Page 14 of Estelle’s Ardent Admirer (The Bookshop Belles #1)
CHAPTER 14
Estelle’s New Home
F elix had been fairly sure his great-aunt was merely acting helpless about the bed bug situation in order to get Estelle to Ferndale Hall under false pretences. His suspicions were quite confirmed when Mrs Sykes - who was supposed to be indisposed - greeted them in the front hall, not looking even remotely under the weather.
“I understood you weren’t well, Mrs Sykes,” Estelle said, her eyes slightly narrowed.
He really shouldn’t laugh out loud. He couldn’t even look his great-aunt in the eye right now or he’d blow everything. It would be lovely to have a few days to get to know Miss Baxter, away from the town and her heavy responsibilities. Bless Aunt Florence and her machinations!
“Well, I have had a trifling cold, Miss Baxter, but I’m quite recovered now,” Mrs Sykes said cheerfully. “Have you come for dinner, miss?”
“Miss Baxter will be staying a few days,” Felix said, gesturing to a footman. “If you’d bring her valise in from the carriage, Matthew? And there’s a large parcel of books too, take it straight to the library for Lord Ferndale, if you please.”
“Of course, sir.” The footman hurried to do his bidding, and Felix turned to Mrs Sykes.
“Would the Yellow Suite be available for Miss Baxter?”
The housekeeper’s eyes widened infinitesimally, but aloud all she said was, “Certainly, Mr Yates! Please, Miss Baxter, if you’ll come with me, Matthew will bring your things up directly and I’ll assign you a maid.”
“Oh, a maid won’t be necessary,” Estelle tried to demur.
“Yes, it is,” Felix mouthed at Mrs Sykes over the top of Estelle’s head, nodding vigorously.
This would be splendid!
“Oh, we wouldn’t dream of not assigning a maid to a guest, Miss Baxter!” Mrs Sykes said, admirably straight-faced. “I think Isabelle will do nicely. I’ll send her up with tea shortly.”
Estelle looked as though she might be about to argue some more, but after a quick glance at Miss Yates, who was smiling and nodding with approval, she finally murmured a quiet “thank you” and turned to follow Mrs Sykes up the stairs.
“Ah, Mrs Sykes,” he heard her say as they went, “I’m not here just for amusement. I’m afraid there’s a bit of a problem…”
Mrs Sykes was too well trained to scream out loud, just as she’d shown no major reaction when Felix asked her to give Estelle the suite reserved for the highest-ranking visitors, one which royalty had stayed in more than once, but she did stop in her tracks for a moment and look back at Felix, tight-lipped.
Felix winced. The bedbugs were all his fault, and he knew it. He wasn’t going to leave all the hard work to Ferndale’s staff in the next few days, capable though he knew them to be. He would be pitching in and working alongside them to fix the mess he’d made.
“The Yellow Suite?” His grandfather nudged him and chuckled richly. “Now tell me, Felix. Are you making real progress with Miss Baxter?”
“I don’t know,” Felix said with absolute honesty.
“Well, we have her in the right place now.” His great-aunt linked her arm through his and smiled up at him. “Who can resist the combination of your charm and Ferndale Hall’s beauties?” She waved around them, and Felix smiled as he looked up at the paintings of his ancestors on the walls. They were a stern-looking lot for the most part, save for his secret favourite, his great-great-grandmother, Lady Elizabeth. She shared his fair hair and blue eyes, and she had just the slightest smile playing at the corners of her mouth, as though she was about to laugh.
He looked forward to telling Estelle about all the family history. About giving custody of his heritage to her, as stewardess for future generations. He couldn’t imagine anyone better than Estelle, with her determination and dedication to duty.
And of course, it didn’t hurt that she was one of the prettiest women he’d ever seen. He cast one more glance up the stairs, already thinking about how soon he’d see her again. About how beautiful she’d look at dinner with her eyes shining in the candlelight from Ferndale Hall’s candelabra.
Then he giggled to himself about their last meal here together, where she’d used the candelabra to block his view. He must instruct the footmen to put more candles on the side tables instead. Nothing on the table she could hide behind!
“Are those my books from Miss Louise? How marvellous!”
Felix dragged his attention back to his grandfather. “I believe so. Shall I unwrap them for you?”
