Chapter 14

On her first morning at Wood End, Tamsin woke feeling slightly overwhelmed, but also excited for what was to come. She had to admit she was relieved to have Sophia here to guide her. As someone who'd been in exactly Tamsin's place, she was uniquely and expertly equipped to provide assistance. However, she had been more prepared, having been raised in the peerage as her father was a viscount, and her brother currently held the title. Tamsin had learned all that at a very informative dinner last night.

Isaac had been quiet, but Tamsin didn't know if that was due to Sophia's near-constant talking—which was lively and entertaining—or some other reason. It was possible he was tired, for Tamsin had been after their travels. They'd retired early, each to their separate rooms.

She and Sophia had planned to meet in the late morning in a sitting room on the ground floor. Tucked behind the staircase hall, it was small, but elegantly furnished in pale greens and yellows. The writing desk, from France from the last century, was employed with a myriad of intriguing compartments. The seating area arranged near the hearth with three chairs and a cozy settee was most inviting. However, the best feature was the wide window that looked out to a line of aspen trees, whose leaves were just beginning to change color.

"Tamsin?" Sophia spoke from the doorway.

Tamsin had given her leave to use her given name last night. They were family, after all, and in truth, Tamsin was still struggling to answer to "my lady" or "Lady Droxford."

Tamsin pivoted to face Isaac's aunt. "Come in. I'm just admiring the view."

Sophia moved into the room. Dressed in a smart dove-gray day dress trimmed with dark rose, she appeared the epitome of a stylish lady of Society. She reminded Tamsin somewhat of Min, both ladies who understood fashion. Tamsin looked forward to them advising her on her London wardrobe when the time came, for she'd no idea where to begin. "It's a splendid perspective," she said. "You see why I chose this as my personal sitting room."

"I plan to do the same," Tamsin said.

Sophia grinned. "This pleases me so much. Shall we sit?" She gestured to the seating area.

Tamsin waited for the other woman to sit, noting that she chose the most worn, though still in fine condition, chair that was near the hearth. It had seemed to Tamsin that it was likely Sophia's favorite. Tamsin perched on the settee.

"I hope you passed a pleasant night," Aunt Sophia said. "If there is anything that does not meet with your approval, you must let Blunt—and me, in the absence of Mrs. Jennings—know and we'll direct its correction."

"It was most pleasant, thank you."

"I understand you decided to take the former lady's chamber," Sophia noted. "I did suggest to Droxford that you might prefer that to the larger baron's room."

Tamsin was a little surprised Sophia already knew that, but she supposed information passed quickly and efficiently in a household such as this. It was likely Tamsin's new maid had shared that with Sophia just as she would have with Mrs. Jennings had she been here. "It seemed more appropriate. I was quite comfortable." Indeed, Tamsin had slept soundly.

"It is, however, a bit disordered." Sophia wrinkled her nose briefly. "Did you know that my husband and I used the chamber for dressing and bathing?" At Tamsin's nod, she went on. "Droxford has done his best to convert it back to a bedchamber, but I fear there is more to be done to make it worthy of the lady of the house." She gave Tamsin a commiserative smile as if they were sharing some inside information between the two of them. Except Tamsin didn't know what she meant by "worthy."

"I did notice that the furnishings were mismatched. However, they are all very comfortable and useful," Tamsin said. "Isaac said he chose them for those reasons."

"Does that mean you don't wish to change anything?" Sophia asked tentatively.

Tamsin thought of the chair that didn't match the bedclothes. "Perhaps a small thing or two, if Isaac doesn't mind." Since he'd told her she should feel free to make changes, it would likely be fine.

Sophia waved her hand with a light laugh. "I doubt he would even notice. By all accounts, he's far too focused on managing the estate to care about such changes to the house. Your husband didn't grow up thinking he would become a baron, and he knew nothing about running an estate, let alone Wood End in particular. He's completely thrown himself into his role and lived up to it quite spectacularly. I know my husband would be proud." Her lips curved into a brief, sad smile, and she looked out the window toward the aspens.

Tamsin felt the air of melancholy that had moved over Sophia. "Is it difficult for you?"

