The Dowager Countess (The Saga of Wolfbridge Manor Book 2), Sahara Kelly [best thriller novels to read txt] 📗

“Wolfbridge produces jams and jellies of great renown, sir. Our products are much desired as far away as London.”

“I see,” he smiled. “I will have to make sure to try them.” He stepped outside and took a breath of the warm spring air. “No, I am not here for your jams. I’ve heard of a property for sale that might suit me. Fivetrees, I believe it’s called…”

“Ah, yes. Not far from here. In fact our lands border theirs. The owner passed away last year, I understand, so you will probably wish to deal with the lawyers representing the estate.”

“Doubtless that will be the case.” He bowed deeply. “I hope to visit again soon, dear Gwyneth. I trust you’ll allow me the impropriety of using your given name, but we are…friends, are we not?” Once again, he kissed her hand, his eyes fixed on her face.

“You are so gracious, Baron.” She managed a blush.

He nodded, released her, and stalked down the steps to his carriage. He was driving himself, and with a casual wave clicked up the horses and took off at a spanking pace down the driveway and onto the lane beyond.

Gwyneth heaved a sigh of relief. “I don’t like him. I didn’t like him the first time I met him, but I thought I was just being a silly girl. Now I know I’m not.”

“I must admit to a similar reaction, my Lady.” Giles stared thoughtfully after the carriage. “I wonder what he wanted…”

“Me,” she answered, wiping her hands on her skirts as if to rid herself of the Baron’s touch. “He proposed. Asked me to marry him.”

Giles blinked. “Good God. Did he really?”

“I didn’t mistake it, Giles, I can assure you. Thank God for Jeremy and the tea tray. He arrived just as the Baron had fallen to his knees in front of me.”

Giles closed the door and they both turned away as Jeremy walked toward them. “Yes, I heard. And yes he was. Down on his knees, the usual thing.” His lips turned down in disgust. “The man was here all of fifteen minutes and then there he was, offering Lady Gwyneth his hand and whatever else…”

Gwyneth turned to Giles. “I think we can safely say that Jeremy didn’t like him, either.”

Giles chuckled. “Indeed, Ma’am.”

Jeremy wasn’t smiling. “I know him, Giles. Or I think I do. Or perhaps he reminds me of someone. I wish I could place it. But I know, deep inside, that he is familiar. And it’s bothering me…”

Chapter Sixteen

“I cannot say I’m pleased at the notion of Baron Randschen living next door,” Gwyneth observed over breakfast a few days later.

“I’ve heard nothing about any purchase,” commented Giles, “and the Baron left Little Maddington not long after showing up here.”

“He’s not renewed his offer, then?” Royce reached for toast as he asked Gwyneth the question.

“Thank God, no.” She shuddered over her teacup. “I wasn’t looking forward to refusing him. There’s something about his manner. He threatens without seeming to.”

“I agree,” said Jeremy. “It’s as if there’s some sort of menace surrounding that man.” He frowned. “I just wish I knew where I’d seen him before, and I’ve racked my brains, but it is still a question to which I have no answer.”

“Well, I will reiterate one thing. I do not like him. He made my skin crawl when he visited Kilham, and he still makes my skin crawl. There’s something…unhealthy about the way he looks at me. And I cannot rid myself of the notion that every word is rehearsed. He’s like…oh I don’t know. A snake coiled beneath a bush, perhaps. Harmless unless you go too near.” She sighed.

Evan sat beside Gwyneth, toast already buttered on his plate. “Set all thoughts of him aside, my Lady. It is spring, the land is coming to life, and today is going to be raspberry day.” He reached for the jam. “Oh, good. I did remember to put the right jam here. Blackberry would never do.”

Gwyneth looked at him with curiosity. “What is raspberry day?”

“I was about to ask the same thing,” added Gabriel.

Evan and Jeremy grinned at each other.

“Go ahead,” said Jeremy. “You brought it up.”

“Well, raspberry day is special here, because as you know we are famous for our berries.” Evan lifted his chin in pride. “And rightfully so.”

“Agreed wholeheartedly,” Gwyneth applauded lightly.

“Anyway, sometime in the distant past, it became a tradition that everyone in the Wolfbridge area, tenants, farmers and residents of Wolfbridge, would gather in one of the fruit fields and weed the rows until the field was done. That field would then be the best producing one of all of them, because of the attention lavished on it by so many people. It was felt that the other fields would do their best to match or beat this field and thus show that they were deserving of such recognition as well.” He grinned. “Every year, a different one is chosen. And honestly? That field always yields the best of the harvest.”

“What a lovely thought,” said Gwyneth. “These kinds of country traditions make places so much richer, I believe.”

“It’s always at the same time of year, of course, but the weather plays a large role.” Jeremy continued the story. “Doing it in the rain is no fun, so the first really wonderful and warm day, like today, is perfect.”

“And we all help. It’s a challenge, but it’s fun. Some of the farmer’s wives will bring food for lunch and at the end of the day we all take a well-earned swim in the jelly pool.”

“Er…” Gwyneth looked at him. “A jelly pool? Evan, what on earth is a jelly pool?”

He laughed back at her, his eyes warm with affection. “There are various spots around the fields where water