Bassington: Confirmed Bachelors Book 2 by Jenny Hambly

Author:Jenny Hambly [Hambly, Jenny]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2021-05-06T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

The first two names on Charles’ list bore no fruit. The third was Rachel Blacky. As they rode into the farmyard, Mrs Blacky came out of the house and stood on her freshly scrubbed front step, a pristine apron tied around her plump waist and a rolling pin lightly dusted with flour clutched in one hand. The array of fine wrinkles on her face deepened as she smiled.

“Captain Bassington! We heard that you were mortal ill!”

“As is the nature of rumours, it was something of an exaggeration, as you see.”

“That’s as maybe, but you’re a great deal thinner than when last I saw you.” She gave Lord Carteret an assessing glance. “Mr Blacky will be in for his break in a moment, if you’d like to come in and wait for him. I’m about to put some biscuits in the oven and they’ll be ready in no time. You’re both welcome to some if your friend don’t mind simple fare.”

“Thank you, Mrs Blacky,” Lord Carteret said, dismounting. “The captain speaks very highly of your biscuits.”

“Captain Bassington!”

They turned and saw a ruddy-faced gentleman hurrying across the yard.

“I’m happy to see you up and about. I expect you’ve come to eat me out of house and home.”

Charles grinned. “I will admit that I was hoping your good wife had been baking, but I also wished to show Lord Carteret some of the farms and to enquire if there is anything that you require of my father.”

Mr Blacky’s thick eyebrows shot up. “He’s putting you to work, is he? I’d have thought you were due a rest.”

“I’ve had quite enough of resting,” Charles said.

“Aye, you never could sit still. You and Lord Carteret are most welcome to have a look around. Bring your horses into the barn while Mrs Blacky gets the biscuits ready. Your visit is most timely, for now Rachel’s had her first child, she and Jonas have moved into the cottage down by the river, but it needs a few repairs.”

“She finally agreed to marry Jonas Fielding then?”

“Aye, she put him out of his misery just over a year ago. It’s a weight off my mind as the good Lord hasn’t seen fit to give me a son of my own and my family has run this farm for three generations. I think she always meant to have him, but it was common knowledge that he had been mooning over Ellie Crake only she would have none of him. Not long after she went off, he started making sheep’s eyes at Rachel, but she was that upset that Ellie had disappeared without a word to her that she wasn’t interested, besides, no girl likes to think of herself as second best. He’s proved his constancy, however. Never looked at another girl for the four years it took him to wear her down.”

Charles felt a stab of disappointment. It seemed that Rachel was unlikely to prove a likely line of enquiry.

“Will we find Rachel at the cottage?” he said.

“No, she’ll

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