Page 15 of Needs Must
‘Don’t piss on your own doorstep,’ another advised. ‘Your wife would come after you with a blunt carving knife, Pearson. Everyone knows that she rules the roost in your establishment.’
Pearson puffed out his chest. ‘Stuff and nonsense,’ he replied. ‘I shall do as I damned well please.’
Cal exchanged a look and an imperceptible nod with Jules.
‘Does anyone know anything about the lady?’ Jules dutifully asked.
‘She’s widowed,’ Pearson replied. ‘Not long returned from the Indies, I gather, but that’s all Cooper knows.’
‘And you can be sure that Mrs Cooper has been peppering her guest with questions,’ someone else remarked. ‘Clearly, there’s something about her circumstances that she doesn’t want made public.’
‘Perhaps she considers her situation to be no one else’s business,’ Cal suggested casually.
The subject moved on to sport and Cal allowed it to drone on around him without participating himself. At least they had discovered something new about Mrs Harte. If her husband had died in Jamaica, or owned a plantation there, then Jules would soon be able to find out more. The East India company kept pristine records, and Jules had a contact there. Harte’s interests in the Caribbean would no doubt be a matter of public record.
Donna drove back to the Shipfollowing her most extraordinary encounter with the earl, unsure what to make of his interest ? and indeed his interference ? in her affairs. She was disgruntled by the fact that he had managed to penetrate her defences and impress her with his masculine vitality and an authoritative stance that came as naturally to him as breathing. It was most vexatious and very unreasonable of him to press himself upon her, and she most certainly did not need his assistance.
Men were not to be trusted, she reminded herself, especially men of stature, whose privileged position seemed to make them think they could do as they pleased.
Perhaps, she reasoned, because they could.
And yet she had instinctively trusted the earl. There had to be exceptions to every rule, but that didn’t mean that she had to feel comfortable about it. He hadn’t recognised her name and so he was not involved with the person who was attempting to locate her. So why had he been so obliging? Donna shook her head, feeling the reins slipping through her damp hands, at a loss to understand. He had far more important things to be doing, she was absolutely sure, than wasting an entire morning concerning himself with her affairs.
She was highly suspicious and yet gratified, which made no sense whatsoever. Perhaps the gentlemanly training that would have been drummed into him since he was in short coats had taken over, and he had come to her aid instinctively. There again, Denmead Cottage as it stood was an eyesore, and very close to the borders with his estate. Perhaps he would prefer for his guests not to be offended by its dilapidated condition and saw an opportunity to change that situation.
Yes, she thought, nodding with satisfaction as she realised she had hit upon an explanation that she could live with.
‘What do you make of him, Bertram?’ she asked as she steered the cob around a puddle, vaguely aware of the drizzle that was falling on her bare head.
The cob twitched his ears but refrained from responding.
She returned the gig and Bertram to the Ship’smews and steeled herself to enter the tavern by the side door. That necessitated walking past the open door to the taproom, which she did swiftly and without glancing into the room itself. There was a lull in the conversation as she passed, and she knew that speculation regarding her circumstances would be rife. For that reason, if no other, it would be a relief to move to the relative seclusion of Denmead Cottage.
‘Ah, there you are, pet,’ Miriam said when Donna entered the room they shared,shaking rainwater from her cape as she divested herself of it. ‘You’ve been an age and I was starting to worry.’
‘No need.’ Donna sat in front of the fire and held out her hands to warm them.
‘Did you meet with that Dawkins fellow? What did he have to say for himself? No doubt he tried to gull you.’ Miriam frowned. ‘You should have let me come with you.’
Donna bit back a smile. ‘What he had to say for himself depends upon your point of view.’
‘What on earth do you mean by that?’ Miriam sent Donna a wary look. ‘I hope he didn’t attempt liberties. I shall have something to say on the matter if he did.’
‘Not precisely.’
Donna proceeded to relate the events of the morning, aware that Miriam would know that she was holding something back if she did not, and that her ensuing interrogation would be ruthless. Donna had never been able to keep anything from her maid, who was more of a mother figure and was the only person who gave two figs for her wellbeing.
‘Well blow me down.’ Miriam slumped into a chair and fanned her face with the back of her hand as she absorbed Donna’s words. ‘Mrs Cooper didn’t tell us that track was part of the earl’s estate.’
‘No, she did not, but his lordship told me that it’s generally used as a shortcut and he doesn’t try to prevent the villagers from making use of it, providing that they don’t enter his grounds with the intention of poaching.’
‘Very understanding of him, I’m sure.’ Miriam’s staunch expression softened. ‘There’s many in his situation who would not be so tolerant.’
‘That much is true,’ Donna replied with feeling.
‘What’s he like?’
‘He’s handsome enough and very courteous.’
