“I doubt you can,” sighed Jeremy.
“I sympathise, lad, I really do.” Giles unbent for a moment, and let out his own sigh, a breath blown from between pursed lips.
“We’ll do our best to support you, Giles, but it won’t be easy.” Evan added his quiet endorsement.
“Thank you, Evan. I have confidence we will be able to put it all together, given enough time. It’s the order of things that is a complication. Two new men and the transition of the Lady of Wolfbridge, which is always tricky, but we’ve managed before and we shall do so again. Of that I have no doubt.”
“Do you have another in mind? Is there another Wolfbridge out there somewhere?” Adalyn had to ask.
“Wolfbridge will continue, my Lady,” answered Giles noncommittally. “You need not worry.”
She nodded, understanding that once she wed, she was Mrs Daniel Fitzroy, and no longer the Lady of Wolfbridge Manor. There was pain at that thought, but it was offset by the warmth in Daniel’s eyes as he looked at her.
“I shall, of course, find us new gentlemen. Or at least one to start with. We will need an estate manager, though one as good as you, Daniel, may be hard to find.”
“I’m sure it will,” boasted Daniel with a chuckle.
“As to Trick,” Giles strolled over to him, and put his hands on his shoulders from behind. “I’ve an idea I’d like to propose.”
Trick, unused to Giles touching him at all, blinked and gulped. “Uh…should I be concerned?”
“I don’t think so,” said Giles, moving away. “You all know that Fivetrees is to be put on the market?”
Everyone nodded. This was a fairly recent development, but well-circulated around the area.
“I’m going to ask if you Trick, and your future wife, would accept the position of caretakers for that house until it is sold?”
Jane’s jaw dropped, and Trick was stunned into silence.
“Uhh…” He managed a sound, but no words.
“As you may know, I was formally appointed to be Judith Fairhurst’s guardian. The Fairhurst family has decided to wash their hands of both the estate and Miss Judith, considering neither to be worth their time, effort or money, given the scandalous manner of Fairhurst’s death and the low esteem in which they hold Miss Judith.” His eyes hardened. “I disagree with them on all counts, but they’ve left me free to handle these matters as I think best.”
He rested his gaze on Trick. “You have the talent to manage the Fairhurst stables, without question. But I also believe you have the ability to run the estate and keep it running. I’m not expecting miracles, but you—and Jane here—care for the land here a great deal more than Sir Amery ever did. And Fivetrees has plenty of land that needs tending. As of now, there have been no offers for the property, but that may change, so take that fact into account.”
Jane was pale. “I don’t…I can’t…Trick?” She looked at him.
“Me neither. I’m…having a difficult time absorbing all this, Giles.”
“Well, that’s where the situation stands. I have spoken to Miss Judith on this matter and she has agreed that it is a sensible course of action, to put people she trusts in charge of the property.”
“How is she, Giles? Is she well?” Adalyn leaned forward.
“She is, my Lady,” he smiled warmly. “I will have the honour of giving her hand in marriage to Sir Ragnor Withersby when I go up to London after your wedding.” He couldn’t help but laugh. “It seems that I am to be father of the bride to more than one young woman, and neither of them are related to me.”
The others laughed too, accepting the unique absurdity of the strange and diverse twists in the road of their lives.
“You’ll hold Fivetrees for Miss Judith, Trick,” added Giles. “She’ll be Lady Withersby by then, but once it sells, we’ll have to revisit your situation.”
Trick rose, walked over to Jane, and knelt by her chair. “What do you say, love? Shall we take up residence at Fivetrees and bring it back to life?”
“’Tis a large place, Trick. A fine home for the Quality—surely not the likes of us…”
“You’re every bit as entitled to a fine home as anyone, Jane.” Adalyn stood. “In fact, more entitled by virtue of your character than half the nobility I’ve run into. And I probably wouldn’t care much for the other half, either.” She nodded firmly to make her point.
“Very well then.” Jane let Trick pull her to her feet. “We accept, Mr Giles.”
The resounding cheer came from all throats, and for the rest of the morning, not a single bit of work got accomplished at Wolfbridge.
Chapter Three
The marriage of Trevallyn Jones and Jane Barnsley took place on a sunny but cold morning at the Church of St. Polycarp, not far from Wolfbridge Manor. Both bride and groom were happy to keep the event a private one, so only the families attended. It was a wonderfully simple ceremony, and both Jane and Trick smiled throughout.
Mrs Barnsley was heard to say that she’d always known Trick for a smart lad, and Lady Adalyn was observed wiping a tear away at the “I do’s”.
The following week, St. Polycarp’s was filled to bursting as everyone in the area gathered to witness the marriage of Lady Adalyn of Wolfbridge to Mr Daniel Fitzroy of Nordean Swale. This time around, the pews were crowded, not only with Barnsleys and the Wolfbridge residents but also the neighbours, villagers, farmers and others who had come to know her Ladyship, and especially Daniel. His years at Wolfbridge had gained him many friends, each of whom expressed both joy at his nuptials and sadness at his upcoming departure.
It was a time of great delight, gatherings, parties and celebrations, and coming right before Christmas, there seemed to be an
