Lady Adalyn (The Saga Of Wolfbridge Manor Book 1), Sahara Kelly [the best e book reader .TXT] 📗

Trick’s return. The lad who already helped out would of course be first and Daniel was certain they could find another without difficulty.

“The work isn’t complicated, just physical, Adalyn,” he said. “So lads who cannot work elsewhere for whatever reason, can easily put in a couple of hours in the morning and evening, leaving time to take care of whatever other family matters arise.”

Knowing this would help some families in dire need, Adalyn agreed immediately. “I will rely on you to find another good candidate, Daniel. We must be useful to our people in any way we can.”

He glanced outside at the rain which had begun an hour or so earlier. “If this rain eases up, that will help too.”

“How bad is it?” She frowned.

“The weather has an enormous impact on our lives, as you know. Last year…doesn’t bear talking about. This year, so far, we’re still suffering from much too much rain, and that will hurt the crop plantings and yields.”

As Daniel told her of the current situation, their conversation led to a discussion of crops and they agreed to leave two fields fallow, focussing efforts on berries, their livestock and only two fields of crops that might mature enough to harvest.

It wasn’t an easy decision, since a good yield of wheat would have been most welcome, but the livestock stood a better chance of surviving an excessively damp season, and the hay from the fallow fields would serve as forage for next winter. With one wheat field and one rye, they might hope for something approaching a useful harvest.

And, as Daniel pointed out, it never hurt to allow a field to restore its balanced soil by letting it lie untouched for a season.

The walled kitchen garden was almost complete, so with luck there would be a good vegetable crop.

“Remind me to make a few notes about a market, Daniel.” She stood. “I had an idea that perhaps we should hold our own here at Wolfbridge. Some of our tenants have no way of going to Ditchley with wares to sell or barter. As we get into the summer why don’t we think about how to offer those services right here on a small local basis?”

He blinked. “Well…now you come to mention it…yes, I suppose we do have enough people around us to suggest such a thing.” He looked at her. “You continue to astound me.”

She blushed and glanced away. “I believe those words ring doubly true for me.”

He stood. “I must be off. I wish you a good day…Adalyn…”

His voice grew soft as he spoke her name and she risked a quick glance to catch a glint of heat in his eyes. It unsettled her for a moment as she rose, but then she smiled, putting Giles’s advice to proper use. Her heart knew this man, knew his worth and his affections for her.

It also knew the others. Their time would come soon.

After Daniel left, she resumed her seat and penned a quick note to Fivetrees for Judith. It would be a treat to see the girl again, and would also relieve Adalyn’s mind as to her welfare.

She smiled as she signed and sealed the brief missive; for the first time she really felt like the Lady of Wolfbridge Manor. In more ways than she’d ever anticipated.

Thus a few hours later, a small carriage arrived at Wolfbridge, bearing Miss Fairhurst and her maid.

Adalyn awaited her at the door, sending Giles out with an umbrella to protect them as best he could from the downpour that refused to lessen.

Judith entered with a gasp and a grin and a slightly wilted feather clinging to the brim of her bonnet. “My goodness. Can you believe this rain? If I were not aware of the reason for it, I would be sure that the clouds decided to release their burden just so they could dampen my journey.”

The smile warmed Adalyn, and she readily offered a hug and a light kiss of welcome, as Jeremy relieved the visitors of their garments. “You’re here, and that is by far the most important thing. Please, come in and warm yourself. There’s a pleasant fire going in the parlour, and tea on the way. We shall ignore this disgusting weather and have ourselves a fine coze.”

“How lovely,” Judith sighed with delight and slipped her arm through Adalyn’s. “I knew you would be kind. I wanted to visit before now, but the housekeeper insisted it was too soon.”

“She was probably right,” demurred Adalyn. “But you’re here now. And I’m very happy to see you smiling.”

They entered the parlour and Judith exclaimed at the bright blaze, walking to it and holding out her hands. “What a welcome sight.”

Adalyn saw Judith’s maid take a seat outside in the hall, and noticed Jeremy talking to her. She would be well taken care of until her mistress was ready to leave.

“So Judith. You must tell me how you are. And how things have been for you since our last—and unfortunate—meeting.” She took a chair by the fire.

“How am I?” Judith shrugged. “I survive, Lady Adalyn. That’s about all I am allowed to do at the moment.”

Adalyn suddenly felt much older than her twenty years, when faced with Judith’s rather dramatic pronouncement. “Oh dear. Can you explain that?”

Subsiding into a matching chair, Judith’s eyes filled with tears. “I do not have any idea of what I am to do, my Lady. Lawyers come and go, and wave their papers and their quills at me, but say nothing of substance. A man who said he was a relative of my uncle’s visited me, and that by rights Fivetrees should be his.” She looked up. “He was a little frightening.”

Adalyn frowned. “In what way?”

“It’s—it’s hard to describe.” Her hands clenched in her lap, turning her knuckles white. “The way he looked at me. And the things he asked about me and my family. Then…he walked around the room. It was as if he was taking inventory, Lady Adalyn. As if he already owned the