Chapter 9

Chapter Nine

As Edwina followed Miles to the rear of the cottage, she couldn't quite believe that he had offered to chop wood, which was a mundane task that was beneath an earl. Yet here they were, standing in front of a neatly stacked pile of logs and an ax propped against them.

Miles came to a stop in front of the ax, his tall figure casting a long shadow on the grassy ground. He removed his jacket and turned to face her. "Would you mind holding this?" he asked with a smile.

"It would be my pleasure, considering you are doing a great service to the Warrens," she replied as she stepped forward to accept the jacket.

Miles reached for the ax. "It is of little consequence," he remarked nonchalantly.

"But it is," she disagreed with admiration in her voice. "You are an earl and I doubt you dirty your hands often."

With an amused look, Miles responded, "You could almost say that I am not acting very ‘earlish.'"

She laughed. "Most definitely."

"Good, because above all else, I am a man," Miles said. " Besides, I used to chop wood all the time when I was younger."

"Did you not have servants to tend to such things?" she asked curiously.

Miles nodded, his expression becoming more thoughtful. "We had servants, but my brother and I used to escape to our hunting lodge in the woodlands. It was just us two and we did what we needed to do to survive," he shared. "It was the best of times."

Edwina could hear the wistfulness in his voice and knew his admission came at a great cost to him.

"Unfortunately, John is no longer with us and the hunting lodge has been vacant for many years now," Miles said.

Miles turned back towards the wood pile and picked up the ax. With a determined expression, he swung the ax in smooth, practiced motions. The sound of wood cracking echoed through the woodlands as he split log after log with impressive precision.

He came to a stop and placed the ax down. He picked up the split pieces of wood and stacked them neatly by the pile.

The sweat glistened from Miles' brow and he wiped it away with the back of his gloved hand. "That should be enough for now," he said.

Edwina could sense the weight of grief and pain that hung around Miles like a cloak. She knew she shouldn't pry, but her curiosity got the best of her. "May I ask how John died?"

Miles' jaw visibly tensed. "In a duel."

"How awful," she murmured.

"It was a needless way to die, but John had always been too cocky for his own good," Miles said. "He never thought anything bad could happen to him. He lived a life with no fear."

Edwina offered him a weak smile, trying to offer comfort in any way she could. "A little fear is a good thing," she responded tentatively.

Miles' gaze softened as he looked at her, his blue eyes searching hers. "That it is," he agreed. "It reminds us that we have something to live for."

"Does this mean you have found a new purpose for which to live?" Edwina asked.

Miles held her gaze for a moment before answering, his expression giving nothing away. "I believe so," he said.

Edwina felt something stirring in her heart but she refused to acknowledge it. She couldn't. But her treacherous heart didn't seem to listen- or care.

Taking a step closer, Miles asked, "May I have my jacket back?"

Blinking rapidly, Edwina stumbled over her words. "Yes, yes, you can," she managed to say. "I was just holding it for you so you could chop wood."

A smile tugged at the corners of Miles' lips. "And you did a wonderful job."

Feeling flustered and embarrassed by her own behavior, Edwina extended him the jacket. "Yes, well, it was far easier than chopping wood. Which you did brilliantly." Why couldn't she stop yammering on? What must Miles think of her?

Amusement danced in Miles' eyes as he said, "You do not need to heap praises on me for chopping wood."

"When else would I do it, then?" Edwina retorted.

Miles glanced up at the sky. "We must hurry if we wish to join everyone for breakfast. Although, I fear we might already be late."

"Most likely, but I am sure my family will understand."

Miles lifted his brow. "And what would your uncle say about that?"

Straightening her shoulders and adopting a stern tone, Edwina replied, "A lady should never make excuses for being late for breakfast. "

He chuckled. "You sound just like him."

"I have had a lot of practice," Edwina said. "I miss Uncle Lionel. He was always so carefree before my father passed away. But now he's burdened with responsibilities and constantly criticizes me."

Miles slipped his jacket back on and gestured towards the path that led to the front of the cottage, indicating she should go first. "He does seem much more serious these days, but he has always been one for propriety."

"That he has been," Edwina sighed. "But it has only gotten worse since he became a marquess."