“Don’t you dare touch my books!” Lord Ferndale clutched the package to his chest possessively.
“Right, right, understood!” Felix held his hands up, laughing. “But I did make a purchase or two at the bookshop you might like to see. I’ll just fetch them, shall I?”
Estelle took a steadying breath as Mrs Sykes showed her into the Yellow Suite, which Mr Yates had designated for her stay. She and her sisters had sometimes stayed at Ferndale Hall in the past. Just a few days ago she’d stayed the night after the rainstorm prevented her travel back to town. That had been in a comfortable, small room for the sake of convenience. She’d never in her whole life stayed in a room as beautiful and important as this one. It was hard to fight the urge to twirl with delight at the incredible amount of space and beautiful furnishings. As the name suggested, the walls were painted yellow from the high decorative ceilings to the white wainscotting. A series of landscape paintings hung from the picture rail along one wall. Light flooded the room as Mrs Sykes pulled back the thick, golden-hued drapes. A soft gasp escaped as Estelle realised the landscape paintings were of that same view, at different times of year.
A broad oak tree with its green summer leaves provided welcome shade for a hot day. Beyond the oak was a delightful lake that snaked behind another row of trees, giving the illusion it might extend much farther.
The Yellow Suite was several rooms, the first being a beautifully appointed sitting room, the second the largest bedroom Estelle had ever been in. The bed had an enormous, carved oak headboard that spoke of a long history and connection. There were lions and coats of arms carved into it.
Mrs Sykes made a quick bob to Estelle and said, “I hope it is to your liking, Miss Baxter?”
“I am nearly lost for words,” Estelle admitted, “It is …”
“Somewhat daunting?” Mrs Sykes said with a smile.
“A little,” Estelle admitted, “But it’s also inviting and warm.” She turned to examine more of the suite, barely believing she would be staying in here, possibly for more than one night. Miss Yates’s claims that they needed her to rid them of bed bugs had to be wildly exaggerated. Mrs Sykes appeared in good health. If this was a ruse to bring Estelle and Felix together, it was working. She was falling more in love with this room with every heartbeat.
In the corner under the windows were low shelves of books, keeping them out of direct sunlight. There was a neat chaise longue to entice a reader to stay. How utterly perfect.
“Your bags will be here presently, as will Isabelle to assist you. Please ring the bell if you need any further assistance.”
“But Mrs Sykes, I have come here to assist your good self in that other delicate matter. My sister, Bernadette has packed many herbs and posies that will aid us.”
Mrs Sykes swallowed. “There really are bedbugs?”
“I’m afraid so. You see, Mr Yates stayed at The Swan, and then returned here to his room in the hall, and the next day at the assembly he…”
“...Had those pestilent biters,” Felix finished her sentence as he walked in with Matthew carrying her valise and the satchel of Bernadette’s herbs. “I thought you’d need these sooner rather than later.”
“Mr Yates,” Mrs Sykes bobbed a quick curtsey to Felix.
Matthew bowed to Estelle and left the three of them in the room.
Warmth bloomed in Estelle at seeing Felix’s beaming smile. He shouldn’t be so happy, considering the trouble he was about to put the entire household to, yet here he was, full of his usual joy.
“We have our work cut out for us,” Estelle said as she opened the satchel and fetched Bernadette’s packages. “Mrs Sykes, these are herbs to add to the wash. This liquid is to sprinkle on the floorboards. These are for putting in the bottom of the drawers or between folded sheets.”
The unflappable housekeeper’s expression remained steady. “Thank you, Miss Baxter.” Then her voice almost appeared to falter as she who helped everyone else asked for the same in return. “I’m not well-educated in herbs and the like. Would you mind instructing Isabelle on which ones to pick from the kitchen garden?”
Felix stepped in. “How about I help as well? After all, I am the cause of this upset. I do feel rather responsible.”
Mrs Sykes’s eyebrows rose so imperceptibly, Estelle wondered if she had imagined it.
“There’s no need, Mr Yates,” she said.
Mrs Sykes looked caught between wanting to make a start on treating their infestation, and not wanting to leave Mr Yates alone with their guest.
Isabelle arrived and bobbed a curtsey at the doorway. “We’re boiling the coppers this minute, Mrs Sykes.”
