Ashton Park Read Free

George run the country. And who do we have here? Dear Emma, the blushing bride.”
    Another woman as tall as Catherine and Lady Elizabeth, but with chestnut hair tied back, almost ran to her father, her plain face totally transformed by the strength of her smile. “Yes, Papa. I’m so glad you’re here early. We will want your advice for so many things.”
    “Your mother is much better at advice than I am,” said Sir William, holding her close with one long arm and Catherine close with the other.
    Lady Elizabeth shook her head. “The manor chapel has always been your eighth child, William. No one knows how to dress it better than you.”
    “Is that what you think? Four daughters, three sons, and a chapel? Well, I hope my instructions for decorating it for Easter have been followed—”
    Lady Elizabeth and Emma laughed.
    “You see?” his wife teased. “Fussing over it already.”
    “I only wish—”
    “Mr. and Mrs. Seabrooke have matters well in hand, my dear,” his wife assured him. “You can have a look right after tea.”
    Mrs. Seabrooke peered out the window at the Danforth family gathered around Sir William. “I don’t see Lady Grace.”
    Mr. Seabrooke looked over her shoulder. “You know how it is. Sir William’s mother never goes out of doors. Never takes tea either. She wanders about the rooms until dinner at eight.”
    “Sir Arthur and Aunt Holly said they would join us.”
    “They are in the library arguing, I believe, over some comment in a book. I have no idea what that is about. However, it is an amiable argument.”
    Mrs. Seabrooke continued to stare out the window. “Oh, now, Todd has let the dogs jump all over Sir William.”
    Mr. Seabrooke shook his head. “That’s Sir William who has called them to his side. He dotes on that pair.”
    “A gift from an Austrian baron. He should have got rid of them once war was declared.”
    “Oh, we’ve been through that before, Mrs. Seabrooke. Remember what happened when Sir William got wind of that sort of talk from Clifford? Gone overnight. Sacked. The dogs did not invade Belgium and France . None of that from you, if you please, Missus.”
    “Ah, Mr. and Mrs. Seabrooke,” came a voice behind them.
    They both turned quickly from the window. It was Tavy the butler. He inclined his head at the husband and wife, both as tall and thin as reeds in a pond, while he stood round and sturdy as a boulder with his full stomach and firmly combed gray hair. Mrs. Seabrooke hesitated. When she realized he wasn’t going to bring up her comments about the dogs, she smiled brightly.
    “What is it, Tavy?”
    “The household staff is assembled in the dining room as you requested, ma’arm. Did you wish to speak with them?”
    “I did indeed. Thank you, Tavy. We’ll be along directly.”
    “Do you think he heard?” she asked her husband when Tavy had left the room.
    Mr. Seabrooke shrugged. “If he did, you’ll find out about it when he wants a favor from you.”
    “Come, Tavy’s not like that.”
    “You hardly know him. How long has Clifford been gone? Six months? And Tavy’s only filled his shoes for three of them.”
    Mrs. Seabrooke pinched her lips together and rubbed the bridge of her nose with her thumb and index finger, closing her eyes. Suddenly she clapped her hands and headed for the hallway.
    “They’re waiting for us, Mr. Seabrooke.”
    The walnut table had been set for high tea with silver teapots and bone china. The maids and footmen and other staff were gathered in a half-circle at the far end of the long table from the Seabrookes and Tavy. Mrs. Seabrooke gave them a smile as bright as the one she’d given Tavy a few minutes before.
    “The setting looks marvelous,” she began. “We do not have tea while Sir William is away but when he is at the manor it will be served every day at four. Dinner, as usual, will be at eight. A few of you are new here and have never met Sir William. He is a good man. Fair. You know he is a great