Moving her gaze back to Tamsin, Sophia asked, "Because this used to be my home?"

"More that your husband and son aren't here." Tamsin almost wished she hadn't brought it up. To lose so much was incredibly tragic.

"Yes, that." Sophia looked down at her lap. "It is somewhat difficult. I didn't expect to lose either of them, of course. Sometimes, I think they are just gone somewhere together, and they'll be home soon." She lifted her gaze to Tamsin's, blinking away the tears that had gathered. "But it makes me so glad to see Isaac—Droxford, I mean—here and doing so well for the estate and for himself. He had such a sad childhood." She sniffed, wiping her fingertips beneath her eyes. "I shouldn't speak of him like that. You'll think I'm a busybody."

"There is no chance of that happening," Tamsin said firmly. "I am acquainted with at least one busybody, and you are nothing like her." Unlike before, when she'd just mindlessly mentioned past tragedies, she considered what she ought to reveal to Aunt Sophia. In the end, she had so much curiosity about her husband, she decided to just say what she wanted. "Isaac and I had a rather rushed courtship. There are a great many things I don't know about him."

"Well, I'm pleased to see my nephew has wed. I wasn't sure he would, but I prayed he might find someone who would provoke him to make that choice." Sophia leaned forward slightly. "I know we've only just met, but I can see you possess a charm and lightheartedness that will be a boon to him. You are precisely the kind of wife he needed."

Tamsin warmed at Aunt Sophia's words. She of course couldn't know that Isaac wasn't "provoked" for the reasons she believed, but Tamsin wasn't going to inform her otherwise. And Tamsin wanted to believe what Sophia said about being the kind of wife Isaac needed.

"You are very kind to say such things," Tamsin said. "I can also tell you are lovely and generous. For you to come from Kent and help us—help me—during this time of transition is incredibly charitable." Especially if being here dredged up sadness for her.

"It is my absolute pleasure. Honestly, seeing the two of you reminds me of when my husband and I wed. We'd met during the Season, and we also had a somewhat hasty courtship. I don't know that we fell in love immediately, but we were quite smitten. Even so, it was an adjustment, though I don't mind telling you we decided we didn't wish to sleep separately after only a week together." She gave Tamsin a sly smile.

But Tamsin wasn't entirely sure what the woman was trying to communicate, so she merely smiled in return. She also didn't know what to say in response. Instead, she gently diverted the conversation. "How would I go about making a few changes to my bedchamber? Perhaps I would like a chair that matched the bed. I could look through the other bedchambers?" She hadn't yet toured the first floor.

"Certainly, though they haven't been cleaned or aired out. Since the baron doesn't have guests, the rooms are not in use. I think only my chamber has been slept in since my husband died. I moved there when my nephew took up residence, and I've used it a few times since, when I've come to visit."

"I didn't realize you visited regularly. That's very nice." Tamsin was glad to know that Isaac had family who cared about him.

"I intrude upon him at least once each year when I know he will be in residence." Her gaze twinkled with mischief. "Mrs. Jennings sends me letters advising me of his plans."

"He doesn't mind that you come?"

"Not at all. I don't show up without asking; I write first and ask. He always says yes." Her face creased with concern. "I do think he's almost starved for family. Growing up, his father kept him isolated. We rarely saw him. Honestly, it would have been better for Droxford to have grown up with us here at Wood End."

Another thing they shared in common, Tamsin thought. Both of them might have been better off with other relatives instead of their fathers.

"We should probably get to work," Tamsin said. "I'm sure we've a great amount to cover."

Sophia nodded. "Indeed we do. I've just learned that there will be a new tenant, which means the vacant cottage will need to be refurbished. We'll tour it soon and make a list of all that needs to be done."

"That is my responsibility?" Tamsin hadn't realized all the things she would need to do as lady of the manor, but why would she?

"I find it's best for the new tenants if a woman has a hand in things," Sophia said with a grin.

That made sense to Tamsin. "I confess I am a little intimidated, but I'm also quite excited."

"You remind me of myself," Sophia said with a hint of pride. "Shall we start with the menus?"

