Page 11 of A Summer Romance (The Starlings of Starling Hall #2)

Theo wiped the sweat from his brow and caught his breath.

He had blisters on his hands and his back ached.

Had he really thought he would have time to dally with Breana when he got home?

What a fool he’d been. In the six weeks since he had returned to Barton Manor, he had never worked so hard in his life.

He was no slug, but he was not used to physical work, other than riding his horse or some boxing when he was at school, and that was hardly work.

Now he was repairing cottages with the men from the village he had employed, climbing ladders and hammering boards and setting tiles on roofs.

And if he wasn’t busy with that, he was out doing what he was doing now, digging trenches to drain the water from the boggy fields so they could once again be productive.

He couldn’t afford to pay for others to do all of the work needed.

To save money, he had to do as much as possible himself—though he needed some instruction, of course.

He might be good with sums and adding up figures, but this was all very new to him.

Will Starling had been an enormous help, happy to share his experiences and offer advice. Theo had soaked it all up.

Francis’s upcoming marriage to Miss Ingram had been brought forward.

Theo had heard no more arguments from his brother.

And after spending a day helping paint one of the new cottages in readiness for a tenant, Francis had set off to London to use his wiles on his wife-to-be.

He must have been successful, because the wedding was to take place in a week’s time.

Making plans for Francis and his new wife gave Mrs. Norris plenty to do.

Miss Ingram’s mother was an invalid, and needed Mrs. Norris’s help, and she seemed quite cheery about it.

At first, Theo’s father had been glum about all the changes going on around him.

To him, it was a reminder of his own shortcomings and his failure to heed his son’s warnings.

But recently he had begun to come around, and had even taken an interest in the livestock Theo had purchased to start his herds.

“Well!” he had said, standing at the newly repaired fence that looked out over the fields. “It looks like it did in my grandsire’s time. He was a farming man, you know. It must be in your blood, son.”

Theo took that as high praise.

His mother, while appreciative of his efforts, did not like to think of what she considered the high social cost. “Such a shame you have to work with your hands,” she had sighed, when she glanced up from sorting wedding invitations.

Theo had held up his hands, currently scarred and bloody, and she had shuddered.

“You will wear gloves at the wedding, I hope?”

Theo sighed and said he would.

At night he fell into bed completely exhausted, only to be up at dawn again the next morning. But the tide was beginning to turn, and with every step forward it was clear that his efforts were sending them in the right direction. He could turn Barton Manor into the working farm it had once been.

His younger brothers were still at school, but he wasn’t sure for how much longer.

His uncle had kindly taken over the payment of the school fees, so they could stay for now.

Theo wondered if they expected to be gentlemen when they returned home and smiled to himself, as he imagined the looks on their faces if he handed them a shovel each and explained to them the reality of their futures.

Although, fun as that would be, he suspected neither of them would end up working on the farm.

His uncle was already planning to offer one of them a job, replacing Theo as his secretary.

Breana had returned to Starling Hall a fortnight since, but he had not seen her, other than briefly, and not to talk to.

Not properly. She had smiled at him when he came to seek her brother’s advice, carrying in a tray with tea and cake upon it, and paused to ask after his family.

But Will had been impatient, and keen to get back to the business they were engaged in.

Molly and Will’s wedding was only two weeks away, and Theo had received an invitation.

His parents had also been invited, but Francis had wisely declined after Theo had a word with him.

The last thing they needed was his brother making eyes at Breana over the wedding cake.

Besides, Theo had decided the wedding would be the place to speak to Breana properly and confess about the kiss.

And then, the day before the wedding, he received a note.

Dear Theo,

Please meet me by the pear tree in the old orchard at Barton Manor at two o’clock.

Your friend,

Breana Starling.

He sat smiling at the letter for some time, the paper crinkling in his hands.

He didn’t know what she wanted to meet him about, but the very idea that she had taken the trouble to set them a tryst gave him a warm, happy feeling.

Even just to see her lovely face would be enough.

Although, it would also be the appropriate time to mention the kiss, and that may not make him, or her, very happy.

He was ready well before two o’clock and took a leisurely stroll down toward the orchard.

He looked over his lands with pride in what he’d accomplished so far, but recognised how much work there still was to do.

At Starling Hall there were fruit trees and vegetable gardens, all providing food for the people who lived there.

He wanted to do the same, and in time, he would.

Theo was already well ahead of the bank’s predicted timetable, and he hadn’t run out of steam yet.

In fact, with every task he completed, his enthusiasm grew for the next challenge.

It would not be easy, and he would not always feel this positive, but today he was in a good place and was determined to enjoy it.

And if Breana chose to enjoy it with him, he would be very happy indeed.

***

When she had sent the note, Breana hadn’t been sure whether Theo would meet her or not. She had grown impatient, tired of waiting for a serendipitous moment when they could be together, just the two of them, so she had taken matters into her own hands.

She understood why it was difficult, and she had been willing to wait up to a point. She needed to be with him, even if it was only for a few minutes.

She missed him.

Now she stood by the old pear tree, the same one where she had waited for Francis. She had been a very different girl then, her head full of silliness and fantasies.

And now? Well, it wasn’t as if she had learned to love making jam and weeding the vegetable garden, but she understood these were tasks that had to be done.

She was helping Abby far more than she used to, and Abby—not the most emotive of people—had been so grateful she had given her a hug.

Which made it feel as if her efforts were worthwhile.

But there were times when she missed her daydreams. Lately she had learned to channel them into the more practical parts of her life, and that had felt good.

