Chapter 19
Hester peered over Cecil’s shoulder scanning the list of jobs that needed to be done. As a whole, the list was fairly comprehensive, but she had to question the priorities.
“I think you should consider checking the roof sooner rather than later.” Hester pointed at the word roof, bracing one hand on the back of Mr. Payton’s chair. “We’ve had fine weather so far, but I don’t like to think what might happen if it rains.”
Weariness pressed behind her eyes, but Hester felt that she should speak her mind. A soft warmth seemed to emanate from the man next to her, wrapping her like a comfortable blanket, and Hester sighed, soaking it in.
“Hm?” Cecil’s word made the young woman turn to look at him.
“I said the roof needs checked,” she paused meeting his eyes that glowed with an intense light.
As she watched, the man lifted his face, his lips brushing hers in a sweet kiss.
The room grew warm as Hester closed her eyes soaking in the essence of Cecil Payton.
“I’m so sorry,” Cecil shoved to his feet, all but knocking his chair over. “I didn’t mean to, I mean I didn’t expect.” Snatching the list from the table, he spun on his heel, fleeing from the room.
Hester stood, shocked at the feelings coursing through her. That tiny kiss, that brief brushing of the lips had felt like the sun breaking through the clouds. Taking a calming breath, she smoothed her skirts. They were both overly tired, that was all. Mr. Payton never would have kissed her if they weren’t exhausted.
Brushing the kiss away Hester headed for the stairs on wobbly knees. All she needed was a good night’s sleep and all would be right again. She would simply pretend the kiss had never occurred.
***
Cecil lay in his new bed in the largest room of the house. The place smelled of a strange mixture of polish, soap, and dust. The rooms had been hastily cleaned, but nooks, crannies, and hidden spaces all needed to be properly tended.
The bare windows of his room, looked out onto the yard like empty eyes, and he felt the same emptiness in his heart. He hadn’t meant to kiss Hester. Surely exhaustion and the closeness of the situation had prompted it. He would put it out of his mind. If he pretended that it had never happened, perhaps Miss Johnson would as well. There was too much to be done for him to lose her assistance now. He couldn’t manage the children, the new house, the correspondence with his cousin and setting up a working farm without her to care for the children. He didn’t dare frighten her away with unwanted advances.
Rolling over Cecil pressed his face into his pillow and sneezed. Mrs. August was right the feathers all needed to be washed. Perhaps tomorrow, once he and Hyke checked the roof and explored the basement, he would ride into town and order new ticking. It wasn’t going to be a pleasant job, wet feathers stunk like nothing else, but it had to be done. This was his home and he would see it restored to order.
Rolling over again, Cecil placed a hand beneath his head and studied the plastered roof above him by the light of the moon. Mr. Rally had gone all out in creating a beautiful home for the bride that never was.
Sleep slipped silently upon him and Cecil’s eyes grew heavy. He welcomed the respite of rest and drifted off with Hester’s beautiful eyes dancing in his mind’s eye.
A slow shiver ran through Cecil as he let his mind go and doubts of his ability to pull this whole thing off rushed through him. So many were depending on him. So much weighed upon his shoulders. He was nothing but a wanderer, a vagabond, but now he was the glue that held this little part of the world together. He hoped he was strong enough.
***
“Uncle Cecil! Uncle Cecil! Where are you?” Jonas’s voice snapped Cecil from a sound sleep.
“Jonas, what’s wrong?” Cecil sprang from his bed rushing to the door. “What’s going on?”
“I didn’t know where you were,” Jonas said innocently as he examined his uncle in nothing but his britches. “Everyone’s almost finished with breakfast.”
“Oh,” Cecil sighed with relief running his hands through his dark hair. “I’ll be right down.”
“Are you okay?” Jonas asked tipping his head to one side.
“I’m fine.” Cecil smiled at the boy to prove his point. “I guess I was just tired.”
“What are we going to do today?” Jonas asked following his uncle into the large room while he dressed.
“Hyke and I are going to check out the roof and the cellar,” Cecil said without thinking.
“Can I help?” The boy’s voice bubbled with excitement.
“No.” Cecil turned pinning the boy with his eyes. “It isn’t safe for you. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Uncle.” Jonas smiled, nodding his understood. “See you at breakfast,” the boy spun and raced back into the hall, filling his uncle with dread. “This place is boring,” the boy muttered as he left the room. “I didn’t even see a ghost last night.”
Cecil chuckled. He would have to keep an eye on the boy.
“Are you feeling well, Mr. Payton?” Mrs. August skipped any greeting and went right to the point, her dark eyes taking in the man’s unkempt appearance.
“I’m fine,” Cecil all but snapped. “I just over slept. I guess I’ve gotten soft living in the city all these months.”
“Perhaps a good breakfast will help.” The housekeeper turned back to the stove cracking eggs into a pan and toast into the rack.
“At least that’s one thing we have plenty of,” Hyke said. “Food. It would be nice to have our
