A Second Spring Read Free

circumstances,” the baronet was saying soberly, “you will excuse my belated expression of my condolences on your late loss. I greatly regret that I never knew Sir Jeremy.”
    “We miss him.” Catriona blinked away the mist that suddenly obscured her vision. “How foolish it is to let family ties lapse. I know your relationship to my husband, but little else. You have been in Canada, I collect?”
    “For a year or two. Before that, we were for some time in India.”
    “You had no home in England?” Letty asked. Catriona was pleased by her interest in his history.
    “My father was a doctor, Mrs Rosebay, and while he did not leave me penniless, he owned neither house nor land. I had always longed to see the world, so I joined the Navy when I left school.”
    Letty glanced at Mr Talgarth. “And your cousin?”
    “My mother’s nephew. Harry’s parents died when he was a small child, and my parents brought him up. He happened to leave school just when I was feeling the tedium of blockading France’s Channel ports, so I left the Navy and we have been adventuring together. China, India, Canada, South America, even to Russia. You might call us the proverbial rolling stones.”
    A little dismayed by his unsettled life, Catriona said, “You had no notion you were heir to Marchbank?”
    “None. My grandfather was a third or fourth son, I believe. I still sometimes wake up and pinch myself to see if I’m dreaming that I’m a baronet.”
    As Catriona and Letty laughed, Lois carried in the tea tray and set it on the small table by the window. Letty went to pour, reaching the table three seconds before the twins.
    “Not a nibble,” she said severely, “until you have passed the cups and handed round the plates. Sir Gideon, will you take tea or do you prefer madeira?”
    “A drop of madeira will do me, thank you.”
    “Shall I pour the wine, ma’am?” offered Mr Talgarth, who had followed the children. “I’ll drink tea, though.”
    Donald brought a glass of madeira for Sir Gideon, and Daphne, concentrating hard on the cup and saucer in her hands, brought Catriona’s tea without spilling a drop. They returned with plates of jam tarts and almond cakes. Sir Gideon took one of each.
    “I’ve sampled many interesting foods on my travels,” he said, “but there is nothing to beat English pastries warm from the oven. And that reminds me, Lady Catriona. I’m hoping to obtain some information from you. The manor is in excellent condition–the lawyer tells me you have been keeping an eye on it? I am most grateful. Indeed, I was dismayed to hear that you had removed so promptly to the Dower House. There was no need—”
    “It seemed advisable. We knew nothing of your disposition.”
    “True. I might have been the sort of villain who evicts grieving women and children from their homes.”
    Catriona shook her head at him in mock reproach. “Well, you might! In any case, we are perfectly comfortable here. Jeremy had the house set in order, expecting that… expecting…” Her throat tightened, blocking the words.
    He came to her rescue. “A wise precaution, and it’s a charming house. However, I trust you will continue to make use of the Marchbank park and gardens as if they were your own.”
    “You are very kind, Sir Gideon. To tell the truth, I doubt we could keep the children away if we tried,” she added candidly. “But we have wandered from the point. What is it you wish to consult me about?”
    “I want your advice about hiring servants. Though the present staff has kept the place well, now that we are in residence, they are too few if they are not to be grossly overworked. For a start, I need a cook, preferably one who has as light a hand with pastry as yours.”
    “You cannot have Sarah, but do have another jam tart. Daphne, pray– Oh, twins! ”
    Unseen by their grandmother, and by their mother, who sipped her tea with bowed head, listening to Mr Talgarth, the children had taken the entire plate of