Courting the Vicar's Daughter by Sally Britton

Author:Sally Britton
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: 0
Published: 2019-03-26T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

The somewhat musty smell of sheep wool in the sunshine wasn’t particularly enjoyable, but as Harry’s new steward had informed him they could use more livestock on the property, he stood outside a large pen full of the bleating animals. He wasn’t making the purchases himself, of course, but observed how the process went. After several ewes and a ram had been deemed good enough for his flock by an elderly shepherd, Harry paid the bill. He shook hands with the old man who had possibly more fingers than teeth.

“Thank you, Moore. I appreciate your expertise in this matter.”

“Not at all, Mr. Devon. I’ve been keeping sheep for your family for fifty-three years. I wouldn’t ever lead you astray.” He tipped his cap, then lifted the crook he’d carried with him. He called to his great-grandson, a boy of twelve, who hurried to offer his shoulder for the old man to lean on.

The old shepherd had been pensioned off by Harry’s father and lived with his grandson, the current man in charge of the sheep. Harry watched them go, thinking of Daisy’s opinion on whether those men were sheep-herders or shepherds.

Daisy. Would she be present today? As it was a day dedicated to the buying and selling of livestock more than entertainment, he tried to put his hopes of seeing her aside. He wandered between pens full of animals, not really paying attention to where he was going, except to avoid walking into other people.

He left the animals behind for a smaller field, cleared to showcase plows and the like.

“Devon,” a voice called, pulling his attention out of his thoughts. A tall blond man waved at Harry from beside a shining, low phaeton. “You are just the man to give me an opinion.” It was the Earl of Annesbury, and Harry’s cousin-in-law, if there was such a thing.

Harry picked up the pace to hurry to Lucas’s side and made the requisite bow. “Annesbury. Good to see you. How may I be of service?”

Lucas gestured to the phaeton behind him. “I am thinking of getting Phillip his own vehicle. Just for use at home, of course, not at school. He claims all my gigs are not dashing enough.”

As Harry wasn’t far from the age of wanting the latest in wheeled transportation, he could well understand Lucas’s stepson. “How old is he now? Nineteen?”

“Twenty, this summer.” Lucas sighed, but his eyes crinkled at the corners. “And determined to finish his formal education so he can run off and be a baron. He is a good lad, but I worry if I leave the choice up to him he will select something his mother will disapprove of and then we will both be in her ladyship’s black books.”

“We cannot have that.” Harry turned his attention to the phaeton, a low and light model of the variety, though he quickly realized it was not built with fashionable men in mind. “I believe this is a model considered suitable for ladies to drive. I am not certain the baron would appreciate that.

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