The Dowager Countess (The Saga of Wolfbridge Manor Book 2) Sahara Kelly (book club recommendations TXT) 📖

She glanced at him. “I was the Countess of Kilham for seven years, Giles. I didn’t spend all that time knitting.”

“I never imagined you did.”

“Thank you for that. But I must stress that I took on a lot of the responsibilities for Kilham Abbey.  I instigated several improvements that were most successful.” She paused. “At least I thought so.”

“I’m sure they were,” he said approvingly. “And I look forward to hearing your thoughts as to the Manor and what you might suggest here.”

“In spite of Royce?” She smiled as she spoke.

“He’ll listen. He may not like what he hears, but he’ll listen.” Giles looked at the men, bent over between the bushes. “They’ll all listen, my Lady. Make sure they hear what you want them to hear.”

“Obscure but profound,” she quipped. “I must take a few moments to fully comprehend the meaning of your words.”

“You’ve not mentioned the Wolfbridge letter…” Giles hesitated. He’d like to get her response, but then again, it was something personal between Ladies of Wolfbridge. He wasn’t sure if it was his place to ask.

She thought for a few moments, her eyes on the fields. “She must have been a quite amazing woman of great strength and determination. And she must have been very badly hurt.”

“In both regards not unlike yourself, Lady Gwyneth.”

She turned at that. “I would aspire to her convictions. I’m not sure I could be that strong, and my hurt is of a different nature.”

Giles agreed with her. “Yes, you’re right.” He shrugged. “But being Lady of Wolfbridge seems to lead to a better and more complete understanding of not only oneself, but of the nature of one’s interactions with others.”

“Bringing light into shadows?”

He nodded. “Exactly.” His gaze followed hers to where the gentlemen worked, calling to each other, chatting with those around them, and clearly enjoying the afternoon. “They can bring light, Lady Gwyneth. If you let them.”

“I’m beginning to understand that,” she answered. “Although a little afraid of it, if you must know.”

“Quite natural. Perhaps small steps at first. Something that appeals yet does not inspire apprehension…” Giles hoped she understood his implications. Wolfbridge was indeed about bringing light to those shadowy places that lurked within so many people.

But it couldn’t happen in isolation. It needed the touch of others. The affection of others. The love of others. Only then would the shadows be banished and the light of true realisation shine from within. There were four men waiting to do their Lady’s bidding. All she had to do was ask.

He couldn’t tell her who to ask, or what to ask for—those were entirely up to her. But now that she was almost well, it was time for her to fully understand what her gentlemen could do for her and what they could be to her.

There had always been a change in the Lady once she knew that not only was she safe—she was loved.

Chapter Seventeen

It had been a rare afternoon of sunlight and pleasure for Gwyneth. She couldn’t remember ever enjoying herself as much, and found herself confessing to an ache around her ribs from laughing.

Her gentlemen had teased, joked and played with everyone who gathered by the pond, and they’d all take a quick dip, regardless of clothing, to cool off their overheated bodies.

Many of the women had brought dishes to feed the weary workers, and by the time Gwyneth and Giles arrived, a wagon filled with covered bowls was hiding in the shade of the willows. Once the fieldwork was finished, the wagon was drawn out, the back let down, and the dishes circulated.

Mr Marsh, whose wife was known for her roses, brought a barrel of his own cider, and that was tapped with relish. So as the sun slowly set, it was a happy, noisy, laughing crowd that began to gather tired children and head towards home.

She watched Trick—who had dropped by for an hour or so—chatting with Jeremy. Jane was resting today, tiring more easily now that she carried a babe. He looked happy, and there was a measure of contentment about him that she guessed might only have come with his marriage. He’d been a gentleman at Wolfbridge, she knew. Had he…

She turned that thought aside. It was of no bearing on her situation what they’d done before she arrived. Now she had her own four gentlemen—knights, as she considered of them occasionally. They stood guard over her, protected her and helped her in any and every way,

Gabriel had spent a lot of his afternoon talking with people, getting to know them, and she noticed how easily he made them smile.

Jeremy and Evan were already well known and welcomed as old friends by almost everyone.

Royce…he’d had a quieter time, watching what was going on, and occasionally nodding and shaking hands with some of the older tenant farmers. They knew he was the estate manager now that Daniel had left, and the conversations there were less lighthearted.

But as the afternoon wore on, Gwyneth noticed a few more ladies, young ones, finding their way to Royce’s side and engaging him in conversation. She wasn’t sure he liked it, but he seemed to adapt well and they withdrew with smiles on their faces.

She herself had met so many of her tenants that their names blurred in her mind. Mrs Barnsley had arrived and introduced a steady flow of well-wishers, all of whom had something pleasant to say in the way of a welcome. Once again she rediscovered her strengths as Lady of the Manor, a role she’d learned at Kilham. Here, it was so much easier. The difference of course lay in the fact she was happier to be at Wolfbridge than she’d ever been at the Abbey.

She’d watched people leave, some as families, others in ones