“Me taking a risk is different, though, isn’t it?”
More silence.
“Let’s walk, shall we? And we can pretend everything between us is fine.”
They walked down a path, and Audrey estimated they were heading toward the pond.
“There’s a man in your gardens,” Blythe said at last.
“Mr. Sanford, the groundskeeper. He is married to the housekeeper.”
“Your little servant family, that’s right. I imagine he must be a helpful fellow. He’s following us about in case we need assistance.”
And Audrey felt a chill that had nothing to do with the approach of winter.
14
They were called back inside by the arrival of another guest, and Audrey wouldn’t have been surprised if it was another member of her family. Instead, it was the vicar’s wife awaiting her in the drawing room.
“You already went into the village?” Blythe asked Audrey with surprise evident in her voice as they walked through the house.
“I did. People went out of their way to be kind.” She did not say that it had been Robert’s idea to go so quickly, and he who escorted her.
In the entrance hall, Audrey spoke to Francis about having tea sent in, and then without holding her sister’s arm, entered the drawing room.
“Mrs. Blake,” a woman’s voice intoned in a nasal manner, “it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
Audrey could hear the interest the woman didn’t bother to hide. “Mrs. Warton, it is surely my own pleasure. I enjoyed my conversation with your husband several days ago. May I introduce my sister, Miss Blythe Collins?”
“How do you do?” Blythe asked.
“Quite fine, thank you,” said Mrs. Warton.
“A tea tray will be arriving shortly,” Audrey said. “Would you care to sit down?”
“I am already seated, Mrs. Blake,” Mrs. Warton said, sounding almost immediately as if she regretted the words.
And Audrey liked her for it. “You’ll have to excuse me. I make those mistakes often.”
“If you do not mind my saying, my friends in Hedgerley were speaking quite openly of their delight in meeting you,” Mrs. Warton explained.
“People don’t know what to expect of a blind woman,” Audrey admitted. “Isn’t that true, Blythe?”
She knew she caught her sister off guard and felt glad and guilty at the same time. Why should she feel guilty? Blythe was always worried about what people would say if they took Audrey into their own village.
“It is true,” Blythe murmured, adding nothing else.
“Some can be so sheltered,” Mrs. Warton said. “It is good to shake things up a bit.”
Audrey’s smile widened. She already liked this woman.
“Ladies?”
She heard Robert’s voice coming from the doorway. “Lord Knightsbridge, I am so glad you could join us. Allow me to introduce the vicar’s wife, Mrs. Warton.”
“A pleasure, my lord,” the woman breathed, her voice dipping as she most likely sank into a curtsy. She sounded both awed and amazed, as if she hadn’t quite believed that the earl had graced their village.
The tea arrived at that moment, and Audrey took her time serving everyone. She knew she was on display, as she would always be, and didn’t mind the attention.