Miles' gaze turned sympathetic. "I'm sorry."

She glanced over at him as they walked side by side. "There is no need to apologize. This is my lot in life, I'm afraid," she said. "He even called me ‘mousy.'"

"Mousy?"

"Yes, I happened to overhear a conversation between my aunt and uncle."

Miles shot her a meaningful glance. "You mean you eavesdropped?"

"Some might call it that," Edwina said with a slight shrug of her shoulder. "But I prefer calling it ‘collective listening.'"

"Calling it by a fancy name doesn't change the fact you were eavesdropping," he joked.

Edwina bobbed her head. "You are right. I was eavesdropping."

"Was that so hard to admit?" he asked with a smile.

"It was, actually," Edwina replied.

Miles grew solemn. "It was wrong what Lord Dallington said of you," he said. "I have never considered you ‘mousy.' Reserved. Shy. Unapproachable. Those were merely my initial perceptions of you."

Edwina worked hard to keep the displeasure off her expression at his words. "Thank you for your honesty," she muttered .

"But now…" His words trailed off as he turned to face her fully, his expression soft yet intense. "The words I would describe you as are vastly different. Fierce. Loyal. Compassionate. But, more importantly, I am completely and breathtakingly fascinated by you."

Edwina's breath caught, unsure if she could believe his words or if they were simply to flatter her. But the sincerity in Miles' eyes and the conviction in his voice made her want to believe him. "You are kind, my lord," Edwina murmured.

"That is the thing, there is nothing kind about it," Miles said. "It is the way I feel."

As Miles collected his horse, Edwina took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing heart. Could he really mean his words? And if so, what did that mean?

Mrs. Warren stepped out onto the porch. "Thank you again, my lord," she said with genuine gratitude.

Miles acknowledged her words with a tip of his head before he started leading his horse towards the path. Edwina matched his stride and they walked down the path together in comfortable silence. Never had silence felt so poignant.

But it didn't last long.

Miles glanced at her and asked, "Did your father leave you an inheritance?"

Unsure of where this conversation was headed, Edwina replied, "No, just a dowry of fifteen thousand pounds."

"That is a generous dowry, but are you sure that is all your father left for you?" Miles pressed.

Edwina furrowed her brow in thought. "I never read his will, but my uncle informed me that my father made no mention of me in it."

Miles' expression turned solemn as he inquired, "Does that not strike you as odd, considering how much your father doted on you?"

Her brow furrowing deeper, Edwina responded, "Not particularly, since it is my uncle's responsibility to care for me since he inherited my father's title. I'm sure they discussed such matters beforehand."

Miles didn't look convinced as he shared, "I happened to overhear a conversation between your uncle and Mr. Stanley."

"You mean you eavesdropped?" she teased.

He chuckled. "I prefer the term ‘collective listening.'" His demeanor grew somber again. "The conversation implied that there may be additional funds that should have been available to you."

"I don't know what funds those could be."

"Perhaps it would be worth asking to see your father's will," Miles suggested.

Edwina's eyes grew wide. "If I were to do such a thing, my uncle would be furious at me for not trusting him. I wouldn't want to anger him."

Miles tightened the reins in his hand. "But what if you are entitled to more than what has been given to you?"

"What if you just misconstrued the conversation?"

"I didn't," Miles replied, his jaw set and his eyes blazing with conviction. "I know what I heard."

Edwina shifted her gaze away from his, her mind racing as she tried to make sense of everything. What was she to do? If she asked to see the will and Miles was wrong, then her uncle would be furious at her. But what if he was right? No. That was inconceivable. Her uncle wouldn't try to cheat her out of an inheritance. The mere thought made her stomach churn with unease.

Would he?

No.

Yes.

Maybe.

The doubt crept in, nagging at her mind, despite her attempts to push it away.

Miles' voice broke through her thoughts. "I can see you are thinking it over, but just know that I would never lie to you."

"Yet you are asking me to believe that my uncle is lying to me- a man that I have known my entire life," she challenged.

"Is it not worth looking into?" Miles asked.

Edwina felt torn, unsure of who to believe or who to trust. She had a choice to make. Did she continue blindly trusting her uncle or did she trust a man that she only just met? A man who was already stirring inconvenient feelings in her heart.

