‘But I don’t want someone else!’
‘Why won’t her father agree to the match?’ Samuel interjected, unable to contain his curiosity.
The man gave him a swift glance and then heaved a sigh. ‘He says I’m just a farmhand and that I’ll never amount to anything.’
‘Then make something of yourself to show him he’s wrong. If she loves you, then she’ll wait.’ He frowned at the words. Wasn’t waiting exactly what he’d just refused to do for Anna?
‘And how am I supposed to do that when them at the manor do nothing but put up rents and never help us with—? Ow!’ He stopped as the innkeeper gave his chair a none-too-subtle kick.
‘This gentleman might know them at the manor.’
‘Oh.’ The man’s expression turned to one of alarm. ‘Pardon me, sir, I didn’t know I was talking to a gentleman. Too much ale.’
‘I shouldn’t have been eavesdropping in the first place.’ Samuel picked up his tankard and stood, the similarity in their situations making him doubly curious. ‘Do you mind if I join you?’
‘If you want, sir.’ The man exchanged a dubious look with the innkeeper.
‘Thank you. Now...’ Samuel took a seat again opposite ‘...does she love you, this woman?’
‘Dora? She says she does, only she won’t go against her father. She said our last kiss was goodbye.’
‘You’ve kissed her?’ The innkeeper gave a low whistle. ‘You’d better hope Turner doesn’t find out.’
‘I don’t care if he does.’
‘You will when he pummels you. He’s twice your size and then some. I once saw him flatten—’
‘Maybe I can help?’ Samuel interrupted before the innkeeper could go into any more lurid detail.
‘How?’
‘Tell me what it is you need to prove yourself. Your own farm?’
The other man stared at him suspiciously for a moment and then burst out laughing. ‘Aye, that ought to do it. I don’t reckon there’s any lying around spare, though.’
‘Maybe not spare, but there must be something we can do.’ Samuel nodded at the innkeeper and then gestured at their tankards. ‘Two more of these and one for yourself. Then we can put our heads together and think.’
‘Th-thank you, sir.’ The man looked confused. ‘But if you don’t mind my asking, who are you?’
‘Me?’ Samuel took one last mouthful of ale before answering, ‘I’m Captain Samuel Delaney, the new Earl of Staunton.’
Chapter Twenty-One
‘Lady Staunton?’ Anna found the Countess where she’d left her in the drawing room, lying on a sofa and weeping.
‘Oh.’ Clarissa pulled herself up with an effort. ‘I’m sorry. It’s just that now I’ve started crying, I can’t seem to stop.’
‘Oh, dear.’ Anna came and took a seat beside her. ‘It’ll be all right, I promise.’
‘He said I have to leave.’
‘He didn’t mean it.’
‘He didn’t?’
‘Well, yes, he did at the time, but now he says you can go or stay as you like. He was just upset.’ She gave her a meaningful look. ‘It might be a good idea to stay out of sight for a few days.’
‘I will.’ Clarissa nodded eagerly. ‘Where is he now?’