Challenging the Brooding Earl by Lucy Ashford

Author:Lucy Ashford
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2022-09-07T13:39:35+00:00

* * *

Then, an hour later, when Gabe was back up his ladder mending some guttering and Merryn was tending the garden, she heard the sound of a rider coming swiftly their way.

The Earl? For one wild moment Merryn thought, I cannot let him see me like this. I am in a horrid old gown. My hair is wild and I have splashes of mud on my cheeks...

It wasn’t the Earl, though. It was Felix, on a fine bay mare. Merryn blinked as he dismounted, because he was dressed not like a young gentleman of fashion, but like a farmer. Yes, a farmer, in a serge jacket, corduroy breeches and stout boots. Gabe, who’d come to her side, suppressed a snort of amusement.

‘Miss Hythe!’ Felix swung himself out of the saddle. ‘I thought I’d ride over to see how you’re getting on.’

‘We are fine, thank you,’ she answered politely. She was aware of Liam, who’d drawn close to her, gazing at Felix’s attire with wide eyes.

Felix was pointing to the large machine on rollers and saying, ‘What do you think of that, Miss Hythe?’

‘I find it difficult to pass judgement,’ she answered, ‘since I have no idea what it is.’

‘It’s a threshing machine!’ he announced triumphantly. ‘In fact, it’s absolutely the latest thing, invented by a Scottish fellow called Meikle. You see, I happen to have become extremely interested in agriculture. Dom keeps telling me I need to enter a profession like the army or the church, but I’ve realised that farming is the way to make our country more prosperous. There’ll be no need for revolutions, like that ghastly French business, if everyone’s well fed!’

Merryn said, a little faintly, ‘I see. And when exactly did you take up this interest in agriculture?’

‘About two weeks ago, I’d say,’ murmured Gabe at her side.

Thankfully Felix didn’t hear because he was still gazing at the machine. ‘So,’ he was saying, ‘all you have to do with this is simply turn the handle and the blades inside separate the wheat from the chaff. Much better than using old-fashioned flails or whatever. Don’t you think it’s a wonderful idea?’

‘It impresses me very much,’ Merryn replied pleasantly. ‘But when it arrived, neither Gabe nor I had any idea what to do with it.’

‘Then allow me to give you a demonstration.’ He looked round. ‘Have you a sheaf of wheat handy?’

Merryn heard Gabe stifle a chuckle. She said, ‘I’m afraid not. Actually, I believe wheat isn’t harvested until the summer.’

Felix looked taken aback, but Gabe, recovering, said, ‘We could perhaps try it with a bundle of straw?’

‘Capital idea.’ Felix nodded.

So Gabe fetched some straw from one of the barns, Felix tipped it into the funnel on top of the machine and he began to turn the big handle. Merryn watched as chopped-up straw began to gather in the open cavity near the base.

Felix stood back with his hands on his hips, looking extremely pleased with himself. ‘If you need anything else, just let me know, won’t you, Miss Hythe? And a word of advice: don’t take any notice of my brother.

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