distraction from her disquieting thoughts.
“Good afternoon, Mrs Cooper!” she called. “I hope I have not come at a bad time.”
“Never, my lady.” The neat, capable little woman shook her head emphatically. “I just wanted to fetch this lot in before it gets washed a second time.”
“Do you think it will rain?” Laura glanced up at the threatening sky with a grimace. “Then I had better keep my visit brief. I came to bring you a little token of thanks for your kindness to Mama this winter. Your chest poultice did wonders for her congestion and I fear she would still be coughing without your horehound tea.”
It had been a blessing to find someone so skilled and caring near at hand when they could no longer afford the doctor’s fees.
“It was no bother, my lady.” Mrs Cooper hefted her brimming clothes basket and headed into the cottage. “Only sharing what I do for my own. Come in, rest your feet and wet your throat with a drop of cider.”
A few moments later, Laura was seated in the Coopers’ snug parlour sipping cider while the farmer’s wife exclaimed over her parcel of sugar, tea and spices.
“Come see, Richard!” she called to her husband when he entered the cottage. “Isn’t this a boon? These things cost so dear at the shops in Horsham.”
When Mrs Cooper protested that the gift was far more than she deserved in exchange for a few home remedies, Laura shook her head. “I assure you, your assistance was priceless. Lord Kingsfold brought a whole shipload of such goods from the Indies. He says they are quite cheap there.”
Mr Cooper gave a gruff chuckle. “I wish some of the ideas his lordship brought home with him were as sweet to swallow as this lot.”
“Now, Richard—” Mrs Cooper shot her husband a warning look “—I’m sure Lord Kingsfold means well with all his plans for improvements.”
The farmer looked doubtful. “No respect for the old ways. I run this place the way my father did and his father before him. We’ve always managed.”
“I’m sure you have, Mr Cooper,” said Laura. “I must admit I have been resistant to some of the changes his lordship has made up at the house. It is not always easy to accept a little well-meant interference when we have become accustomed to neglect.”
Mrs Cooper nodded. “Remember, Richard, how you used to grumble about old Lord Kingsfold letting everythingslide.” She clapped a hand to her mouth. “Begging your pardon, my lady. I meant no offence to your late husband.”
“Of course you didn’t,” Laura assured her, “and I took none. Please, Mr Cooper, will you try some of his lordship’s new ideas? I know he can be rather…forceful at times. But I truly believe he wants to help his tenants prosper, as he has done.”
What had come over her, Laura wondered, defending Ford and making excuses for his overbearing ways? Whatever their differences, she could not deny he was a better master and landlord than Cyrus had ever been. Since returning to Hawkesbourne, he’d worked tirelessly to reverse the damage done by years of his cousin’s neglect.
But did he have the necessary qualities to be a better husband than her first? Laura was far less certain about that.
The farmer mulled over her words. “When you put it that way, ma’am, I reckon it never hurts to try. I’ll say one thing for his lordship, the man has more energy than a steam-engine. Not much wonder he made such a success abroad. I’d be daft not to want a bit of that to rub off on my farm.”
Seven years ago Ford had been full of energy and high spirits. Looking back, Laura had to admit that energy had not been well harnessed, but dissipated in idle amusement, like the young man he’d visited in London. Now it was channelled in productive ways that would benefit others.
After chatting a few more minutes with the Coopers, she glanced toward the window. “I wish I could visitlonger, but I must be on my way if I am to reach home before it
“Good afternoon, Mrs Cooper!” she called. “I hope I have not come at a bad time.”
“Never, my lady.” The neat, capable little woman shook her head emphatically. “I just wanted to fetch this lot in before it gets washed a second time.”
“Do you think it will rain?” Laura glanced up at the threatening sky with a grimace. “Then I had better keep my visit brief. I came to bring you a little token of thanks for your kindness to Mama this winter. Your chest poultice did wonders for her congestion and I fear she would still be coughing without your horehound tea.”
It had been a blessing to find someone so skilled and caring near at hand when they could no longer afford the doctor’s fees.
“It was no bother, my lady.” Mrs Cooper hefted her brimming clothes basket and headed into the cottage. “Only sharing what I do for my own. Come in, rest your feet and wet your throat with a drop of cider.”
A few moments later, Laura was seated in the Coopers’ snug parlour sipping cider while the farmer’s wife exclaimed over her parcel of sugar, tea and spices.
“Come see, Richard!” she called to her husband when he entered the cottage. “Isn’t this a boon? These things cost so dear at the shops in Horsham.”
When Mrs Cooper protested that the gift was far more than she deserved in exchange for a few home remedies, Laura shook her head. “I assure you, your assistance was priceless. Lord Kingsfold brought a whole shipload of such goods from the Indies. He says they are quite cheap there.”
Mr Cooper gave a gruff chuckle. “I wish some of the ideas his lordship brought home with him were as sweet to swallow as this lot.”
“Now, Richard—” Mrs Cooper shot her husband a warning look “—I’m sure Lord Kingsfold means well with all his plans for improvements.”
The farmer looked doubtful. “No respect for the old ways. I run this place the way my father did and his father before him. We’ve always managed.”
“I’m sure you have, Mr Cooper,” said Laura. “I must admit I have been resistant to some of the changes his lordship has made up at the house. It is not always easy to accept a little well-meant interference when we have become accustomed to neglect.”
Mrs Cooper nodded. “Remember, Richard, how you used to grumble about old Lord Kingsfold letting everythingslide.” She clapped a hand to her mouth. “Begging your pardon, my lady. I meant no offence to your late husband.”
“Of course you didn’t,” Laura assured her, “and I took none. Please, Mr Cooper, will you try some of his lordship’s new ideas? I know he can be rather…forceful at times. But I truly believe he wants to help his tenants prosper, as he has done.”
What had come over her, Laura wondered, defending Ford and making excuses for his overbearing ways? Whatever their differences, she could not deny he was a better master and landlord than Cyrus had ever been. Since returning to Hawkesbourne, he’d worked tirelessly to reverse the damage done by years of his cousin’s neglect.
But did he have the necessary qualities to be a better husband than her first? Laura was far less certain about that.
The farmer mulled over her words. “When you put it that way, ma’am, I reckon it never hurts to try. I’ll say one thing for his lordship, the man has more energy than a steam-engine. Not much wonder he made such a success abroad. I’d be daft not to want a bit of that to rub off on my farm.”
Seven years ago Ford had been full of energy and high spirits. Looking back, Laura had to admit that energy had not been well harnessed, but dissipated in idle amusement, like the young man he’d visited in London. Now it was channelled in productive ways that would benefit others.
After chatting a few more minutes with the Coopers, she glanced toward the window. “I wish I could visitlonger, but I must be on my way if I am to reach home before it
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