. The three women turned, gathered their skirts, and hurried toward the noise. Marina found a workman standing halfway up a ladder. He seemed to be securing a fresh pane into the upper frame. At the sound of their approaching footsteps, he glanced down, startled.

“Good afternoon,” Marina called.

The man climbed down carefully before removing his cap. “Your Grace,” he greeted respectfully, rubbing his hands against his coat. “I did not realize you would be visiting today.”

“I hope we are not disturbing your work.”

“Not at all, Your Grace. Just finishing what I can before the light goes.”

Marina glanced toward the glasshouse. “You have made wonderful progress.”

“Aye, though there is plenty left to do,” he explained. “His Grace wants the place put right, but some of the work will have to wait until spring. The weather is against us, I’m afraid.”

“I understand.”

“The gardener has been looking after what could be saved,” the man continued. “Some of those plants are putting up quite a fight.”

That brought a smile to Marina’s face.

“They usually do.”

The man glanced toward the fading afternoon light.

“I had best finish this pane before it gets too dark, Your Grace.”

“Of course. Thank you.”

He replaced his cap and returned to his ladder.

Harper waited until they had moved a little distance away before speaking.

“So the duke has been repairing your cottage?”

Marina nodded.

“He discovered the damage before I did. He had the rooms cleaned, arranged for the repairs, and even replaced some of my books.”