Page 28 of Harpy of the Ton
Saints alive!
“I doubt you’d want to know what I think,” Lawrence said.
“Indulge me.”
“It’s fucking awful.”
Ned’s smile faded.
A pang of guilt twisted Lawrence’s gut. He wasn’t in a position to turn his nose up at anything, given that he had nowhere else to go. Neither was he in a position to admonish Ned, given all the man had done for him.
“It’s not much, granted,” Ned said, “but the rent’s minimal, and there’s plenty of room in the garden for your children. Might help tire them out—if that’s possible.” There was no mistaking the exasperation in his tone.
“They been much trouble?” Lawrence asked.
“Nothing my Sophie can’t handle—though evenshe’sin danger of losing her patience. A lively trio, ain’t they? Especially that young Roberta. Pretty lass when she’s not rolling around in the dirt—but she’s more trouble than the boys.”
“I’m sorry.”
“There’s nowt to worry about,” Ned replied. “A bit o’ spirit’s good in a little ’un. I can’t be done with children who sit on their arses all day. Runnin’ around’s good for them, though I doubt Mrs. Chantry will agree. She’s a stickler for obedience—her cane warmed my arse many times when I was a lad.”
“Mrs. Chantry?”
“She runs the school at the other end of the village.”
Lawrence glanced about, but no other buildings were visible. “It looks likeeverything’sat the other end of the village from here.”
“Don’t be down,” Ned said. “This was the only empty place in Brackens Hill, and you can’t take a room at the inn. The Oak’s no place for children, and besides, Mr. Colt always wants payment in advance.”
Payment Lawrence couldn’t afford.
“I’ve nothing bad to say about Mr. Colt,” Ned continued. “He’s a fair employer—I get a shilling a week more than the manager at the Stag Inn in the next village.” He glanced at Lawrence’s tools. “Those look the worse for wear—are they the same tools you had before?”
Lawrence shook his head. “These were a gift. I lost mine.”
“That’s careless.”
“I was careless in trusting my employer,” Lawrence said. “I should have taken a lesson from Mr. Colt and taken payment in advance.”
Ned let out a chuckle. “Your work weren’t up to scratch?”
“The lady of the house took against me and turned me out without paying.”
“And your hands?” Ned gestured to the bandages. “You got into a brawl with her?”
“Not in the way you mean.” Lawrence sighed, though his body tightened at the prospect of wrestling Lady Arabella into submission. “I burned them trying to retrieve my belongings after she’d ordered her footman to throw them on the fire.”
“Fucking hell.” Ned sighed. “There’s no understanding some folk. She ought to be whipped raw. Do your hands pain you?”
“A slight soreness, that’s all,” Lawrence said. “They gave me a salve at the King’s Head.”
“Ah, yes.” Ned grinned. “I know old Tom Barnes well—he’d have seen ye right. And Millie—did you see Millie when you were there? I’ve never seen a finer pair of teats in my life.”
Ned raised his hands, cupping them as if holding a pair of invisible oranges.
“Just right for my hands, they are—and tasty morsels for a man when he’s hungry after a day’s work. Did you take your fill?”
“The first night, yes.”
