Rowena (Regency Belles Series Book 1) by Caroline Ashton Page B

nothing to clean them with. No brushes nor polish.’ She held out the offending items.
    Patterson smiled. ‘Ah well, only to be expected I suppose. Things being what they are.’
    ‘What things, Mr Patterson?’ Thaddeus stopped brushing the horse’s nearside flank.
    The coachman’s head wagged. ‘Never you mind. You get yer head down and attend to yon animal.’ He heaved himself off the sacks and waded into the tack room.
    Thaddeus waited until the coachman had disappeared before sending a wide grin at Ellie. ‘You’re looking right pretty today.’
    Ellie cast her eyes down. Her cheeks reddened. The heel of one boot was subjected to a furious rubbing with a thumb. She stared at the ground until the coachman emerged.
    ‘Here you are, gal.’ He held out a brush which had half of its bristles missing and a round tin, opened to reveal glistening beeswax. ‘Use these.’ He pointed at the mounting block by the wall. ‘Do it over there. And put some elbow into it. You’ll get a good shine that way.’ He settled himself on the sacks again to watch.
    Ellie put so much elbow into it her arms ached and several strands of hair escaped her cap but by the end the brown boots glowed. She held them out for Patterson’s inspection.
    ‘Aye. They’ll do.’ Ellie smiled broadly. ‘Get yerself back indoors now.’
    Ellie’s smile sank.
    ‘What’s the matter, gal?’
    ‘It’s the house. I mean the Abbey. It’s that big, Mr Patterson, and Mrs Emmett is that fierce . . .’ Her voice trailed away.
    Patterson levered himself up again. ‘Well now, I could do with an ale from the kitchen and a bit of bait. What say we go in together?’
    ‘Oh, Mr Patterson, sir. Thank you.’
    ‘Can I come too?’ Thaddeus grinned. ‘I wouldn’t mind an ale.’
    ‘No you cannot, lad. You keep on with that horse while I get my bait tin filled.’ He waded into the stables out of sight.
    ‘Who’s this Mrs Emmett you don’t like?’
    ‘She’s the housekeeper. She’s a fiercesome body.’
    Thaddeus swaggered forward. ‘Just you point her out to me and if she’s onto you I’ll give her what for.’
    Ellie’s eyes opened wide above flushing cheeks. ‘Oh, no you wouldn’t. She’s far worse than Mrs Cope. You’d never dare cheek her back.’
    Thaddeus sidled closer. ‘I’d brave anyone for you.’
    Ellie looked down at her shoes, sideways at the tack room door and back at her shoes. ‘You’re not to say such things. It ain’t proper. You’ll get us turned off if anyone hears you.’
    Some of the bravado left Thaddeus’s shoulders. ‘Don’t you like me, Ellie?’
    ‘I like you just fine.’ She looked up as far as his collar. She snatched her gaze away and added, ‘I mean I like you as much as I like everyone else.’
    ‘Apart from this Mrs Emmett.’
    ‘Yes . . . well,’ Ellie said, still a fetching shade of pink. She saw Patterson emerge into the sunlight, a tin box clasped in one enormous hand. ‘Bye,’ she said. ‘I’ve to get back. I’ve Miss Rowena to dress for dinner.’
    Rowena sat on the stool holding the hand mirror in her lap. She felt her old self again. There was a lot to be said for a furious bout of bad temper to banish the doldrums. She had spent several minutes lecturing herself on the necessity of concentrating on her father’s order. Of ensuring Lord Conniston maintained his interest in Amabelle. Of forcing every other consideration from her mind. If she accomplished that, everything would be fine. Her sister would be safely married, then she could devote herself to running Southwold Hall and caring for Papa and Cousin Thomasina. That’s what she would do and everything would be fine. Just fine.
    She lifted the mirror. Yes, her face was serene just like her thoughts. The merest hint of resurgent dreams drifted into her mind. She squashed it firmly down. Only the trace of sadness in her grey eyes remained to betray her.
    Ellie arrived and set about brushing Rowena’s hair, tying the