Audrey couldn’t help joining Molly in laughter. “You are so easy to tease, Robert. What is the name of the tavern?”
“The Lion and the Hen.”
“Now you are teasing me.”
“Molly, am I?”
“No, miss, in fact the sign shows the hen with its wings raised, as if it’s frightening the lion.”
“A strange village you have here,” Robert mused.
She loved it already. “What else?”
Too soon they left Hedgerley behind. Audrey could barely sit still as Molly talked about an orchard of pear trees, and a flock of sheep in the distance.
They took a turn down a bumpy lane.
“I see your house, Miss Audrey! It is two stories made of stone, cresting the top of a gentle hill, and the parklands slope down away from it—oh, and there’s a stream leading into a pond.”
“Can we swim?” Audrey asked excitedly.
“You swim?” Robert’s tone was incredulous.
“I do—not that you will see me.”
“Your husband cannot see you swim?” he retorted.
She withheld a wince. “Oh … I imagine there is so much for me to get used to.”
“You were not married long the first time,” Molly pointed out. Then, “Oh, so many windows and chimneys. I see a stable in the distance, but not a separate coach house. I imagine there’s room for a carriage in there.”
So many windows, Audrey mused dreamily. Was she a wealthy woman, then—at least where land was concerned? From what she’d been told, the estate supported itself. There were dozens of tenants leasing good farmland. She didn’t care about wealth, as long as the manor and lands were thriving.
It was Molly’s turn to sound dreamy. “It is a pretty place to live.”
“And ours forever,” Audrey said.
“Until you marry,” Molly pointed out. “And then perhaps you’ll live in a castle.”
Audrey smiled stiffly, then turned toward Robert. “Thank you, my lord, for bringing us here.”
“You’re welcome. I hope it is everything you wish.”
There was a thread of … something in his voice, but she would allow nothing to spoil this day she’d dreamed of her whole life long. She was the mistress of her own household.
“We’re pulling up to the entrance, miss. There’s no portico, but a lovely set of wide marble stairs leading up to an impressive door. Oh, it is opening! An older woman is standing there, and I confess, she looks confused.”
“She’s wondering who her visitors are,” Audrey said. “She will be so surprised.” And not too disappointed, she hoped. She’d had no time to send word ahead that this little servant family was finally to have a mistress after several years.
Audrey could barely wait while the coachman opened the door to let down the stairs, and Robert climbed out. She reached out for his hand, knew it would be there, and began to descend.
“Does your pretty home have a name?” he asked softly.
He knows how important this is to me,she realized. She gave him a smile. “Rose Cottage.”
“A little more than a cottage, Audrey, but a lovely name.”
More than a cottage, she thought, almost hugging herself. It could be four rooms or twenty—she didn’t care. It was all hers.
