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But he knew.
Just like she knew.
How she knew these things, Albie could never guess. Part of him didn’t want to know.
“When you’re done eating,” she said, “you take his lunch into him and hand-feed him while he soaks before Robert and Des get back.”
He almost said yes, ma’am. It was on the tip of his tongue, and he had to stop himself from saying the words out loud. Instead, he cleared his throat and shifted in his seat, still not meeting her gaze, his face burning hot.
“Fine,” he managed. “Thank you.”
Gee whiz.
For the boss of this place, he just got schooled.
She left him to eat in peace and he’d almost lost his appetite, but the smell of the fresh stew and hot bread was too good to ignore. He shovelled in a mouthful just as Elsie brought out a small plate of butter and slid it in front of him, and he almost choked.
“You all right there?” she asked, thumping him on the back.
He nodded, still trying to not die.
There is absolutely no way she could know about the butter. It was purely coincidental that she offered him some. Nothing more.
“Yes, yes,” he said, then took a sip of water. “Fine, thank you.”
He was just glad Percy wasn’t there to witness his shame.
Chapter Seventeen
Percy lowered his sore and aching body into the hot water with a strained sigh. He grimaced at the twinge in his backside.
It really wasn’t that bad.
Only that he’d had to spend the day in the saddle. If he’d just been doing chores around the house, he’d have been fine.
Or if he was more accustomed to it.
That’s it. Just need more practice, he thought as he closed his eyes.
The hot water was now heavenly, ironing out his tired muscles and probably ridding him of the stink too.
He could have easily fallen asleep, but the door opening made him crack an eye. Albie stood there holding a tray. He seemed awkward at first, but then he rushed in and closed the door with his foot.
“I could have waited to eat,” Percy said.
“Elsie insisted,” he replied, pulling over the foot stool to the side of the tub and sitting on it. Then he whispered, “Did you say anything to her? About... not falling off a horse?”
“No. And I can’t believe you said I came off a horse, by the way. Of all the ridiculous things to say.”
“Hm,” he frowned. “Maybe that’s why she didn’t believe it.”
“What did she say?”
“She knows. What we did. I’m sure of it.” His cheeks went a ruddy red. “She told me I had to come in here and feed you because of what I did to you.”
“Oh my,” Percy said. Then he couldn’t help it—he laughed. “How did she know?”
“I don’t know!” he whisper-shouted. “But she scares me.”