Brockhall Manor loomed ahead of them as they approached and Edwina suddenly had a thought. What if she didn't have to ask her uncle to see her father's will? Then he would never know that she thought he might be lying to her.

In a determined voice, Edwina asked, "What if I snuck into my uncle's study and read the will when he was away?"

"And what if you don't like what it says?" Miles asked.

Despite the uncertainty that churned within her, Edwina put on a brave face. "I will deal with that when, and if, it becomes an issue," she declared, trying to convince herself as much as Miles.

"All right, I shall help you."

She hesitated, torn between wanting his help and wanting to prove herself capable on her own. "I never asked for your help. Besides, I couldn't ask you to do such a thing."

A smug smirk spread across his lips. "No, but you will need it."

"And why is that?" she challenged.

He came to a stop on the path and turned to face her. "Have you ever broken into a study before?"

Edwina's confidence faltered as she admitted truthfully, "No, but surely it can't be too difficult."

His smirk softened, as did his words. "Trust me, Edwina."

The way he said her name, with such tenderness, she knew- in her heart- that she could trust him. "Very well," she agreed .

Miles looked pleased by her words before he turned his attention back towards Brockhall Manor. "Let us make haste before Bennett comes looking for us."

As Miles escorted Edwina into the dining room, he couldn't help but notice Bennett's disapproving glare from his seat at the long table.

Miles pulled out Edwina's chair and took a seat beside her, bracing himself for Bennett's inevitable interrogation.

"What, pray tell, caused you and Edwina to arrive at the same time?" Bennett asked with a hint of censure in his voice as he addressed Miles.

Miles calmly explained, "I accompanied Lady Edwina to the Warrens' cottage after my morning ride."

Edwina spoke up. "Lord Hilgrove graciously chopped wood for the Warrens," she praised.

Bennett's brow lifted in surprise. "You didn't, did you?" His tone was incredulous as he turned to Miles.

With a slight shrug, Miles replied, "There was a need and I filled it. There is no reason to make a big ado out of it."

"Why didn't you send a servant?" Bennett pressed.

"For what purpose?" Miles asked. "I am more than capable of chopping some wood. And besides, it reminded me of a much simpler time when John and I would go to our hunting lodge. We attempted to live off the land but we were spectacularly bad at it."

Bennett leaned forward in his seat. "Why didn't you have the servants stock food at the hunting lodge?"

"We wanted to hunt our own food," Miles explained with a fond smile at the memory. "Every morning, we would wake up to a fresh kill in one of our traps. "

"It sounds like you were successful, then," Bennett acknowledged.

Miles chuckled. "No, far from it," he replied. "Our gamekeeper took pity on us and would always leave us something so we could eat. It wasn't until we were older that he confessed to such a thing."

Bennett clucked his tongue. "I doubt that I would have fared much better," he admitted with a wry smile.

Edwina shifted in her seat to face Miles. "It sounds as if you and your brother were rather close."

"At times, we were," Miles said. "That is why I cherished my time with John at the hunting lodge. It was nice to be together without servants underfoot."

Lord and Lady Dallington stepped into the room and sat at the ends of the table.

"Good morning," Lady Dallington greeted with a warm smile. "I do apologize for our tardiness, but I assure you that it couldn't be helped."

Lord Dallington gave his wife an amused look. "It could have been avoided if you had made a decision on which gown to wear sooner."

"Choosing which gown to wear is no small matter when I am having tea with Mrs. Walker," Lady Dallington said.

Bennett grimaced. "The village gossip," he stated. "Why do you wish to spend time with her?"

"Oh, she is quite a delightful woman," Lady Dallington replied as she elegantly placed a napkin on her lap. "We have much in common."

"You mean, you like to gossip," Bennett teased.

A glint of mischief sparkled in Lady Dallington's eyes. "No, we simply enjoy discussing the happenings of our quaint little village. It's not gossip when it's shared between friends."

"That is precisely what gossip is," Bennett responded.

With a shake of her head, Lady Dallington turned her attention to Edwina. "Would you care to join us?" she asked. "I am sure that Mrs. Walker would love to see you."

Edwina leaned to the side as a footman placed a plate of food in front of her. "I… um… am busy today," she stammered.

