Tuppence (The Tipton Hollow 3)

??You can’t do that,” Mr Lewis blustered.

“I can and I will,” Tuppence retorted calmly but firmly. “Now, what shall it be? Does Baxter take these to the barn to join my herd seeing as you don’t want them, or are you going to fix this fence and move these beasts somewhere else?”

Mr Lewis squinted at her but, rather than condemn her as Tuppence expected her to do, there was a hint of approval in his eyes. “You are your father’s daughter, aren’t you?” he murmured thoughtfully. “I’ll get the fence fixed and move the damned things over to the other side of the farm. That should keep them away.”

“Good. Would you like Baxter to move them for you?”

“Baxter?”

Tuppence pointed to the dog who was lying amongst the grass, his soulful brown eyes staring fixatedly on the cattle. He was waiting for just one beast to step out of the huddle and he would pounce.

“Which field?” Tuppence sighed when Mr Lewis pursed his lips.

“Well, if you think you can,” Mr Lewis began.

Tuppence emitted an ear-piercing whistle and waved toward the gate. Once Baxter knew where the cattle were going, he began to race around them to get them moving. Slowly but steadily, he expertly guided the animals toward Tuppence. Within minutes, the cattle had left the meadow and were following Tuppence across the field toward the pasture Mr Lewis was running to.

“Good Lord,” Mr Lewis murmured as he watched his cattle saunter past with Baxter hot on their hooves. He looked at Tuppence in astonishment at how quickly the cattle had been moved, but Tuppence merely threw him a dark look of warning. She opened her mouth to speak only to stopped by the arrival of an unexpected guest; the last man she had expected to see on Mr Lewis’s farm – Isaac Chester, Lord Aldridge.

“Good afternoon, Miss Smethurst. That was some impressive display,” Isaac drawled, nodding amiably at both farmers. He leant on the wooden five-bar gate the cattle had just passed through, and lifted his brows at Mr Lewis, who looked dumb-struck yet impressed too.

“Baxter did the work,” Tuppence replied, stroking the sheep dog’s head when he appeared at her knee and sat gazing up at her with adoring eyes. She knew he was waiting for more orders, but there was nothing for him to do now. His afternoon’s work was over, so she fussed him instead.

Isaac struggled to know what else to say now that Tuppence was before him. It always happened when he was in her presence. He always became fuddled, and awkward, and struggled to remember how to make conversation. In his head, there were many things he wanted, yearned, to talk to her about but now, when he needed them the most, words failed him. “How is everything going at Hilltop?” he asked for want of asking her how she was. It seemed a far too personal question while they were in the avid company of Mr Lewis, whose curious gaze was flickering between them in a way that left Isaac in no doubt he was wondering if the rumours about them were true.

She looks wonderful as usual.

“It’s fine, thank you,” Tuppence replied politely. Inwardly, she wanted to be miles away and wished now she hadn’t allowed Baxter to guide the cattle to their new pasture. Outwardly, she offered the Lord of the neighbouring estate a brisk smile before turning to glare at Mr Lewis. “Now that’s sorted, I shall leave you to fix the fence, and keep them away.”

“Problems?” Isaac interrupted before she could leave.

“The cattle are addicted to that luscious grass in her meadow. They keep breaking the fence down to get to it. Of course, it doesn’t help that it is the sweetest in the area,” Mr Lewis muttered. “I offered to buy the meadow off her.”

“None of the land on the farm is for sale, Mr Lewis,” Tuppence reminded him.

Mr Lewis’s gaze strayed thoughtfully to Baxter who, now that he wasn’t needed, had decided to catch up on some sleep and lay docilely at his mistress’s feet.

“It’s a damned fine sheep dog,” Mr Lewis murmured approvingly.

“Baxter is not for sale either, Mr Lewis,” Tuppence announced with an impatient sigh. “Now, I have work to do. Good day to you both.”

“Aye, make sure you get them cattle of yours in tonight. It’s going to be another cold one,” Mr Lewis muttered before she could leave.

“I will do, Mr Lewis. Thank you,” Tuppence called before lengthening her stride. She tried not to run as she left, or glance back over her shoulder. She hurried as quickly as she could being impatient to get away. But because she didn’t look back, Tuppence wasn’t aware that she had been followed until she reached the damaged fence in the meadow, and Isaac broke the silence.

“Do you need any help over winter?” Isaac was amazed that someone as fragile as Tuppence appeared to be was able to break the ice on the water troughs much less feed over fifty cows and sixty or seventy sheep.

Tuppence struggled not to stare at him. “Thank you, but I think I will be fine.”

“Do you have enough feed to last if the snows do come?” Isaac studied the way the afternoon sunlight cast a golden halo around Tuppence’s head. It highlighted every dip and hollow of her beautiful face but, rather than make it sinister as it would on most people, the shadows only emphasised her fine features.

“The crops were good this year, so the barns are full of hay, straw, and feed. There is enough food for several months, thank you,” Tuppence replied, trying hard not to snap at him.

“What about you?” Isaac stepped closer. “How are you coping?”

The question was so soft, so gently uttered that Tuppence wanted to weep. While people often asked her how she was their questions were nothing more than disinterested conversation. There wasn’t any real interest behind the usual enquiries she received. There was behind Isaac’s. It was there in the way he was looking at her. His intent stare was seeking the truth. He would know if she lied, that Tuppence knew without doubt.

“I have made sure that the animals are prepared for winter first because that is more important. I will now stock up my larder, but there is just me so it shouldn’t take more than one trip to town. I will be fine. I have lived here all my life. I know how things work,” Tuppence replied with a wry smile. It felt odd to stand and talk so openly and casually with a Lord, but here she was, standing in the middle of a cold, muddy field, talking to Isaac. For all her life the Chester family had always been a world away from hers. The Smethursts, while not peasant farmers, were not wealthy either. ‘They got by’ was the best that could be said about them. They hadn’t starved but they couldn’t be considered wealthy landowners either.