Page 25 of Brave New Earl (The Way to a Lord's Heart 1)

“And the other?” asked Lord Furness. “He looks younger. And smaller would be better, I think.”

“Aye, Fergus is just eight. A gelding. He’s a fine animal. Had it a bit rough where he was when we came upon him. Near starved he was, which is why he’s undersized.” For a moment Mrs. Fry looked fierce. “But he’s splendid now, aren’t you, lad?” She ruffled the pony’s pale mane, and he whickered. “Particularly since he’s found a friend in Molly.”

“I don’t want a chancy mount for Geoffrey,” said Lord Furness.

“Nothing chancy about Fergus,” the farmer replied. “He’s steady and strong, far more patient than I’d be, after what he endured.”

“You should take them both,” said Jean, moved by what she’d heard. “Tom could ride Molly.”

“I have plenty of mounts for Tom to use. He’s tall enough for a horse.”

“Yes, but see how they like to be together.” The ponies clearly knew they were being discussed, Jean thought. They were examining the strangers with wary interest. She could almost believe they realized their future was being settled.

“This pony is a means of transport and education,” said Lord Furness. “My decision will not be based on sentiment.”

“Of course not.” Jean searched for a logical reason, and found one. “But I’m sure Geoffrey would like Tom to be on his own level as he learns. Who likes to be loomed over? It might make him quite cross to be looked down on from horseback.”

Lord Furness gazed at her. His blue-gray eyes seemed skeptical, but a half smile tugged at his lips. Quite a charming half smile. Jean blinked and looked away as he said, “Check them both over, Bradford.”

The groom came forward and murmured to the ponies as he ran his hands over their legs, examined their teeth, and felt along their torsos. When he finished, he gave a nod of approval. Molly pushed at the man in a friendly way and then rested her head on Fergus’s back.

“Oh, very well,” said Lord Furness. “Both. What will you take for them, Mrs. Fry?”

“I’ll give you a good price for the two.” She gave Jean a sly wink as they started back.

An amount was agreed upon. Scones and tea were duly consumed. Afterward, Mrs. Fry sent Len out to the field with halters for the ponies. He brought them back and handed them over to the groom, ready to be led to the Furness stables, then turned to the barn to fetch the visitors’ horses.

About to mount up, Jean paused by the basket of kittens again. They tumbled over their mother, an adorable profusion. “That cat looks right smug, don’t she?” said Mrs. Fry from the doorway. “She came in from the road three months ago, dead of winter it was, took a look around the farm, rubbed up against my ankles, and settled herself down. A week later, she produced six little ones.” Resignation and fondness showed in the woman’s face. “Knew what she was doing, I reckon.”

Benjamin watched Miss Saunders gaze down at the kittens. As if pulled, she bent and picked one up, a gray striped tabby. It cuddled against her neck. Which looked like a rather pleasant thing to do, he found himself thinking. “Geoffrey would probably like a kitten,” she said.

“He’d train it to pounce on us from high places,” said Benjamin.

“Ah, cats have the advantage of being quite untrainable.” She held up the small creature and gazed into its green eyes. “You wouldn’t join in his pranks, would you? You’d teach him his utter insignificance.”

Benjamin laughed. “If you want a kitten, don’t use my son as an excuse. Just have one.”

Mrs. Fry nodded amiably. “They’re ready to leave their mother. I’m looking for homes for them.”

“Mew,” said the kitten.

With a slight shake of her head, Miss Saunders set it back among its littermates. “I have no place to keep a cat.”

For an instant, Benjamin thought he glimpsed desolation in her face. Surely not, over such a trivial issue? But he was nevertheless moved to say, “Take it. It can live at Furness Hall.”

“Really?”

“What’s one more cat?” He pretended carelessness, despite the amazing way she’d lit up at the offer. “We have them all about the stables, don’t we, Bradford?”

“Yes, my lord,” said the groom.

“I’ll get a basket for you to carry him home in,” said Mrs. Fry, clearly glad to have settled one of her charges. She disappeared inside briefly, returned with a small covered basket, scooped up the tabby, and closed him into it.

Thus, some while later, Benjamin and Miss Saunders walked through the front door of Furness Hall with a mewing package. Geoffrey popped out of the door at the back of the hall as soon as the door closed. He must have been lurking there. Was no one watching him? Didn’t he have lessons?

“What’s that?” he asked.

“Miss Saunders has acquired a kitten.”

---