“Percy?” he asked as delicately as he could.
She nodded but did not respond. Best to leave it alone, he thought.
* * *
The cattle fair was being held on the outskirts of Winchester in a large field that had been fenced into pens for use by the various exhibitors. Harry, always far thinking, had made a hotel reservation last year for this year. Harry and Maria would need to share the room, but they had shared before when they had traveled, so it was not a problem for them.
They arrived the afternoon before the event was to begin. As they spent the early evening wandering around the town, Maria seemed much brighter and enjoyed popping into various shops and purchasing a few items for the house or for herself.
They decided to dine at the hotel, as it had a pleasant looking dining room and the menu seemed promising.
“Beer or wine?” Harry asked Maria as they finished ordering.
“We are in a nice restaurant. Let us share a bottle of wine.”
Harry selected a French Burgundy and they relaxed until the waiter brought the glasses and poured the first serving.
Maria asked, “Do you know any of the exhibitors?”
“Quite a few. We have met here over the years, and I have purchased our cattle from a number of the breeders here. Of course, my goal is to enlarge our herd enough that I will be selling here in the next year or two.”
“Do you still enjoy your work with the cattle?”
“Very much so. Aside from a few setbacks now and then,” he said with a knowing smile.
“Your Lordship,” a gentleman said, as he approached their table.
Harry looked up and said, “Roger… Here we are again. Another year gone by.” Harry stood and took Roger’s hand to shake. He turned to Maria and said, “Maria, this is my friend, Roger Dillon. He is also a breeder of Kerry cattle. Roger, this is my sister, Maria.”
Roger was just a little older than Harry. He was a strong man, tanned from a great deal of exposure to the sun and with a very warm and pleasing smile. His deep blue eyes focused on Maria and he bowed slightly. “What a great pleasure to meet you, Miss Maria. Is this your first time at the Winchester fair?”
“It is,” Maria said, blushing, as she took his hand and he leaned over and kissed it. “I assume you come every year?”
“Every year. But it is not far, as my estate is close to the nearby town of Stockbridge.”
“Are you here to dine?” Harry asked.
“I am.”
“Then will you join us?”
“I would be most pleased to.”
“Is your wife with you?” Maria asked.
“I am not married. I live on the family estate with a sister, my brother, who works with me, and my father. My mother passed away some time ago.” He smiled sweetly as he asked. “And your husband? Is he also a cattle breeder?”
“I live with Harry at home. I am not yet married either,” she said lowering her eyes.
Harry raised his hand and signaled to the waiter to bring another place setting, a chair, and another bottle of wine.
After being seated, and placing his dinner order, Roger took out his pocket watch which chimed when he opened it.
“What a charming watch,” Maria said, “Is it a family heirloom?”
“It was my great-grandfather’s. It is very special to me.” He turned to Harry and asked, “Did you bring any livestock to the show this year?”
“No. We had an incident recently and I decided to keep it simple this year.”
