Lucky's Lady (The Caversham Chronicles Book 4) by Sandy Raven Page A

what he was accustomed to, was in complete bloom with a riot of colorful flowers in every shade imaginable bordering the front and the walkway up to the steps. It was a warm and welcoming abode. One a bright young woman would be proud to have tended.
    "Welcome to our modest home, Captain Gualtiero." Mrs. Watkins led the way up the few wide, shallow steps to the front porch and door. "Now you know where to come for dinner tomorrow night. It's quite an easy walk to the office, yet Victor insists on driving me, even though I could use the exercise."
    "Perhaps he's concerned with your safety."
    "There's nothing unsafe about our little village, Captain. Victor thinks it befits Mr. Watkins' station in the community to have a driver take him everywhere, and that supposed courtesy extends to me as Mrs. Watkins." She met his gaze from across the room. "Though I keep telling him, I'll get fat if he drives me everywhere."
    She opened the door and held it for him, something he was going to have to get used to with this odd, but very attractive, young woman.
    "Sally," she called out, "I'm home."
    From another room a voice responded. "Been waitin' on ya ta get here. I'll bring out yer plate."
    "We have company, Sally," Mary-with-two-first-names replied. "Can you make it two plates?"
    "Yes'm." A portly older black woman came into the room wiping her hands on her apron. "I should probably make it three as I expect Mr. Watkins and my Victor any moment as well."
    Mrs. Watkins, or Mary as he was now starting to think of her, poured them two glasses of cool water with pieces of ice and sliced lemon floating in it, and handed him one. She gulped down half her glass, then refilled it again.
    Ice in a beverage was unusual. He lifted his glass and inspected it before he drank. "This is far more refreshing than any fruity concoction I've ever had at a mid-summer ball."
    "She can do the fruity concoctions, too, if you'd like, but Sally wasn't expecting I'd bring a guest, and cold water is my preferred drink." Mary-Michael closed her eyes and swallowed. "Unless it's cold out, then it's hot tea or warm milk."
    "When we moved to England, I learned to drink tea with milk in it."
    "Yuck," she said.
    "It is an acquired taste," he said, "and a common drink for children."
    Sounds of hooves coming up the bricked drive stopped under the portico, letting them know that Mr. Watkins had arrived. He didn't have her all to himself any longer.
    "Sally, they're here." Mrs. Watkins called out.
    Lucky leaned against the door jamb to the saloon while his hostess opened the door for her husband. Watkins walked in and saw him immediately, coming forward to shake his hand.
    "Mr. Watkins," his wife said, "when Captain Gualtiero informed me that he had no luncheon prepared for him aboard his vessel, I invited him here to share ours."
    "Fine thing you did, too, dear." The gray-haired man settled in a chair in the saloon. "A man cannot think when he's hungry, and I'm certain you two are far from finished yet."
    "We still have two more lists to go through," his hostess said. The topic turned to work for Mr. and Mrs. Watkins. "Andrew was still at work at the table, though he was about to go eat. Robert was working on payroll. He had a question for you about a statement from a supplier. I was unable to answer him and told him I would mention it to you. He asked if you might come in today."
    Watkins listened with closed eyes as his wife chattered. "I told him I did not think so, and went back to working with Captain Gualtiero. The captain and I covered a lot of ground this morning. I do believe we can finish the lists this afternoon. The other two are not quite as lengthy as the first."
    Mr. Watkins asked detailed questions about their morning's work and, satisfied that his wife was able to handle the task, he encouraged her to continue in the same fashion until the two other lists were finished. Mrs. Watkins looked his way, the shy smile on her face trying to hide an emotion he