Page 31 of The Baron Takes a Bet
“Not at all, my lady. Are you in need of assistance?”
“Yes, actually, I was wondering where the baron has gone to?”
“He’s gone to inspect the brewery building.”
Holly frowned. The brewery building had been built nearly two years earlier after John had visited Whitbread’s Brewery and become fascinated with the process. Of course, as was typical with John, he soon grew bored of it, and it hadn’t been used since the previous spring.
“Why?” she asked.
“He had the idea of opening it up again. He said if the building was in proper working order and if it could produce a half decent ale, then he would rent the space to a few local taverns.”
Holly nodded slowly, pleasantly surprised at the entrepreneurial spirit. Most ladies would probably be displeased with Gavin’s involvement in commerce, seeing it as beneath someone of his station, but Holly admired it. He had a mind for making money, and as someone who had often suffered from lack of funds, that was a trait that she admired.
“Oh. Very well. I’ll go and meet him there.”
“Would you like an escort, my lady? The ground is wet and I’m afraid it isn’t very pleasant out.”
It had rained for nearly five days straight, and while she was sure the break in the weather would be brief, she did not need assistance. She had grown up in these fields, and no amount of mud could stop her.
“No thank you Mr. Jorden. I’ll wear my boots, though.”
“Very good, my lady.”
Holly changed into her sturdy leather boots, the one piece of her wardrobe she had never skimped on. She tied the laces tightly and, wearing her oldest pelisse coat, she headed out the front door of Kingston House.
Though the air was damp, the gentle warmth of spring hung all around her. Beneath her careful steps, the mud tried to suck her feet in, but her strong legs wouldn’t allow it. Holly never admitted it, for it was decidedly provincial, but the smell of earth was her favorite scent in the world. It reminded her of a time when she wasn’t burdened, when she and Clara would run through the fields as children.
The walk across the western field took nearly twenty minutes until the land curved downhill. There, sat on the edge of a wood, stood a large, three-story brick building with two largebarn doors facing south. A dirt road had been created to reach it from the main thoroughfare, and while it was a relatively new building, its abandoned state made it appear far older than it was.
Holly reached the building reasonably quickly, and taking a deep breath, she heaved one of the heavy, large barn doors open. The building was mostly one large room, with mezzanines built along the sides of the walls on each floor. It was an open floorplan mainly consisting of stairs going up and down, surrounding a large copper broiler in the middle of the room. It was vast, and though Holly had no idea how it worked, she knew that John had been particularly proud of that piece.
“Hello?” she called out, her voice echoing back as she glanced around. The only light was from the open door and the windows placed near the roof.
“Yes?” a masculine voice answered.
To her left, Gavin came out of a small room off to the side without his jacket and sleeves rolled up to his elbows as he carried a dirty rag and some metal bit. He stopped when he saw her, and for an instant, neither moved.
What a strange place, Holly thought vaguely as she stared at Gavin. A slash of sunshine sliced between them from the door behind her, and the dust danced in the beam of morning light. There was no dining room, parlor, or ballroom, yet Holly had never felt relatively so calm in a single place.
But then, perhaps it was simply because she wasn’t surrounded by servants or crumbling walls. She was alone with a man who technically was her husband, a man she barely knew.
Except that she did know him. She knew he was an even-tempered man who always seemed to be grinning. He was someone who was eager to honor the wishes of his relative, even though their relationship hadn’t been very close. She was curious about that. She was also curious why he had no qualmsabout financing her family’s home repairs or buying her sister gowns for her upcoming season. But then, that was why she had sought him out. They needed to discuss some things.
“Can I help you?” he asked, his tone curious.
She cleared her throat and took a step to her right.
“I wanted to discuss somethings with you, before we left for London.”
Gavin stalled for a moment before coming froward. He leaned against a railing that outlined the floor they were on, near the stairs leading downward.
“What things?” he asked.
She inhaled.
“I want to first thank you for being so accommodating. I know you didn’t have the best relationship with your uncle and I just want to say that I think it is kind of you to want to honor his wishes, despite your history.”
Gavin didn’t move.
