Page 14 of The Widow’s Christmas Surprise

“Thank you, Mr. Garrett.” She smiled at the young man. “I am somewhat overwhelmed meeting so many new people. I have been quite the recluse since April.”

“How stupid of me. You must be confused with all the new faces. Please.” He indicated a seat on the sofa.

“Thank you.” Gratefully, Maria sank onto the cushion and glanced about the room.

Jane still stood, speaking to Lord and Lady Kersey about her late husband, Tark. Mr. Garrett had taken a chair across from her and seemed ready to make polite conversation. His brother stood over by the fireplace, taking in the whole scene with an appraising little smile on his lips. Pray God the man stayed there.

The sofa cushion beside her dipped and she turned to find Mr. Granger seated there. A wave of warmth rose from her neck to her forehead. He was turned out well, in a suit of steel gray that was excellently cut, although she quite preferred him in his riding clothes. They gave him such a rugged, masculine air.

Lord, she must get hold of herself. Think of the man as an acquaintance, nothing more. “I did not know you had returned, Mr. Granger. Has your brother quite recovered from his injury?”

His lips hardened, but he spoke evenly. “I regret to say, no, my lady. My brother is much as he has been these many weeks. But with the arrival of Lord Kersey, I needed to return to this estate. I have made arrangements for my brother’s care while I am absent and will be kept apprised of his condition.” He paused, then his countenance lightened. “I have brought my sister to stay with me, however.”

“I didn’t know you had a sister.” She actually had little knowledge of Mr. Granger’s life outside the confines of his work on the estate.

“She is not quite out of the schoolroom yet, but under the circumstances I thought it best that she not be left at home now, even with a companion.” His blue eyes had a distant look to them. “In case the worst occurs—and I do not see how my brother can cling to life much longer—I believe it best for her to be here with me, rather than alone with him and the servants.”

“I am so sorry, Mr. Granger. Might I request the pleasure of meeting Miss Granger when it is convenient for you?” Maria glanced down at her hands, then back to him. “We are not so very far apart in years, she and I, and I have had some experience with grief.”

The corners of his mouth rose just perceptively. “That would be an honor for her, my lady. When I have settled us into the house more completely, I will tell her of your wish to be introduced to her.”

“Mr. Granger, what a pleasure to see you again.” Jane lowered herself into the chair opposite Maria, smiling much too broadly at the steward. Such a facial expression never boded well for the recipient of it. “Does your return mean that—”

Maria grasped her cousin’s hand and gave a slight shake of her head. “Mr. Granger’s brother has not improved, my dear.”

Jane immediately replaced her insincere smile with an expression of sympathy. “I am so sorry to hear that, Mr. Granger.”

“You are very kind, Lady John.”

Lord and Lady Kersey joined the little group. “Mr. Granger was just telling us the status of the tenant farmers.” Lord Kersey helped seat his wife on the sofa beside their son, then proceeded to stand over all of the little group, save for Lord Wetherby, who continued to stand in front of the fireplace. “The crops have come in well this year, thank goodness. The only bit of bad news being about Tate.”

“Mr. Tate?” Maria sat up, sudden alarm bells ringing in her head. She’d been out to the farm to visit Mrs. Tate several times since Mr. Granger had told her of the father’s injury and the family’s plight. She could have sworn the man had been on the mend.

Mr. Granger’s lips firmed. “I’m sorry to tell you, my lady, but Mr. Tate succumbed to his wound.”

Maria’s stomach dropped, a metallic taste flooding her mouth. “No.” Tears pricked her eyes, but she blinked them back. She’d ridden out to check on the Tates almost every week since Mr. Granger had left. “He seemed to be doing so well.”

“I stopped by the farm as we journeyed in yesterday. He had apparently died the day before. I inquired, but Mrs. Tate was too grief-stricken to be able to tell me much, other than her husband’s leg had suddenly begun to pain him. He’d rubbed the spot where Mr. Lambert had set the bone, trying to ease it when he’d gasped and slumped in the chair.”

“Well, I must say, the man has left me in the lurch,” Lord Kersey interjected, a perturbed frown on his face. “At least he’d gotten his crops in. You are making inquiries, aren’t you, Granger? When you told me yesterday I said we need to find a new tenant quickly, so he can move in before the weather turns.”

In the midst of taking a handkerchief out of her reticule, Maria froze, then raised her gaze to the annoyed countenance of Lord Kersey. “You’ll turn them out of their home? When the family is devastated by Mr. Tate’s death?”

“Maria.” Jane pressed her lips together and grasped her hand, giving it a hard squeeze.

The new earl’s brows rose. “They should have been removed when the man was injured, once it was clear he’d never walk properly again. Mr. Granger should have seen to it then.” Lord Kersey turned to her and his features relaxed. “He did tell me, however, that he was following your orders to let them remain on the farm. A charitable notion, my lady, but scarcely a practical one. Tenant farms must be run by able men or the estate will not survive.”

“The Tates’ current tenancy still has three years to run, my lord.” Mr. Granger spoke up, with a glance at Maria. “I did suggest that Mrs. Tate could run the farm for the next few years until their oldest son will be of age to take it over.”

Sending Mr. Granger a grateful glance, Maria wiped her eyes and raised her chin. The steward was an extraordinarily kind man.

“And I said at the time I preferred to have able-bodied men running my farms.” Lord Kersey waved the suggestion away and glared at his steward. “You will see to it, won’t you, Mr. Granger?”

“Of course, my lord. I will ride to Wickford tomorrow and post an advertisement. Word will spread fast enough that we should receive inquiries within the week.” He glanced at Maria, his blue eyes apologetic. “With luck you should have a new tenant by Christmas.”

Maria gasped, which brought another, harder squeeze of her hand from Jane. If these attempts to silence her continued, her hand would be sore as the dickens tomorrow.

“Splendid.” Lord Kersey was suddenly all smiles. “I expect this Christmas to be one of the merriest my family and I have ever celebrated.”