After spending a great deal of time with Sophia, Tamsin and she had taken lunch together. As Sophia departed to take a short respite in her chamber, Tamsin decided to find her husband. She recalled the location of his study from last night's tour. It sat adjacent to the magnificent library, in a quiet corner of the ground floor.

On her way there, she encountered the butler.

"Good afternoon, my lady. If you are on your way to see his lordship, I'm afraid he is not in his study."

Tamsin was surprised at how disappointed that made her. But why should his absence from the study stop her from finding him? "Do you know where I can find him?"

"I do, in fact. He is with his bees."

Was he? She'd mentioned wanting to go with him, but he hadn't bothered to invite her? "Where would that be?"

"They're kept past the formal garden, just to the west at the base of a knoll in a small meadow."

That sounded easy enough to find.

"Shall I send someone for your hat and gloves?" Blunt offered.

Tamsin wanted to say no, that she could run and get them, but she knew that the retainers at Wood End were eager to help and please. She smiled instead and thanked him.

A short while later, adorned with a bonnet and gloves, Tamsin stepped out into the early-autumn day, though it still felt a bit like summer. The blue sky was dotted with white clouds, and the breeze was pleasant.

Making her way through the garden, Tamsin stopped here and there to smell the late-blooming flowers. She came upon the knoll and looked down to see a cluster of wooden structures. Isaac stood talking with a boy, but as Tamsin started her descent toward the meadow, the boy departed, moving in the opposite direction from Tamsin.

As she neared the bottom, Isaac turned toward her. She couldn't see his features at this distance, but he met her as she walked to him.

"These are your bees?" she asked, surveying the odd-looking box structures. "Where are their hives?"

"In the boxes." He gestured to one of them. "Do you want to see?"

"Is it safe?" she asked. "I was stung by a bee once when I was a child, and it was very painful."

"I've been stung many times, and it's still painful, but not horribly so. Mrs. Corwin has perfected an effective remedy."

"In addition to creating a magnificent syllabub?" Tamsin had enjoyed last night's dessert very much. "It's no wonder you kept her on along with everyone else." She looked at the box and saw a few bees buzzing around it. "Why do you come here if you are stung repeatedly?"

"I'm hardly ever stung anymore," he said. "When I first took over this endeavor a couple of years ago, I didn't know what I was doing."

"Why did you take over tending the bees?" Tamsin asked. "Wasn't there someone already doing that?"

"Yes, but I wanted to change the way we did things, and he was ready to retire anyway. He is one of the tenants, and his eldest son recently took over his lease."

"What did you change?"

Isaac moved slowly toward one of the boxes, and she followed along. "The way the honey is harvested. Bees are usually kept in skeps, which are large baskets with a hole in the top. However, there is no way to get the honeycomb out without killing the bees in order to extract the honey they've made."

Tamsin stared at him in horror. "They work hard to make all that honey, and they're killed?"

"You see why I wanted to change things. I determined there had to be a way to harvest the honey without killing all the poor bees, especially, as you pointed out, after they'd labored so long."

"Not to mention, we steal the fruits of their labor." Tamsin shook her head. "I had no idea."

"I began to research alternate ways to keep bees and harvest their honey without mass murder. The most recent development was made by a gentleman in Russia. These boxes have drawers, which we can pull out to remove the honeycomb without disturbing them. Let me show you."

He approached the nearest box and gently tugged the uppermost drawer. "You can come closer. They won't sting you."

Tamsin took small steps until she could just see the interior. Dozens of bees worked amid the bright honeycomb. They did not seem bothered by Isaac opening their home.

"What do they do when you remove the honeycomb?"

"We do it in the evening when they are tired from their day's exertions. They seem calmer, so that's what we've done. We've only done it once, to be honest. This is the first year we're using these boxes instead of the skeps, and we successfully removed a small piece of honeycomb a couple of months ago. Last year when we had skeps, I tried to remove the honey without killing the bees. That was when I sustained most of my stings," he finished wryly.

"I am sorry that happened, but I can't blame them for being angry. Except, they should have been grateful, I suppose, since you didn't kill them as had been previously done." She looked at him. "Do you suppose that is why they don't sting you now? They know you've made improvements and ensured their safety?"