“Good,” Mrs Sykes said, holding aloft one of the packets. “I’ll add this mixture to the water.”
Oh dear, it was the wrong set of herbs. Estelle had to do something, or Bernadette’s work would be wasted. She tilted her head towards the other packet and Mrs Sykes swapped them over. Estelle nodded that she had the right one.
With a little exaggeration, she said, “I would dearly love to see the kitchen garden. I’ve heard such lovely things about it, and my sister Bernadette asked me for a full report.”
“Yes Miss,” Isabelle bobbed obediently. “I’ll show you where it is.”
Felix said, “I should very much like to see the kitchen garden as well. I have only been back a short while and have been remiss in my duties here at the Hall.”
Estelle added, “Bernadette gave me a list of plants that will assist. I’m sure most of them will be growing here.”
Mrs Sykes nodded deferentially. “The gardeners will cut them for you.”
“I’m more than happy to …” Estelle drifted off as understanding dawned. She was not here to work, she was here to give advice only. She could have very well written a list of what was needed. In fact, they might have been better off had Bernadette come instead of herself. But then… she cast a cynical glance at Felix. Somehow, she didn’t think Bernadette would have been invited.
Felix offered her his elbow and she placed her hand on the inside of it, letting him lead her to the garden while Mrs Sykes and Isabelle went to the washrooms.
“This is such a glorious garden.” Estelle looked around. The high brick walls protected the gardens from wind and weather, and the glass-houses built up against the walls provided a controlled climate for plants that required it. The orderly rows of planted vegetables and herbs grew vigorously in their raised beds. In this garden there were no plants that were purely decorative, everything had some use, and yet it was still beautiful. Two gardeners were working, one of them training peas up against canes, another weeding the strawberry patch. Both rose to their feet to offer respectful bows as she and Felix walked up.
“‘Tis Sunday, Willis, shouldn’t you be resting?” Felix said cheerfully to the older man.
“Wife chased me out the ‘ouse, sir, and our lad with me. Said she couldn’t abide us underfoot all day. Thought we might as well get a few jobs done.”
“Good Lord, go fishing or something!” Felix said it with a smile, but Estelle could see he truly meant it. He wanted his people, the workers at the estate, to enjoy their leisure hours, and suddenly her heart warmed towards him. It was a kind gesture that would no-doubt endear him all the more to the staff. Her cousin Phoebe begrudged her maids even a half-day off a week, and gave them Sunday mornings with the stipulation that they must attend church, so the poor girls barely got two hours to themselves. And yet here was Felix telling the gardeners to go fishing!
“Before you go, would you point us in the right direction?” Felix turned to Estelle. “Miss Baxter is in search of several herbs.”
“Go and get a basket, lad,” Willis said to his son, and the boy scurried off quickly. Willis bowed respectfully to Estelle. “What can I helps you with, miss?”
She recited the list, and Willis nodded before leading her to the herbaceous border and kneeling to begin cutting some fragrant lavender for her and put it in the basket his son soon returned with. Next came rosemary, which she knew was growing well here from the cuttings Bernadette had supplied to them. Then it was on to the treasure trove of plants in the glass houses, including lemons and their blossoms. In a large earthenware pot grew a small laurel. She’d heard of bay leaves, and although it wasn’t on Bernadette’s list, Estelle picked a few of the leaves - not too many as the plant was still a small shrub - to dry them. Bernadette would certainly want them.
It occurred to Estelle, as they walked back inside some half an hour later with Felix carrying two baskets filled with herbs and flower blossoms, that the Ferndale Hall servants were being unusually deferential to her. She’d been here quite a few times over the years, after all, and all the servants were Hatfield locals she’d known her whole life. They’d never previously bowed and scraped quite so much as they were doing at the moment. She eyed Felix suspiciously. This had to be his doing.
“Mr Yates,” she asked, as they made their way to the stillroom, past footmen and maids busily scurrying hither and thither with pails of hot water and bundles of linen to wash, “what exactly have you said to your staff about me?”
“I beg your pardon?” Felix asked, his brow furrowing in confusion.
Estelle tried not to think how adorable he looked when he wore that expression, because otherwise she’d forget what she needed to ask him. “The servants are being far more deferential to me than I’m used to. What have you told them about me?”
