Masquerade: Can a street-girl become a lady? by Joanna Taylor (aka JS Taylor)

Author:Joanna Taylor (aka JS Taylor) [Taylor (aka JS Taylor), Joanna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Devoted Books
Published: 2015-07-31T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 25

I expected Edward’s estate to be large. But I am not prepared for how very large it is. It takes us half an hour to travel from the beginning of the grounds to the enormous country hall. And according to Edward, the land rolls on for many miles further in every direction.

‘There we have a crop where there was nothing,’ he says proudly, as we pass a field of waving wheat. ‘And up ahead, I shall show you the new plough pattern that gives the farmers double yield.’

When he talks of his estate management there is a new energy to him that is infectious.

‘I have never met a man with such a passion for farming,’ I say, as he describes his plans to rotate crops to gain more nourishment from the earth.

‘I find it a miracle,’ he says. ‘To see the new things grow from nothing but dirt. I never tire of it.’

The carriage pulls to a halt and Edward looks out.

‘The ground is too rutted here to continue,’ he says. ‘We must go by foot. Do you mind?’

‘You forget I am not a lady,’ I grin at him, tugging off my shoes. ‘I was raised barefoot with sheep and cows.’

‘You will not wear the clogs Mrs Tomkinson gave you?’

‘I should rather not, unless you mind very much.’

‘I do not mind in the least,’ he says, opening the door and helping me down. He smiles at my bare feet and I pick up my skirts, taking in the wide expanse of fields before us.

‘We are trying this field out for cattle,’ explains Edward, pointing to the mire of hoof-prints that have churned up the track. ‘Though we have not had much success thus far,’ he admits.

He takes my hand and leads me onto the grassier part of the field. I gaze at the cows in the distance.

‘Is that where your cattle shelter?’ I ask, pointing to an old hay barn.

Edward nods.

‘Then that is why your livestock does not fare so well,’ I say.

He looks at me with interest.

‘A barn like that is too damp for cows,’ I explain. ‘You should have a three-sided shelter, to let the air in.’

I glance at the lush ground beneath us. ‘Your pasture is good,’ I observe. ‘Fix the barn and your herd should do very well.’

Edward is looking at me strangely.

‘What?’ I am suddenly self-conscious.

‘It does not signify,’ he says, with an enigmatic smile. ‘Only, you are the most interesting girl I have had on my land.’

‘I should prefer to be the most beautiful,’ I say. ‘But I suppose interesting will have to do.’

Edward closes my hand in his and walks me towards the barn. ‘I have arranged to sign the papers here,’ he explains. ‘Vanderbilt found some arcane law forcing me to sign in situ.’ He sounds admiring, rather than bitter.

We approach the barn and I instantly recognise the sound of a cow in labour.

‘You are about to add another to your herd,’ I say, pleased. I always liked the arrival of a calf.

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