"Doing what, may I ask?" her aunt pressed.

Her eyes darted towards Miles as she no doubt attempted to come up with a believable excuse. "I have a pile of books that I would like to read today," Edwina said quickly. "It will take all day and into the night. I am sure of it."

Her aunt gave her a curious look. "If you are sure…"

Edwina gave a decisive bob of her head. "Yes, these books won't read themselves," she added with a nervous laugh.

Miles resisted the urge to smile at Edwina's uneasy attempt to keep things from her family. She was clearly not cut out for this kind of subterfuge and he couldn't imagine her ever being a successful spy. She wore her emotions on her sleeve. Which was a refreshing change of pace for him.

Deciding it was best to divert the conversation away from Edwina's awkwardness, Miles announced, "I believe I shall spend some time reading as well."

"But we were going to go angling today with a few of my friends," Bennett said.

"That sounds dreadfully dull," Miles responded. "You can go without me."

Bennett considered him for a moment before saying, "Of course it is dull. It is angling. There is only so much you can do when trying to catch fish. But it is fun to be around the other men. Are you sure that you would rather stay back and read?"

Miles reached for his glass, taking a sip before answering, "I would."

"I hadn't taken you much for a reader," Bennett said. "You didn't seem to have much time for books during our university days. "

"I read all the time," Miles defended.

"That may be true, but they were books that we were required to read for the course," Bennett stated.

Lord Dallington chimed in, coming to Miles' defense. "Leave Miles be. If he wants to spend the day reading, so be it. Our library is well stocked with books."

Bennett tapped his fingers on the table, as if he were trying to sort out a puzzle. "All right, I will drop it… for now," he conceded with a small grin.

Miles began eating his food as Lord Dallington announced, "I have meetings all day today that will keep me away. But I shall return for supper."

Lady Dallington acknowledged his words with a smile. "I do appreciate you making time so we may dine as a family."

"I know it makes you happy," Lord Dallington responded, returning her smile. "Besides, a man has to eat."

"That he does, and I shall see that your favorite dishes are prepared," Lady Dallington said before she shifted her gaze towards Edwina. "How was the basket received by the Warrens?"

"They were most grateful," Edwina replied.

Lord Dallington let out a disapproving huff. "I do not know why you insist on spending time with the Warrens. They were merely servants in your father's household."

Edwina tilted her chin defiantly. "They have, and always will be, more than just servants to me. When I am with them, I feel a part of me is at home."

"Nonsense," Lord Dallington said. "You should be using your time for more worthwhile pursuits- like finding a suitable husband."

Lady Dallington shot her husband a sharp look. "Lionel…" she started, her voice holding a warning.

"Are we not allowed to discuss such serious matters?" Lord Dallington asked, his tone defensive.

"There is a time and place for such discussions and the breakfast table is not one of them," Lady Dallington stated firmly.

Lord Dallington pursed his lips. "Edwina cannot live off our generosity forever. She needs to find a husband, and quickly. I will not have her be a drain on our finances."

Miles glanced over at Edwina and noticed the fire burning in her eyes. She seemed ready to fight back, but instead, she abruptly rose from her seat. "Excuse me, I just need a moment," she said, before swiftly exiting the room.

After Edwina departed, Lady Dallington let out a weary sigh and shook her head. "Why must you insist on putting undue pressure on Edwina?"

"Undue pressure?" Lord Dallington asked. "You were married to me at this very age."

"But those were different circumstances," Lady Dallington countered.

Lord Dallington pushed aside his plate and leaned forward. "We mustn't coddle Edwina forever. It is not good for her, or anyone else for that matter."

Bennett dabbed at the corners of his mouth with a napkin and placed it neatly beside his plate. "I think I should go speak with Edwina."

"Allow me," Miles offered, pushing back his chair and standing up.

Bennett's expression turned to one of skepticism. "You? Dare I ask why?" he questioned.

Miles met his friend's gaze steadily. "I can sympathize with what Lady Edwina is going through," he explained.

Bennett eyed him for a moment before he conceded. "Very well," he said with a wave of his hand. "But you better not upset her further."

