Tuppence (The Tipton Hollow 3)

As Tuppence moved through the hallowed halls of Aldridge Manor, she knew she was walking thro

ugh Isaac’s heritage, his family home, his life. Looking at the portraits of his ancestors adorning the walls, all peering down at her with haughty contempt, she could see hints of Isaac in all their faces. The high brows, the sharp jawlines, the amply curved lips beneath shrewd eyes, had all combined over the centuries to create Isaac’s now familiar handsomeness that were as familiar to Tuppence as her own face.

“Ah, there you are.”

Isaac’s soft voice coming from a doorway at the base of the massive main staircase made Tuppence smile. It was so instinctive that she would later wonder why he brightened her day. For now, she tugged awkwardly at her dress and smiled almost shyly at him.

“Do you like it?” Isaac asked, waving one long arm around the vast entrance hall.

“It’s rather – imposing,” Tuppence replied honestly. She pointed to the portraits. “I can see the family resemblance, though.”

Isaac’s lips twitched. “Are you saying that I look ancient?”

Tuppence rolled her eyes. “I would never be that rude.” When she looked at him, she caught him sliding a predatory look over her. It was the kind of look a lover would give someone they desired. Tuppence felt her cheeks heat and was suddenly extremely glad that they were alone. To distract herself from the rather intimate tension that started to build between them, Tuppence shook the skirts of the dress she wore. “Your mother was kind enough to find me something suitable to wear.”

Isaac nodded approvingly. “It fits perfectly. You look beautiful.”

Tuppence struggled to know what to say. Nobody had ever called her beautiful before. She wanted to deny it, but then suspected she would sound like she was fishing for more compliments, so she remained uncomfortably quiet instead.

Isaac saw her discomfort and suspected it was because few men had ever complimented her before. Rather than tease her, he held out a gentlemanly elbow. “Come and sit beside the fire. It is going to be cold again tonight, and these draughty halls are no place for you to linger even with that shawl on.” Isaac waited until Tuppence had placed her cold hand on his arm. He then rested his warm palm over her chilled fingers and led her into the sitting room.

The warmth within the opulent room was wonderful and immediately eased her chilled flesh but inwardly, Tuppence was nervous when she saw who was already in the room.

“Ah, there you are. I am delighted that you could join us this evening,” Sir Reginald boomed, vaulting out of his seat.

Gertrude, who didn’t stand, inclined her head in regal acknowledgement of Tuppence’s presence in the room, even though her face remained stony. “I see that it fit then,” was all she murmured as she eyed Tuppence’s dress.

“It is very generous of you to help me,” Tuppence replied somewhat stiffly.

“Come and have a sherry.” It wasn’t a request. Gertrude clicked her fingers at Harman who immediately stepped toward Tuppence and held out a silver tray upon which was a small glass of amber liquid.

Not wanting to seem churlish by rejecting it, Tuppence smiled her thanks and relieved the butler of his burden. Eyeing the amber liquid warily, she tentatively took a sip only to sigh in delight when the thick sweet liquid slid down her throat leaving behind it a trail of warmth which settled in her belly and began to spread outward to the rest of her. It removed her fears and eased her tension almost instantly. Feeling somewhat less nervous now, Tuppence perched on the edge of the seat Isaac guided her to and watched Isaac help himself to a liberal dose of brandy.

“I do wish you would wait until after dinner, dear,” Gertrude chided as she watched her son.

“Mother.” The warning tone of Isaac’s voice caused Gertrude to subside into her chair as if deflated. She didn’t say anything else.

“I think you should know that your livestock are now here,” Isaac informed Tuppence when his goblet was full. He propped a negligent elbow on the mantle above the roaring fire before lifting his brows at her. “Baxter has been adopted by my labourers as well. They adore him and told me that he is the best sheep dog they have ever seen. He guided the cattle here in half the time it would have taken my men. I believe Baxter is in the stable block beside the huge barn if you wish to see him, but I warn you now, my men intend to put him to work. The last time I saw him, just before you arrived, he was lying beside the fireplace in the tack room sound asleep, though. He has worked well today.”

Tuppence almost wept with relief. “Can I go and see him later?”

“I will make sure of it,” Isaac promised with a fond smile. “With your permission, Balders has plans to get Baxter working on the estate’s cattle first thing in the morning. They need moving to a new pasture.”

“I don’t mind. Baxter has always worked on the farm. He gets bored if he has to sit inside all day.”

“Good, that’s settled then. Now, before we dine, I want to discuss one particularly important matter with you all.”

“What’s happened?” Gertrude looked worried.

“The farmhouse has been broken into,” Isaac announced without preamble.

“Hilltop Farm.” Sir Reginald’s face darkened when Isaac confirmed it.

“Was anything stolen?” Gertrude asked.

“I don’t know.” Isaac turned to look at Tuppence, who had paled considerably. “Was your door frame intact when you last saw it?”

“Well, yes. I wouldn’t leave something like that damaged,” Tuppence replied weakly.