Wellchester Triplets Series: A Historical Regency Romance Box Set by Laura Locke

Author:Laura Locke [Locke, Laura]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-12-27T18:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Richard surveyed the ground he’d turned for his garden with a sense of immense pride. He wouldn’t be able to plant until spring, but in the meantime the soil would breathe. He found a plow behind the barn and hitched one of the horses, making the job much simpler than doing it manually. In his mind, he was already planning the rows: carrots, beets, potatoes, broccoli, peppers, beans, corn and tomatoes. He planned to find nice assortment of berry bushes to plant along the far side, spacing them so they would provide shade and a haven for bees. His plans included a set of bee keeping hives located far away from the house; he loved the taste of fresh honey.

He had already procured a new client who was willing to barter for enough food to get him through the winter. To his joy, this included a dairy cow and some chickens, for which he would build a house and pen. He’d also bartered for some ground corn and wheat in large bags; there was little he lacked, except a wife with which to share his good fortune.

“Hello, the house,” called a man’s voice as Richard emerged from the barn after having milked the cow. He carried a pail and waved with his free hand.

“To whom do I have the pleasure?” Richard called to him.

“Weatherly is the name. Surely Squire Barrington mentioned me?”

“Oh, yes, yes, he did, sir. Good to meet you, Mr. Weatherly. Richard Wellchester at your service,” Richard greeted him, transferring the pail to his left hand again to extend a handshake. “I expect you’ve come about the collection of rents?”

“Indeed, I have.”

“Won’t you come inside?” Richard invited him. “I’m afraid I don’t have much to offer in the way of seating, but I did build a rough table and bench last week. Come in and let me offer you a glass of cold water. Perhaps a cup of tea?”

“Tea would be marvelous, thank you, young Wellchester,” Mr. Weatherly nodded and removed his head as he ducked to enter the cottage. Inside he found everything to be neat and tidy, a fire burning on the hearth and a pot of something that smelled delicious simmering on the cooking hook over the fire. It was spartan, but serviceable and masculine in its efficiency. Wood was stacked on the hearth and Weatherly had noticed a healthy supply waited beneath the roof of a lean to at one end of the cottage. “I see you are well-prepared for winter,” he commented as Richard set a kettle over the fire for tea.

“Yes, sir, as well as I can be. I grew up many years doing without and don’t care to repeat those cold, hungry days again.” Richard pulled two earthen pottery mugs from the shelf over the fireplace mantle and then retrieved a canister that held the tea.

The men settled over their mugs and Richard politely waited for Weatherly to speak.

“I’ve brought with me the list of tenants and their rents. They all know you are coming, now that the harvest is in.

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