Page 57 of The Duke Who Loved a Widow
“I believe I remember that. I wonder why it stopped. There’s no reason why we can’t open it up again. I’d like the village and the castle to be closer together. Let’s look into finding a lakes man to oversee developments,” suggested Robert.
“I have an idea. There’s a coachman came north with Lady Arabella, Judd Stephenson. He’s betrothed to Lady Arabella’s nursery maid. Sir Joseph took him in at Horton Hall, but he already has a coachman.”
“I believe I’ve met him,” said Robert.
“I was talking to him at the Beehive, and he’s done estate work before and is a keen fisherman,” Jason told Robert. “He’s no expert, as he is a coachman by profession, but he’s got the enthusiasm. He might be interested, especially if a cottage went with the position.”
“Sound him out, Jason. See if he’s interested,” Robert replied, already trusting Jason’s judgement.
“I must go. The Reverend Colbrooke is teaching Henry and Freddy down by the lake today, and I promised I’d join them,” said Robert, realizing what time it was.
“I’ll get some men started on preparing this property ready for a new tenant. It’s been empty for some time, and even if Judd isn’t interested, I don’t think it will take us long to find someone,” Jason replied.
“You might find I move in. It has a lovely view of the lake and there are no interruptions or need to be polite to guests whose names I can’t remember. I’m not even convinced half the people I meet in the hall at the castle are guests. They might just have wandered in, for all I know!” Robert confessed to Jason with a wide grin.
“It is a lovely position. Just right for a lake keeper,” agreed Jason.
“Which reminds me. I’m considering converting the old west lodge for your office and base. Would you rather be in the house or mews?” Robert asked Jason.
“The west lodge would be perfect. I’d be happy with that,” confirmed Jason.
“I’ll see to it. Go and have a look around anytime,” Robert told him.
And I will have a place to go and visit Jason, on essential estate business, where Mama would never venture to find me.
And with that, he waved Jason goodbye and set off at a fast pace down the hill to the lake.
Mickle dashed ahead and then returned to walk beside him. He found a stick and threw it for the dog to retrieve. He’d been a puppy just a few weeks ago and was becoming a handsome dog. He knew if he returned to London, he would be unable to leave the dog at Montbury.
He heard the sound of splashing and excited voices before he reached the lake shore. He couldn’t help being in awe of Nathaniel’s ability to integrate lessons into projects, which motivated his nephew, who had never shown any interest in book learning in the classroom.
He reflected that the addition of Master Henry, who was the exact opposite, had made a huge difference. Freddy enjoyed lessons, and Henry was having more fun. He suspected the two boys would be lifelong friends.
“Uncle Robert, come and look; we’re looking for frogs. The tadpoles have gone now, so there must be more frogs. Nathaniel’s told us what frogs eat, and we’re looking for those insects, too. So far, I’ve only seen dragonflies, but Henry thought he saw a large frog over there.”
“There used to be newts near the lake, too,” Robert told them. “Simon and I would spend hours down here searching for newts and frogs.” And, just for a moment, a happy memory of long summer days spent down by the lake with his brother flashed through his mind.
They had stayed friends as adults, and Simon had been his chief confidante throughout their first seasons in London and a tour of Italy and Greece. He regretted that they had never taken a Grand Tour due to the war with Napoleon raging across much of Europe.
He had managed to put Simon out of his thoughts for many years. Now, they were living together in the same house, and he had to admit a sadness at the way things had turned out, but he could still not find it in himself to forgive him for what he had done.
He shook off the memories and turned back to the boys. “You should ask Uncle Simon to show you how to tickle fish, Freddy. He was always better at doing that than me.”
“Tickle fish?” The boys laughed in unison.
“It’s a way of catching fish without a fishing line. You have to be very still, quiet, and patient,” Robert told them.
“You can see the fish swimming under the lake surface,” said Freddy. “Nathaniel said there might even be a giant pike in there.”
“He is probably right. They hide in the reeds, and they do catch and eat frogs,” agreed Robert. “There will also be gudgeon and bream, but my favourite was always the stickleback.”
“That’s a funny name for a fish,” said Henry,
“Well, many fish have funny names, but the stickleback is very like its name as it has spikes sticking up along its back,” chimed in Nathaniel.
“We’re going to go fishing from the boat,” Freddy informed Robert. “Nathaniel says we can put many fish back in the water. We can’t eat all of them, and they are for nature studies. Isn’t that right, Nathaniel?”
“It is,” said Nathaniel. “You can eat the bream or the carp. Cook will know how to prepare and cook those fish.”