Miles didn't need to be told twice. As he departed from the dining room, he heard Bennett inquire of his father, "Why must you be so critical towards Edwina?" A smile came to his lips, knowing that his friend was doing all he could to protect Edwina in his own way.

He quickly made his way down the corridors of the grand manor in search of Edwina. As he reached the entry hall, he saw the butler standing watch by the door.

"Have you seen Lady Edwina?" Miles asked.

The butler tipped his head. "Yes, my lord," he replied. "She was heading towards the gardens."

Miles wasted no time in making his way towards the gardens, eager to find Edwina. He stepped outside and saw Edwina sitting on a bench, a goat nestled contentedly in her lap.

Edwina looked up as he approached. "I see that you got the short straw," she quipped.

"No, quite the opposite, in fact," Miles said, coming to a stop by the bench. There wasn't much room for him to sit down, as the goat took up most of the space. "May I ask where the goat came from?"

A smile came to Edwina's face. "This is Matilda," she announced proudly. "She is one of the Warrens' goats and is constantly causing mischief."

"You two seem quite close," Miles observed.

"Looks can be deceiving," Edwina said. "Matilda has claimed this bench as her own and anyone who sits here must be prepared to give her attention."

Not wanting to stand any longer, Miles gently shifted the goat's backside and squeezed onto the far end of the bench.

The goat let out a loud bleat in response.

Edwina's eyes sparkled with mirth. "You have upset Matilda now."

"Matilda needs to learn how to share," Miles chided playfully.

"Well, she is just a goat after all."

"That may be true, but it is no excuse," Miles retorted.

Edwina ran her hand down the goat's neck as she posed the question, "Do you think it is time for me to find a husband?"

Miles gave her a look that he hoped was filled with compassion. "What do you truly want, Edwina?"

"I want to marry, but I haven't even had my first Season," Edwina replied, her voice tinged with hesitation. "Besides, it is not as if this village is overflowing with eligible suitors."

"I understand your concerns. Marriage is not a decision to be made lightly," Miles counseled. "When I met Arabella, my whole life changed, and for the better."

Edwina grew silent. "Do you ever intend to remarry?"

"No, I do not," he admitted truthfully. "My first marriage brought me great love and happiness, and I doubt that I would find something like that again."

"That is fair." Edwina lowered her gaze to the goat, her thoughts clearly troubled.

Sensing her unease, Miles gently prodded, "What is it?"

A line between Edwina's brow appeared. "How did you know you were in love with Arabella?"

"That is easy," Miles replied. "It was her smile. The first time I saw it, I knew I wanted to see it every day for the rest of my life."

Doubt clouded Edwina's eyes as she took a deep breath. "But what if… what if I do not find a love like yours? What if I am forced to settle for less?"

"You won't be," Miles asserted.

Edwina raised her gaze again, the vulnerability evident in her expression. "How can you be so sure?"

With gentle sincerity, Miles responded, "Because it is no less than you deserve."

"It seems as if my uncle would have me marry anyone, just for the sake of marrying," Edwina said with a touch of bitterness in her voice.

Miles held her gaze, hoping his next words would bring her some comfort. "You are a beautiful young woman with much to offer. Any gentleman would be lucky to have you."

Edwina's eyes widened in surprise. "You think I am beautiful?"

"I do," he replied, not sure why he had just admitted that so freely. He may care for Edwina, but he had no intention of pursuing her. He couldn't. His love for Arabella was still strong and he wouldn't betray her memory.

"No one has called me beautiful before," Edwina said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Well, you better start getting used to it because the marriage mart is not for the faint of heart," Miles teased.

Edwina smiled, and it was as if the day had gotten brighter because of it. "Thank you, Miles," she said with genuine gratitude in her voice.

"That is what any good friend is for," he responded. "Shall we return to breakfast?"

"No, I think I would like to stay here," Edwina replied.

Miles settled back into his seat, content to sit in the peaceful gardens with Edwina by his side. "If you have no objections, I believe I shall remain with you."

"I have none."

"Good, because I doubt Matilda would have let me leave anyway," Miles joked.

As he basked in the warm sun and the gentle breeze, Miles knew that he was in trouble. He had little doubt that Edwina's large dowry and connection would make her well received by the ton . But the mere thought of Edwina being pursued by anyone did not settle well with him.