Page 28 of The Duke Who Loved a Widow
“Well, I have no qualms in selling any paintings or porcelain to help our situation. I have already put the horses up for sale, which will be sold at auction next week.”
“Is there nothing we can do?”
“I have a plan. I will tell you now, my dove, that it is not entirely honest, within the remit of the law. I plan to do everything in my power to get full guardianship of little Lord Farrington,” he said, noticing a sudden interest in her expression.
“I am glad to hear that you have discovered some gumption. Let me know how your plans proceed,” she said with asperity.
“I may need to travel north in a few days. As funds are scarce, I may need you to sell another piece of jewellery.” As he said this, he avoided looking in her direction.
“Very well, Christopher, if you insist. I would be more inclined to search this house and sell one of its treasures. No one will notice. I am tired of selling items from my own paltry collection,” said Violet, speaking in a bitter tone that put even more distance between them.
“If my plan works, then I shall buy you jewels. You can wear a different necklace every night of the week,” he told her, trying desperately to rekindle something of the relationship that used to give him joy.
“The sooner that child is in residence here and under our control, the better,” said Violet with determination. “I am counting the days.”
“Not long now,” said her husband, warming to his role as co-conspirator. “When my plan succeeds, he will be here within a fortnight.”
“I believe there are still some bottles of reasonable claret in the wine cellar,” said Violet. “I suggest we ask the butler to find a bottle and have it with our meal tonight. I instructed the gamekeeper to kill a chicken. There are several more left, so we should dine well in the days ahead.”
This was his Violet, the occasionally haughty society hostess, who enjoyed creating menus and setting tables with fine Limoges porcelain. He breathed an inward sigh of relief that he had navigated through that conversation, and she might be considering leaving him, but for now, she would stay and assist him with his plan.
Farrington Hall, once a happy house, had a hushed and mothballed feel to it now. The servants crept around the corridors and across the hallway to avoid contact with the master and mistress. The back staircases were used all the time, and even the senior staff, like the butler and housekeeper, kept to their own quarters.
News had spread about the sale of the horses and mules in the stables. The rents at the estate farms had risen dramatically, and the tenants were worried about how they would make ends meet in the future.
Why had their mistress and the young master disappeared? The household, grounds staff, and tenants looked at Mr Christopher Farrington and his haughty wife with distrust.
As Farrington Hall approached bankruptcy, the men and women who had supported the estate all their lives no longer had any loyalty. They hoped against hope that the young master and his mother would return soon.
Chapter 12
“Robert, brother, please take Freddy with you when you go into the village,” asked Elinor. “He is getting under my feet and needs to do something more exciting. I have to start preparing for Mama’s house party and soiree. This morning, she decided that we might host a midsummer ball on the eve of the summer fair in the village.”
“Well, I’m not convinced joining me to interview a land agent at the tavern is in any way exciting. But I see you look tired, my dear sister, so I will gladly take Freddy with me on my visit to the village.”
“Thank you, brother,” she said with gratitude, reaching up to lightly kiss his cheek.
“What is happening to the lessons with the Reverend Colbrooke?”
“Oh, we’ve started the tutoring here at the castle. I’ve made the morning room into a school room. It’s close to the boot room, so they can get outside very easily. It is going better than expected,” Elinor informed him.
“I’m impressed with the Reverend Colbrooke,” Elinor continued. “He has an imaginative, rather individual approach, and we all know that Freddy does not enjoy books. Now that Henry Farrington has joint lessons with him, I’m hoping that might change. I’d like Freddy to be a little more interested in his studies, and Arabella would like her son to relax a little more.”
She smiled at Robert. “I’ve never known a child as enthusiastic about learning as little Henry Farrington. Hopefully, the love of learning is infectious, and Freddy catches some of it.”
“Elinor, I’ve watched you teach young children; you’ve been teaching Freddy ever since he was born.”
“Thank you, and you’re right. He just wants to be outside, being active, rather than sitting, listening, and looking at books.”
Robert laughed. “And who can blame him? He’s on his way to becoming a fantastic estate manager. He knows every inch of the park and woodlands.”
“Reverend Colbrooke has suggested that they make the old wooden pavilion at the far end of the garden into an outside, open-air classroom. It’s the one near the path down to the lake, and I think this is a really good idea,” Elinor informed Robert.
“Really? It seems a little unusual, but I can see how that would work for both boys,” replied Robert.
“Yes, it’s been unused for many years, but the structure is sound. I’ve had it cleaned out and a few pieces of furniture moved in, so it will be a place for them to learn away from the house.”
Elinor paused before continuing, clearly choosing her words carefully. “This house party has the potential to become a nightmare that drives us all to distraction. I like Mama’s idea of a summer ball, and I encouraged her to become more involved in the summer fair in the village. However, we now have guests arriving, and at the moment, this family needs some quiet space to sort out our issues.