He smiled—not smirked—and Tamsin thought she might melt into the ground. Did he know he was doing that?

"I don't know if they realize that I don't want to kill them, but that is a nice sentiment. I am not surprised you would think of it."

"And I am not surprised that you would go to such lengths to save the bees."

His features sobered, his gaze growing serious as he looked past her. It was as if he'd been carried away somewhere. But only for a moment. He blinked, then carefully closed the drawer.

"My mother used to save animals," he said softly. "It's one of the only things I know about her. Before my grandparents—her parents—passed on, I would visit them in Taunton. They had a dog that she'd saved as a puppy after finding him alone in a hedgerow. She also saved squirrels and kittens and, I believe, a goose."

Tamsin giggled. "I can't imagine saving a goose was easy."

The smile reappeared on his mouth. She fixed on his lips, wondering how they would feel against hers. "I can't either."

Blinking, Tamsin pushed thoughts of kissing from her mind and instead dwelled on his smile. "That's twice you've smiled out here. You never smile. Well, not never, but hardly ever. I'm not sure I've seen anything but your smirk."

"That's probably true. I meant to smile at our wedding ceremony. I'm sorry I didn't."

His words warmed her—he did care. Perhaps this was moving past being just a marriage in name only. The idea filled her with a delightful heat.

"I've just spent time with Sophia," Tamsin said.

"Yes, that was why I didn't invite you to join me. I didn't wish to interrupt." Again, his thoughtfulness made her chest swell. "How did that go?" he asked, his gaze fixed on her with genuine interest.

"If I'm to be honest, it was overwhelming. There is much for me to learn, but I am up to the task. The thing I am most daunted by is getting to know all the tenants, though I am also most looking forward to that."

His gaze moved from hers, shooting out over the meadow. "I'll arrange for Seales to take you on a tour."

Tamsin had hoped he would change his mind and accompany her himself. She couldn't help thinking he was avoiding her. But in truth, he was just busy.

"I'm back, my lord."

Tamsin turned her head toward the voice and saw the boy had returned.

Isaac gestured to Tamsin. "Oliver, this is Lady Droxford."

The boy, who looked to be around twelve, bowed awkwardly. Tamsin smiled at his effort. "I'm pleased to meet you, Oliver."

Isaac closed the drawer on the beehive. "Oliver is learning about how to care for bees. He'll be helping me harvest the honeycomb soon."

"What a brave lad you are," Tamsin said. "I don't think I could do that."

"They're fascinating creatures," Oliver said earnestly. "I like all sorts of insects."

"Then this is the perfect job for you." She could see they needed to get back to work and didn't wish to keep them. "I'll be on my way." She looked toward Isaac, whose eyes seemed to smolder as they had when they'd first become acquainted in Weston. From when their attraction had sparked. That gave her a sense of hope.

Walking back toward the knoll, Tamsin decided to take a different path and enjoy the fine day. After nearly ten minutes, she came upon a charming cottage with a thatched roof. She saw a couple on the front porch. They stood close to one another, their heads bent. The man brushed a strand of hair from the woman's forehead and caressed her cheek. Then he bent his head and kissed her. It wasn't brief, nor was it terribly long. She clasped his forearms as he cupped her head, their heads angling slightly during the kiss.

When the man stepped back, Tamsin worried she'd be caught spying. Not that she was spying. She'd just been unable to turn from their heartwarming display. It was obvious these people loved each other very much. Seeing them together made Tamsin's heart twist. It also made her realize love like that wasn't just a fairy tale. She wanted that closeness with someone. With Isaac, hopefully.

"Good afternoon!" the man called, and Tamsin realized it was too late to continue on her way. Still, perhaps she could act as though she hadn't seen anything.

"Good afternoon," Tamsin responded with a smile and a wave.

The man approached her, and the woman came off the porch. Tamsin saw then that she was heavy with child.

"I'm Paul Bowman," the man said when he stopped near to Tamsin. "And that is my wife, Laura."