For instance, Theo’s farm and how she could help him to improve his kitchen garden. When she had mentioned some of her ideas to Will he had shrugged and said he was too busy to listen to her. That had hurt, because Breana was genuinely trying to be helpful.

Theo strolled toward her, his tall figure moving gracefully, and to her relief he was smiling.

The breeze stirred her hair—she had forgotten her bonnet—and she could feel the chilly promise of autumn in the air.

Summer would be over soon, the year moving on as it always did, but Breana would never forget this summer.

“Breana,” Theo said as he reached her. His gaze slid over her. She was wearing the same blue dress she’d worn when she was waiting for Francis, and her cheeks felt flushed with the pleasure of seeing him here. “I am so glad to see you. I meant to visit, but I have been—”

“Busy,” she cut in. “I know. I understand. But I needed to see you without Will talking about improving your sheep or cows or whatever it is this week.”

He laughed, looking so carefree her heart swelled with happiness for him. “It will get better,” he assured her. “When the winter comes, there will be less to do, so long as none of the tenants’ roofs spring a leak.”

“You know, Will isn’t the only one with ideas.”

“Oh?” He gave her a puzzled look but at least he wasn’t telling her he was too busy to listen.

“I can’t say I care for half the things the two of you talk about, but I know a little about gardening.

There are many crops you can grow in the winter rather than leaving the ground fallow.

Not just Brussel sprouts,” she pulled a face, “but other more interesting vegetables like…” She thought a moment, and then smiled.

“Like leeks and parsnips, even lettuce grows well in the cold, if a little slowly. You could make a walled garden, to keep out the worst of the weather.”

She could see it in her imagination, and was so busy explaining it to him she didn’t realise she had been monopolising the conversation.

But Theo didn’t appear bored. He looked impressed. “Hasn’t Will followed your advice?”

Breana’s smile went awry. “Everyone is always so busy at Starling Hall and they think my head is in the clouds most of the time.”

“You have a vivid imagination,” he said gently, “but that is one of the reasons I enjoy your company. You lift me out of my hum drum life. And your idea about the garden is a good one. I will put it into practice exactly as you described it.”

Breana flushed with pleasure “Perhaps I can help?” It was a question because despite knowing what she felt, she wasn’t sure he felt the same. The words had never been spoken between them.

“I would like nothing more. In fact, I wondered…” He hesitated. “Is it too soon to ask if you might do me the honour…”

Breana stepped closer until they were only inches apart. “It isn’t too soon,” she said.

His dark eyes warmed and he bent his head.

Their lips touched, a mere brush, but it felt like a promise.

She slipped her arms about his neck and he rested his hands at her waist. He leant in again.

This time his lips pressed to hers, his tongue sliding along the bottom one, so that she gasped in surprise and pleasure.

This kiss was longer and certainly more masterful, full of intent. Not here and not now, but for the future. When it was over, she rested her cheek against his chest, breathing in that cologne.

“Breana,” he said, his voice so close it was a rumble in his chest. “I have something to tell you. Do you remember the night of the Spring ball? You went into the library to hide from Francis.”

She stiffened. How did he know about that? She swallowed and peeped up at him through her lashes. She could deny it, make up a story, but she was done with that. “I remember,” she said. “I hid in the cupboard. There was a stone head with snakes instead of hair.”

He laughed softly. “Yes, an ugly thing. So you do remember?”

“I hid there for ages, waiting for Francis, before I knew the sort of man he was. Eventually he came and kissed me there. It was my first such kiss. I suppose he told you all about it.” But even as she said the words, doubts began to form.

“Although, he kissed me in the rose garden some weeks later and it wasn’t nearly as nice.

” Her eyes widened, a new theory emerging.

“It was you , wasn’t it? Just now, when you kissed me, it reminded me of that night in the library. ”

Theo gave a laugh that was close to a groan.

She buried her face in his chest. “It was you!”

“Yes, it was.” He tipped her chin up and spoke in a heartfelt way that made her want to melt into a warm puddle.

“I saw you go in there and didn’t want Francis to take advantage of you.

So I went after you to warn you off. However, before I could declare who I was, you suggested I kiss you.

And, in a moment of weakness, I did. I apologise, it was…

” He shook his head. “The truth is, I had been wanting to kiss you for a long time, Breana. Long before the library. But you seemed to prefer my brother.”

“Only because I didn’t know him properly. And, at the time, I didn’t know you at all.” Then, feeling a smile warming her face, “Have you really wanted to kiss me for so long?”

“Yes.”

She stood on her tiptoes and he bent down.

Their lips caught and held once more, this time going on for much longer.

Breana was very lucky to have found a man who could kiss so well.

Or perhaps it wasn’t some magical skill he possessed, but rather the everyday magic of them being compatible.

No awkward bumping of noses, just pure delight.

He took her hand in his. “Will you come back to the house with me?” he asked. “I want to tell my parents that they are about to have another wedding. Of course, I will ask your father’s permission first.”

“I think he will be more than happy to agree,” Breana said. “One less Starling in Starling Hall.”

Theo smiled but his thoughts had wandered elsewhere. They walked for a time toward the house, hands clasped, before he found the right words.

“Breana, I cannot promise you that our lives will have the sorts of things you hope for, full of social engagements or endless afternoons picnicking on the lawn. Barton Manor will never be like that again, I fear. But if you are willing to stand by me, help me through the difficult times ahead, then it would make me the happiest man in the world.”

Breana sighed, but it was a happy sigh. “I find I don’t much care about those things the way I used to. I care about you, and I want to be with you through those difficult times, and the good times, for I am sure there will be many of those.”

His eyes grew bright with tears as he kissed her again, and they held each other tight, making promises for their future.