Page 18 of The Widower Without a Will
“None for me either,” Martha said, which she might not have done had they remembered who she was.
They declined the sugared biscuits, too, though Martha salivated a little at the sight of the sugar crystals baked on top.Mrs.Sebright, fussing, sent back the tea tray and called instead for warm milk and bread and cheese.“A rustic afternoon snack is good for everyone now and then, isn’t it, Mr.Sebright?”
Rustic, when Martha and the rest of Thatcham regularly called such an offering a meal.
Lord Preston placed the bill of dilapidations on the table where so recently the decadent tea set had sat.“While we wait, perhaps we can discuss this bill that you sent to Mrs.Bellamy.”
Mr.Sebright straightened beside Martha.He was a large man and took up most of the settee; with his posture erect, he loomed over her.He directed his words to Lord Preston.“As I’m sure you know, sir, it is a regular matter between the new rector and his predecessor’s family.We ask nothing out of the ordinary, only for assistance in paying for the wear and tear on the rectory since Mrs.Bellamy moved in.”At last, he looked at her, his red moustache twitching.“I’m sure Mr.Bellamy made similar negotiations with the Thistlemans when he first arrived in Thatcham.”
Martha hadn’t the slightest idea.That had been a year and a half after Lucas’s death; she had thought herself on the other side of grief, but she knew now that she had still been slogging through fog.It wasn’t until he had been gone five years or so that she finally began noticing sunlight again.When they had arrived in Thatcham, she had merely gone through the motions of unpacking her belongings, introducing herself to her new neighbors, and finding a hundred things to do so that at any moment she could be useful.
Lord Preston waved aside the idea that Kenneth might have sent the same bill to the grieving family of Mr.Thistleman.“I am sure you are a fair man, Mr.Sebright, and do not mind reviewing each charge with us.”
The man squirmed in his seat.“Certainly, sir, though I must admit I find it highly irregular for a person such as yourself to take an interest in the matter.My cousin’s husband, as you may know, is Lord Harewood, and he leaves such concerns as property negotiations to the parties involved.”
A bold statement from a man who had been so eager to impress Lord Preston just moments ago.Martha’s breath caught in her lungs.But Lord Preston only quirked his lips into a little smile.“As I’m sure you have heard by now, Mr.Sebright, I am unlike my peers.You will find I am very interested in the wellbeing of every person in the neighborhood.”He leaned forward, his eyes drifting to Martha.“At the moment, of topmost priority is Mrs.Bellamy.”
She had to look away or else surely the Sebrights would see thatherinterest far exceeded whatever was appropriate between a rector’s widow and her patron.
The Sebrights reluctantly took them on a tour of the house to review each item in the bill.Even though she had studied the letter at least three times, there were items that Lord Preston asked about that she hadn’t even noticed—such as retiling the hearth and reupholstering the furniture.
“As you have brought your own furniture, surely you would prefer to allow Mrs.Bellamy to take hers with her rather than require her to pay for you to keep using it,” Lord Preston said as they debated over the settee by the hearth.
“It is nothers,” Mr.Sebright insisted, “as by leaving it here, she indicated it was part of the rector’s household.”
Lord Preston looked to Martha.“Was it yours before you came to Thatcham?”
“Yes.”It had been a wedding gift from her wealthy aunt, but Martha didn’t like to think of all the memories associated with it.“I haven’t any need for furniture now, so I left it behind.”
“If you intend for us to use it, then it needs to be reupholstered,” Mr.Sebright said.
“If you intend to make use of the gift donated to your household, then you may choose to reupholster it yourself,” Lord Preston countered.“Otherwise, I know there are many families in Thatcham who would be happy to take it.”
They looked at each patch of stained wallpaper, each uneven floorboard, even the scratch in the wood of the bedstead she had left behind, though they had moved it from the primary suite into a little attic room.Martha was equal parts charmed by Lord Preston’s insistence that she not pay for anything beyond the necessary and horrified that he was making such an inspection of her life.
How could she be worthy of his notice now that he saw that only the mantle of rector’s wife separated her from the poor farmers trying to eke out livings across the countryside?
Shewasn’tworthy of his notice.He gave her his friendship, nothing more.After all, she was an old woman.If he hadn’t remarried one of the glittering women in London who could ride in his carriage without excitement, then he certainly wouldn’t take up with a dusty old thing like herself.
In the end, she agreed to pay to replace the wallpaper, rethatch the roof, and fix the back door that didn’t latch.Everything else would be the Sebrights’ responsibility, if they wanted to make such improvements.
“I must confess I am surprised by this welcome,” Mr.Sebright said as he walked them out to the carriage.“I have always been greeted with much ceremony and gladness when I have moved to new neighborhoods before, and then I was only a vicar.As your new rector, sir—”
Lord Preston cut him off.“You are notmyrector, Mr.Sebright.You are the village’s rector.They are under your care spiritually as they are under mine legally.As surprised as you are by this welcome, I am equally surprised that you are placing your own needs so high above someone else’s.”
The words were so cutting that Martha gasped aloud.
Lord Preston held out a hand to Mr.Sebright.“I do not mean to be harsh.Let us begin again in a few weeks on new footing.”
Mr.Sebright glowed red, but he shook Lord Preston’s hand.
Lord Preston waved Boyle onto the driver’s seat and placed a hand on Martha’s back to assist her into the carriage.The horses took off racing almost as soon as he shut the door.He let out a sigh, looked Martha in the eye, and shook his head.
“I’m sorry I let my temper get away from me like that.I hope you do not have to pay the consequences.”
Strange, how it was the apology that, more than anything, stung Martha’s eyes with tears.
Chapter Seven
