“I understand the gamesman has brought some venison,” she said. “You do like venison?”
“I’m not particular.”
“Good. Well, there is venison tonight.”
“I’m not sure I will be able to attend. The doctor is coming for supper.”
“Oh, right. The more the merrier. Have you given any thought to moving downstairs?”
“What difference does it make?”
“Well, I’m assuming as you gain strength, you can do more and more.”
“Like sit in the salon?” he said with a snort.
“Like go outside on the veranda. Fresh air and sun are better than doctors, my grandmother always said.”
Octavia wondered if he was struck a little with melancholia. It would hardly be surprising with such a debilitating injury.
“I think if you were to move, it might be best that they carry you down, bed and all.”
“There’s a bolster for my pride,” he said with a smile.
“It’s not the time for pride. This is something one must simply endure, and try to get through it as best as possible.”
“What have you ever had to endure?”
“That is an unfair question,” she stated. People had a habit of looking at her and assuming her life was a bed of roses. Well, rose beds came with their compliment of thorns.
“I’m sorry,” he conceded, which was something she hadn’t expected him to say. “I’m touchy at the moment. Getting here from the bed was onerous. I don’t like being like this.”
“I don’t think anyone would like it.”
“On second thought, I could use a whiskey.”
“Absolutely not. You’ll have to try to beseech my cousin for such vices, but I will not budge, and right now, he’s not here. I think I saw some rosehip tea down in the pantry. It would do you wonders.”
“Have you been prowling my pantry?”
“Just making sure things aren’t falling apart. When was the last time you had a look in your larder?”
“I can resoundingly say never.”
“You don’t say. But I will inform you that it’s not sufficiently stocked for you to spend the winter here. These country houses are marvelous in the summer and spring for being self-sufficient. Everything grows in marvelous quantities, but winter must be prepared for, and you haven’t prepared.”
“I’m sure we can purchase whatever we need.”
“Well, I don’t think you should strip the nearby village of their supplies. You will need to send a cart to the nearest town. You’ll need at least four sacks of flour, a hefty jar of baking soda, a good ten pounds of butter, and that will probably not see you through winter. Yeast too, of course. Salt, sugar, jams.”
“I’m not a fan of jams.”
“No, but you are also not the only person here, and people need their summer fruits. Tea, coffee.”
“Fine, you have made your point.”
“I can prepare a list for you. And you might want to send word to the nearby farmers that you haven’t prepared for winter. They might be able to supplement you, but it would be wise to give them notice.”
“I’m not feeding an army.”
“In a way, you are. Luckily, as this house is so thinly managed, it is a very small army.”
“Thank you for your analysis of my domestic management skills.”
“If it makes you feel better, they are no better than my brothers’,” she said with a smile. “More distressingly, I’m sure, your stocks of tipple will eventually run out.”
“Can’t have that. What will I do here during the long, grueling winter?”
“It might actually be better to take yourself off to London when you’re well enough to travel.”
“I’m sure that won’t be for quite a while.”
“No, I dare say you’re right.” In fact, it was quite worrying him being here on his own all winter. Not that she distressed over the fact, but as one human being to another, there was some basic concern that he be able to take care of himself. “As I said, you should come downstairs and enjoy the company while you have some. If not for yourself, I don’t think your man can handle the stairs for so much longer. Why are you still employing him?”
“What am I supposed to do?” Finn asked. “Mr. Fuller doesn’t have any clue what to do with himself if he doesn’t care for the family. I have suggested retirement, but he won’t hear of it. My intention was that he largely retire here while I went to London, but it didn’t work out that way. Now I lean on him more than ever.”
Octavia saw his point now. “The work is too much for him in caring for you.”
“I realize. I just find it difficult to demote him, which I would if I brought someone younger in to do most of the tasks that he sees as his.”
“I take it he has no family.”
“None that he wants to see.” It was quite a dilemma. Servants were tricky things. They weren’t family, but in a sense they were, and one owed them loyalty after all the loyalty they had shown. She could well imagine it would break Mr. Fuller’s heart to have to give up his post after a lifetime. Many servants were even born onto the estates they worked on. How could one say they had no right to the place where they lived and worked? It was a tricky thing, and she didn’t have an answer. She understood Fortescue’s reticence to act. Shifting himself to London had been a way of working around it, but that wasn’t an option right now.
“Anyway, I’m sure Melville will be quite happy to organize your wine cellar for you. He is quite an expert.”
Fortescue smiled, and it might have been