"I'm so pleased to make your acquaintance," Tamsin said. "I'm Tamsin—" She blushed. Her new name and title would take some getting used to. "I'm Lady Droxford."

He smiled broadly. "We'd heard his lordship had gone to Cornwall to get married." He pivoted toward his wife. "Laura, this is the new Lady Droxford." Looking back to Tamsin he said, "You can go up to the cottage, if you like. There's just the two of us here, and I'm off to fetch a few things from the village."

"Thank you, I will."

Mr. Bowman inclined his head, then waved at his wife before departing.

Tamsin walked up the path to the cottage where Mrs. Bowman had returned to the porch. "I hope I'm not intruding."

"Not at all. I'm honored to meet the new lady. Would you like to come inside?" She asked almost bashfully, her cheeks coloring to a faint pink and her gaze indirect. "I don't wish to interrupt you if you're on an errand."

"You aren't interrupting me at all. I only arrived yesterday and was just taking a walk. I'd be delighted to come inside for a short while, if it doesn't trouble you." Tamsin had no wish to be a burden on this young woman, particularly in her current state.

With dark red-brown hair, warm brown eyes, a button-like nose, and a collection of freckles across her nose and the upper part of her cheeks, Mrs. Bowman appeared to be around the same age as Tamsin or close to it. She held the door open for Tamsin to come inside.

The cottage interior was a little dim as the windows were not particularly large, but it was well appointed. A parlor sat to the right of the entrance hall, and to the left a dining room, with a timbered opening to a kitchen.

"Let us sit for a few minutes," Mrs. Bowman said, resting her hand along the swell of her belly. "I am getting close to my time, and I find I need to put my feet up frequently." She sat in a chair near the hearth and set her feet up on a low footstool.

Tamsin sat on a chair nearby. "Is this your first child?"

Mrs. Bowman nodded. She stroked her belly with a sheepish smile. "I'm more than a bit nervous, I'll admit."

"I would be too." Tamsin had no experience with babies or mothers about to have them.

"I'm so glad you happened by," Mrs. Bowman said shyly. "I don't meet many girls my age." She laughed softly. "Since we are married, I suppose we are no longer girls."

Tamsin laughed with her. "I suppose we aren't." She looked about the cozy cottage and recalled what Mr. Bowman had said. "You have no one to help you here? Do you have family who will come when the babe arrives?"

Mrs. Bowman shook her head. "I have four brothers, two of whom are married, but their wives are busy with babies of their own. My mother passed away a few years ago now. I wish she were here to help me." Sad lines fanned from her eyes.

Tamsin's heart ached. "I understand how you must feel. I lost my mother a long time ago. But I don't have any siblings at all."

"Consider yourself lucky. A house full of men is challenging. You are the odd one out, and they simply don't know what to make of you. In order to marry me off, my father took me to a matchmaking festival. That's where I met my husband a year ago last May."

"How extraordinary. I'd no idea such a thing existed."

"For hundreds of years, apparently, at least in the town of Marrywell."

Tamsin laughed. "What a fitting name. You certainly married well, or seem to have."

"Paul and I are very happy. Oh!" Mrs. Bowman stroked her belly and readjusted her weight in the chair.

"Are you all right, Mrs. Bowman?" Tamsin started to rise, to fetch…someone. But who?

"I'm fine." Mrs. Bowman gestured with her free hand for Tamsin to sit. "Just the baby testing out his legs. He's very active this time of day. And please, call me Laura. If you like," she added hastily.

"Only if you will call me Tamsin."

Laura blanched. "I couldn't, my lady. That wouldn't be right."

"I insist. I'm not yet comfortable being Lady Droxford. Besides, you are my first friend here at Wood End." She leaned forward and whispered. "I needed one of those. Please call me Tamsin?"

"If you insist." Laura smiled.

Tamsin thought of how she could help. "I hope you won't think me presumptuous, but I would be happy to come and be with you when the baby comes. If you'd like."

Laura's chocolate-brown eyes rounded. "Would you, really? There is a midwife from the village who's to come and help, but I don't know her very well. She does seem nice."

