‘Now that’s a grand sight to see – somebody working harder than myself.’ Reggie Ellwood leaned on the garden wall and grinned at Lucy, with her hair in disarray and dirt on her face and hands.
‘Oh, I didn’t hear you there. I’m busy weeding; this chickweed gets everywhere, and I’m sure someone comes and plants it back in place overnight. I don’t seem to get any nearer with it.’ Lucy raised her head, stood up and pushed back her long blonde hair, which was hanging loosely over her shoulders. She looked at Reggie, whose dark hair shone in the summer sun, and who looked quite handsome in his checked waistcoat and white shirt with rolled-up sleeves, she thought, as she walked over to him. It was a pity he was a little too forward with his views, else she might have been attracted to him. But she’d lost her heart to Adam, whether he knew it or not, and whether he cared or not, and she’d no time for Reggie.
‘Tha’s a mucky devil. You’ve more muck on your face than in the garden.’ Reggie laughed and looked at Lucy’s face, with its streaks of dirt on it.
She lifted her hands and wiped her face as she blushed and looked at Reggie. ‘I’ve been busy – a bit of muck doesn’t hurt you.’ She scowled. ‘Are you wanting Mr Brooksbank, because he’s not here; he’s up the moor, fencing. There’s Archie about somewhere. I think he’s finished cleaning the cowshed and now he’s in the stable.’ Lucy looked around her, hoping that Archie would hear their voices and come and rescue her from the gaze of the lad that she knew was sweet on her.
‘Aye, I came to see Mr Brooksbank, just to see how he’s done and to reassure him that I can buy half his lambs off him this autumn, now that I’m not paying as much for keeping a roof over my head. At least I know that they are well bred, and it would be good to have them back on my land. But that’s not the only reason I’m here. I’m not going to give up on asking you to walk out with me. I’ll not let you ignore me. I’ve got to admit you’ve taken my eye, and I mean to have you on my arm before this summer’s out, no matter what you think of me.’ Reggie looked up at Lucy as she leaned against the wall next to him and watched as she listened to what he said.
‘Aye, and I told you that I already have a fella and I’m not interested,’ Lucy answered back, but smiled at Reggie. He was a cheeky devil and she admired him for his persistence.
‘He’ll not be a match for me. I’d buy you flowers every week and show you off on my arm for everyone to see. Everybody would say, “What a bonny couple them two make.” And my home is secure now, so it’d be better than living down at the flay-pits.’ Reggie reached out for Lucy’s waist and squeezed it tightly over the wall top, before climbing over to join her.
‘You are a cocky one, Reggie Ellwood. First, you ask me to walk out with me, and then you have me wed and living with you.’ Lucy pushed him away gently.
‘Who said owt about getting wed? I only said living with me, and we could live over the brush.’ Reggie grinned and looked into her eyes. Both of them were oblivious to Adam walking up behind them, sweating with the heat of the sun, after pounding wooden posts and rails into the peat bog on the moor.
‘Bloody hell, Lucy! I ask you to get the house ready for Ivy’s arrival and here you are, flirting as usual, instead of working.’ Adam came and stood next to them by the wall. He was not only annoyed that Lucy had not started on the house, but also that Reggie Ellwood was chancing his luck yet again with his maid. He felt a strange pang of jealousy as he caught her gazing at him.
‘No, now don’t get cross with Lucy. She was busy gardening up to ten minutes ago. It was my fault, I distracted her. I made fun of her mucky face while waiting for you.’ Reggie saw the anger on Adam’s face and rose to defend Lucy.
Adam looked at the newly weeded garden and at the muck on Lucy’s face and wished he’d not been so quick to judge. ‘Aye, well, that still leaves the house being neglected. I have got a visitor coming to stay next week and I want all just right for her,’ Adam moaned.
‘Her – a woman? So, you’ve got a woman in your life after all. I was beginning to think you were going to be living here on your own.’ Reggie grinned. ‘I’ve asked Lucy here to walk out with me, but she’s still insisting on saying no. Perhaps you could convince her differently, seeing as you obviously have charms of your own?’ he said and looked at both Adam and Lucy, as she bowed her head.
‘Actually, Reggie, I’ve changed my mind. I will walk out with you this Sunday, if you are available. Perhaps we could have a walk around Haworth and have tea in that nice little tea-shop halfway up the cobbled high street. That is, if you can afford it?’ Lucy lifted her head and looked at Reggie.
‘Bloody hell! I didn’t expect that. Aye, I’ll pick you up, and tea in Haworth it will be.’ Reggie smiled
