“No, Hart.” She smiled up at him. “I’d rather stay here. But you must dine at the inn. You need a proper meal and a good night’s sleep.”
He’d never really considered women in this light. The ladies of his acquaintance seldom lifted a finger, some not even to open a door. He watched, impressed, as they rolled up their sleeves and dealt with the mess. Maddie and Jane were much stronger than they appeared and went about things in a far more practical manner than most men might.
“Jane, come upstairs. Let’s see what bedding there is.” Maddie turned to Hart from the small landing. “Go, Hart,” she urged him, relief brightening her brown eyes. “Enjoy an excellent dinner. We shall see you in the morning.”
Hart realized he’d become irrelevant. He mounted the narrow staircase he’d never climbed before. Both of them worked in one of the two bedchambers, Maddie dusting, Jane shaking bedding out of the window. “I’ll bring something for your sore knee.”
Maddie turned and wiped her forehead with the back of her arm. “Oh, that. No need. It feels better now. But thank you, Hart.”
“So there’s nothing I can do? Move furniture around?”
She shook her head, smiled, and walked over to him. “It’s fortunate there is no sign of the roof leaking. We will manage nicely.” She put a hand on his arm. “Don’t worry about us.”
“You seem to be managing, but no amount of scrubbing will turn this cottage into decent accommodation,” Hart said.
“Oh, but it will. You’ll see.”
He gazed at her doubtfully while inordinately pleased to find her less troubled. This was only a reprieve. Her problems were far from solved. “I’ll bring food in the morning for breakfast.”
Hart left the cottage, unsure whether he felt relieved or sorry to be of no further use. But as busy as Maddie now was, as soon as she sat down to think, her plight would loom large again. He would wrestle with the problem over a glass of wine at the inn, after he’d bedded down his tired and hungry horses for the night.
*
Maddie had puton a good act, but now, with Hart gone, her shoulders slumped, and annoying tears filled her eyes. The horror she’d faced would haunt her forever if she let it. She blinked them away, sniffed, and wiped her face with a handkerchief. Turning to Jane, she said brightly, “Let’s go down. I’ll slice the bread while you make the tea. We’ll eat by the parlor fire.”
“I could do with a bite, milady.” Jane, at least, appeared to enjoy the adventure.
Later, when Maddie climbed into her bed, and pulled up the cover, which needed a good wash, her only hope was for it not to rain tomorrow. She’d spied an overgrown vegetable garden, a few turnips and carrots pushing up through the weeds.
The fine weather held the following morning. They drank horrid black tea sweetened with the jar of honey Hart had bought. More of the bedding hung out the upstairs windows. With the shutters and windows thrown open, fresh air and sunshine flooded into the rooms, highlighting the neglect while they cleaned. Fortunately, the last tenant had left a broom, mop, and dusters in a cupboard.
When Maddie heard Hart’s curricle come down the drive, she rushed to the murky mirror in the hall to straighten her hair. Good grief, she looked like a waif! She scrubbed at a smudge of dirt on her chin and hurried out to greet him.
Hart jumped down, took a basket from the seat, and turned to greet her carefully, carrying a pail in his other hand. “You didn’t run away in the night then.”
She grinned. “We are made of sterner stuff.”
He smiled. “I believe you are.”
She rushed over and peeked into the basket like a child at Christmas, breathing in the delicious aromas.
He laughed. “Some goods from the bakery. I’ll leave money for you to buy more necessities in the village. It’s only about a three-mile walk. A pleasant stroll on a fine spring day.”
“Come inside. Jane will make some tea.” She sighed. “Is that milk?” She eyed the pail he carried.
“Yes, I was able to buy a quart from the innkeeper’s wife. She said the farmer down the road might sell you some.” He smiled. “Until you get a cow.”
He stood in the parlor and gestured to the jug of yellow daisies on the table. “Well, this is an improvement. You’ve done a fine job of removing the dust. It smells a good deal better. But it’s small, isn’t it?” With a worried frown, he glanced around.
“Quite big enough for the two of us.” Maddie took the pail and basket from him. “Jane has found a hidden door behind the parlor paneling. We were quite excited, but it only leads to a space beneath the roof.” Her smile faded. “It might be useful if we should ever have to hide.”
“I hope you never have to use it.” Hart took a chair in the kitchen as Jane placed the delicious fare onto plates.
“So do I,” Maddie said, joining him at the table.
“Spiders.” Jane gave a shudder as she carried over the teapot.
While they ate the freshly baked warm muffins, his blue eyes grew serious. “As you can’t stay here long, I’ve given some thought as to what you might do.”