Page 137 of Wild Lily
Docker cast Julian a sideways look and a question. He’d talked to his master groom last week, asking that he notify him at once when the item arrived that he’d ordered from the saddler in Ashford. The man had delivered it early this morning and Julian weighed when would be an appropriate time to reveal it to Lily.
She struck up a conversation with the three, her knowledge of horses apparent in her questions and comments.
“Shall we ride later?” she asked Julian when they had bid the men good day and continued down the lane.
“Yes.”
“After sunset?”
He nodded. His gift waiting for her in the stables was not as grand as the one he hoped she would like down in the village.
There, eleven of his tenants lined the lane to greet her. She’d won a place in their hearts when she’d nursed them and they hadn’t ever had such assistance from his mother nor, he would guess, from any other Duchess of Seton. Lily greeted them by name, something he was learning to do.
“We’re glad to see you, Your Grace. We missed you.”
“We did,” called another.
A girl of six or seven ran forward with wild flowers in her hands.
“Mabel,” Lily said, “thank you. These are lovely. Did you pick them yourself?”
The child nodded, her long brown braids bouncing on her shoulders.
“And how is your mama, Mabel?” Lily winked at the lady who stood beside her. “Is she better?”
“She doesn’t cough. Me not ever.”
Lily giggled and took the flowers into the crook of her arm.
“Will you come inside, Your Grace?” the girl’s mother asked Lily with a twinkle in her eye. Julian had planted the idea that it should be one the tenants who revealed his surprise. After all, the gift was theirs and Lily’s more than his.
“Wasn’t this a deserted cottage?” Lily looked at each of the women and then at Julian. “Isn’t it?”
“Not any more, m’lady. Come along.”
He remained outside. But he heard Lily gasp and laugh. The sound, melodic and bright, was music to him, a favored song revived from his memories of her.
He turned on his heel to stroll into the woods while his wife whooped with joy at her surroundings.
Heedless of his wanderings, he soon found himself back at the stables.
“My lord?” Docker called to him, a hand to his brow to shield from the sun. “Will you show her today?”
“Maybe. She’s in the pretty cottage. They’re with her. Laughing.”
“As they should be, sir. It’s fine thing you’ve done there.”
“I think so. I’m back to the house. My wife and I will come down later for a ride after dinner.” Nervous as a child called on the carpet, Julian left the stables.
Half way home, he heard her call to him.
“Julian! Julian?” Lily shouted to him and he turned to see her, her skirts in her hand, running up the lane like a child.
Her glossy black hair had fallen from her pins. Her cheeks were red. Her beautiful blue eyes danced, alight with glee. Before him, she glowed. She caught her breath, a hand to her chest. “Julian, what you did! It’s marvelous.”
“You like it? Think it’s complete?”
“Oh, heavens, darling, it’s the most fabulous canteen I’ve ever seen. You’ve thought of everything. Ether and iodine. Bandages and plaster. Needles.”