"It would be my honor to come and assist you. Or at least hold your hand. I don't have the faintest idea what to do, but I'm sure the midwife can direct me." Tamsin frowned. "How will you send for me?" Since it was just Laura and her husband here, Tamsin wondered if she could reassign someone from the household at Wood End to come and help. She would speak to Sophia.

"When it's time, my husband will run to town to fetch the midwife." Laura's brow furrowed. "Perhaps he can find someone to fetch you."

"I'm beginning to think you need a maid to be here with you until you give birth and for a few weeks after, even."

"I wouldn't want to cause any disruption, my la—Tamsin."

"I promise you it would not. We have plenty of people. I'm sure I can find someone to help you for a spell. Unless you'd rather not be disrupted yourself?" Tamsin didn't want to cause any discomfort to her new friend. She realized that while Tamsin felt this woman to be her equal, their stations were vastly different. This was one aspect of her marriage she hadn't considered.

Laura looked down at her belly and gave it a pat. "We've met a very nice person today, my sweet." She transferred her gaze to Tamsin. "I don't know what to say, but I would be grateful, thank you."

"I am glad—and eager, if you couldn't tell—to help. We must support one another, especially if we don't have family."

Laura nodded. "I need to remember that. I always try not to be a nuisance."

"Perhaps when it's my time to have a baby, you'll come and sit with me." Tamsin hoped that might happen, but sitting here with Laura made her realize how much she really wanted it.

"It would be my honor," Laura said with a dewy smile. "Paul will be so pleased." Her eyes rounded briefly as she fixed them on Tamsin. "I just realized…did you see Paul and me outside before?" Her cheeks had gone pink again.

Tamsin considered lying, but had been so cheered by their closeness. "All I saw was a couple who obviously love each other very much."

"That is true," Laura said with a laugh.

"How did you know you loved him?" Tamsin asked. She was curious what it felt like. Would she even recognize if she began to love Isaac? "Did you fall in love at first sight at the matchmaking festival?"

"Not at all. He was trying to take another young lady into the maze, but she was too cold—the evening was chilly. In fact, it rained later. I was his second choice."

Tamsin laughed. "But you must have gone with him since you're married now."

"I most certainly did not," Laura said with a glint in her eye. "I told him I was otherwise engaged. Which was a lie. Later, when it started to rain, he found me in one of the follies seeking shelter. When he noticed I was shivering, he gave me his coat. It was shocking since he was standing there in his shirtsleeves, but he was not the only man who did it. He was, however, the only one—that I could see anyway—who serenaded me with a silly song about falling in love in the rain. I think he made it up."

Captivated by the story, Tamsin asked, "Does he still sing to you?"

"He has the most beautiful voice. He sings to the babe." She stroked her belly with a wistful smile.

"That's when you fell in love with him, then? After he sang to you?"

"Not quite, but we were on our way. That was the second night of the festival. By the final day, I knew I wanted to marry him, and I was fairly certain I loved him." She shrugged. "How was I to know? Especially without my mother to advise me. I wasn't going to ask my brother who, along with our father, had come with me. My brother met his wife at the same festival."

Tamsin was curious to know how love felt, but it seemed intrusive to ask more questions. "How wonderful that you found each other."

"We are very fortunate. I know sometimes people wed because they must or it's reasonable," Laura said. "I expected I would—I just wanted to find a man who would take care of me and with whom I could have a family. To have met and fallen in love with Paul is a wonderful gift for which I am thankful every day."

Yes, Tamsin wanted that. And right now, her husband preferred a marriage in name only. How could she convince him otherwise? Was she even brave enough to do that?

He'd asked her to tell him if she was upset by anything. While she wasn't upset, she wasn't…satisfied. All her life, she'd kept any feelings of discord at bay, choosing to pursue something positive instead. Because it was easier, she realized, to avoid the difficult choices, the challenging emotions. It was why she'd never taken issue with her father's isolation or asked to live with her grandmother or pressed for him to allow her to find a husband.

But if she did nothing now, she would be waiting for Isaac to decide her future. She understood that she couldn't force him to feel things he didn't, but she hoped he would at least try. Their marriage deserved that much.