The Frenchman's Widow by Eliza Lloyd

Author:Eliza Lloyd [Lloyd, Eliza]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: victorian, Victorian Romance, historical, Historical Romance, london, sexy romance
Publisher: Eliza Lloyd
Published: 2016-01-05T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

The land around Deal was a vast area good for sheep grazing and farming, but to the east there was a substantial port, wide beaches and a prosperous, historical city with a major military presence. There was also a fair amount of smuggling that occurred in and around Deal over the years. The city itself was still considered slightly dangerous and a bit gloomy.

But the Cliffs of Dover and the beautiful North Downs area brought Londoners in droves.

Catherine was buried in the peaceful gardens of the Whitecliff estate, surrounded by her family and the servants who had cared her over the years. Jack’s mother had not attended the funeral, confined to her bed these past few weeks.

Afterward Jack spent time with his sons, sailing one day and, on another, climbing along the rocks as the sea bashed into the land below them. Jack carried his oldest on his shoulders and his youngest in his arms. They picked apples in the orchard and rode in a hay wagon with Danny Farrell.

How he wished Charlie had been here to explain the complicated mysteries with such simple and pure understanding to two boys who still cried at night for their missing mother. But between Jack and the boys’ governess, they had acclimated to Catherine’s absence and the tears had lessened.

“We will be going back to London tomorrow,” Jack said.

“I figured it would be soon.” Danny stared straight ahead, guiding the horses along a well-worn path in the hay field.

“I think I’ll take the boys away for a while. Maybe Scotland. Maybe Italy.”

“You could stay here in Deal. No one is going to bother you and there ain’t no place more peaceful.”

“I suppose.”

He wanted to keep the boys busy and he needed to keep his mind occupied. Guilt and grief were debilitating emotions, but with each day that passed at his estate, with each day he spent enjoying the simplicity of farm life, his thoughts cleared.

“Papa?” His youngest turned on the seat and Jack brought him to his lap, where he settled against Jack’s chest. Benjamin was in the back of the wagon, flopping around in the deck of loose hay.

“I’ve heard rumors Lord Dayton plans to sell his estate in Great Mongeham,” Danny said. “The manor house is in disrepair, but the land butts against your northern border and it’s all prime, well worth what he is asking.”

“Yes, there have been rumors in London about gambling debts. It’s a substantial piece of land.”

“I know the timing isn’t perfect.”

“No. It’s about opportunity.”

“I can make inquiries with his land agent.”

“Can you manage the additional responsibilities? With that much land...”

“I’ve been thinking about that. A few new threshing machines, some additional steel plows. It will cost plenty of money, but the efficiencies would be substantial.”

“Can you promise our farm hands will not revolt?” The last several years had been hard for most landowners and dreadful for laborers. Consequently, he hadn’t been in a hurry to modernize. Maybe Danny could manage the process, understanding the estates and its workers.

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