Page 35 of Everything But the Earl
“I don’t see much in this house that needs changing, but the cottage is like a blank canvas.”
“Then paint away on that canvas, my dear.”
She smiled again and snuggled up to his side. “Thank you, Owen.”
“For what?”
“For giving me exactly what I wanted. I am grateful. You will never know how much.”
“Well. This has all been unexpected. But you’re welcome.”
*
Toward the endof Owen’s time in Wales, he took Grace on an extended tour of the grounds around Caer Newydd.
“One thing you’ll note about Wales,” Owen said as they walked arm-in-arm, “is that the Welsh have a tendence to cover any open bit of land with sheep.”
“I had spotted quite a lot of sheep.” There were indeed several milling about on the grounds around them as they walked.
“My family has been selling wool to textile mills for generations. The work is handled these days mostly by Arthur Williams and his family.”
“Your employees?”
“Yes. Although I believe Arthur and I are distantly related as well. His house is just over the way here.”
Grace hadn’t known what to expect. Whenever she’d read about tenant farms on these large estates, mostly in novels, there were always tales of rotting roofs on crumbling cottages, a sure sign that the landlord was neglecting his tenants. However, Arthur Williams lived in a sturdy-looking cottage on the estate with a thriving garden beside it.
“I sent a note yesterday that we were coming so Arthur would know to expect us.” Owen knocked on the door.
A man with graying hair answered the door. His face lit up when he saw Owen.
“Ah, Owen, my boy. I am glad you are home.” He pulled Owen into a bear hug.
“Just for a few more days, but I wanted to introduce you to my wife. Grace, this is Arthur Williams. Arthur, this is the new Countess of Caernarfon.”
“How do you do?” she asked.
“Well, you’re a pretty one!” said Arthur. “Please come in. The whole clan is here.”
Grace quickly found herself overwhelmed with the sights and sounds of Arthur’s large family. “Arthur’s sons and nephews do most of the labor on the sheep farm these days. They’re responsible both for the maintenance of the farm in terms of things like the shelters we use in bad weather and the fences and those sorts of things, and they tend to the sheep and shear them on regular schedules. Then the wool is bundled up and shipped off, thanks to Arthur.”
Grace nodded, eyeing the people filling the room. In quick succession, she was introduced to two of Arthur’s sons, their wives, and several of Arthur’s nephews. Arthur’s wife, Bryn, offered Grace refreshments, and although Grace and Owen had eaten lunch before walking here, she did help herself to a biscuit.
Everyone in the room seemed eager to meet Grace. She shook many hands, endured many hugs, and was mollified somewhat by Owen continuing to beam at her while he introduced her to all of the people in the house. A few children ran by, too, but Grace had no idea to whom they belonged. The group was perhaps more of a collective, all of them assisting each other and helping raise the children.
“It’s a lot, isn’t it?” said one of the women as everyone spoke over each other.
“It is,” said Grace. She’d never been to a family gathering like this. On the rare occasions her parents hosted dinner parties or socialgatherings, they tended to be formal affairs with a particular stodgy rhythm, where everyone went through the motions and no one ever spoke over anyone else. They also rarely had family over. Grace’s mother had no siblings, and Grace’s father had only a brother that he did not often speak with. “My family doesn’t gather like this. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“I know precisely what you mean,” said the woman. “I’m Gwen. I’m Alex’s wife.”
“Which one is Alex?”
Rather than be offended, the woman laughed. “Arthur’s son. The taller one with darker hair, standing over there next to the table.”
“Ah, yes. Of course. I apologize, but it was a lot of names to learn all at once.”
“No worries. I was an only child, so I understand where you’re coming from. I found my first few gatherings with the Williams family to be overwhelming, but it’s got its charms.”