Her heart beat a little faster as she waited for his answer.
“Ah.” Light dawned. “You think I’ve announced that you’re Ferndale Hall’s future mistress.”
She nearly screamed in shock. “Keep your voice down!” Estelle hissed as a passing maid lost her footing and splashed water from her bucket upon overhearing him. The maid quickly regained her composure and scurried off.
“Oh, goodness! Well, if you haven’t before, you have now!”
Felix grinned unrepentantly. “I hadn’t, I promise. But you are the first lady I’ve ever brought home to the Hall. I think they might just be, ah, playing it safe perhaps?” His blue eyes were soft as he gazed down at her. Parts of her body thrummed in response. “Perhaps they’re hoping that if they impress you, it’ll make you more likely to accept me. They couldn’t hope for a better mistress than you, and I’m sure they realise that.”
She could get lost in those blue eyes. And she didn’t want to fault his logic, either. “Well,” she wanted to laugh but she also feared how much the staff might talk, “that maid will no doubt be spreading what she’s heard among the rest of the staff at the end of the day.”
“Excellent. Then I can be absolutely sure you’ll be treated with the respect you deserve,” Felix answered cheerfully.
He was deliberately misinterpreting her, but she found it impossible to be cross with him. How did he manage to do that? “That wasn’t what I meant… you are quite incorrigible, Mr Yates!” She was half-laughing, though, as they reached the stillroom and Felix set down a basket to open the door for her.
It was quiet in the stillroom, fragrant with the scents of drying herbs and curing soap. It was also dim, as there were only small windows that faced north. Felix put the baskets on the long bench at one side of the room and Estelle began to sort the cuttings into bundles, separating those that would need to be used fresh and those that would need to be dried for greater efficacy. Bernadette would be beside herself with joy in this stillroom, but all the same, Estelle was glad nobody else was here.
The door was deliberately left wide open, but she was still very conscious that she and Felix were quite alone in here. Her senses felt heightened, as if she could feel him moving about the room. Without needing to look, she knew he was standing very close beside her, watching with apparent interest as she sorted the various bundles.
Estelle found her cheeks flushing and her breath coming short as their sleeves brushed. Her pulse quickened as he stepped closer. Little by little, he closed the distance between them. Her hands stilled, and she did not move, transfixed in this low light by the closeness of him. The stillroom was designed to be cool, but she felt body heat radiating from him. His eyelids dropped as his gaze lowered to her lips. Throat suddenly dry, she swallowed.
“Estelle,” he said, her name a yearning question.
With a shaky breath, she answered, “Felix.”
His eyelids lifted again and their gazes locked. Then he said, “I should very much like to…”
“Yes.” Estelle closed the infinitesimal distance between them and pressed her lips to his. Warmth flooded her system. Nerves jangled. The softness of his lips, the herbal aromatics and the thrill of the kiss danced together in her blood. She pulled away for a fraction to take in air, and then they were back, luxuriating in the wonder of the moment. Those soft and now warming lips of his were a balm to her soul. There was a growing understanding of what the kiss meant to both of them, but she didn’t want to think. She only wanted to feel. To leave her troubles behind and live in joy. Even if only for a little moment.
His arms came around her in a warm and tender embrace. Hers did the same and her hands played with the curls at his neck. They were both breathing a little harder now with so many new sensations.
“Marvellous,” he said as he broke away and double-checked they remained undisturbed.
Estelle wanted the kiss to continue; yearned for more. At the same time she appreciated his chivalry. It was one thing for the staff to be talking about her as a potential mistress of Ferndale Hall, but if they were caught like this, the gossip would be far more detrimental in nature.
“We should probably sort the plants,” Estelle said, although she was so transfixed by his handsome face she didn’t turn back to the sorting bench herself. They simply stood there, looking at each other in wonderment.
Mrs Sykes’s voice came into the stillroom from outside, her steps exaggerated as if she deliberately didn’t want to interrupt a tender moment. When she reached the doorway she kept talking and turned her back on them to hang up a gardening hat on a hook. Felix stole a lightning-fast kiss from Estelle then stepped over to the table and announced loudly, “Mrs Sykes, how lovely of you to join us. Miss Baxter was just singing the praises of our gardeners, and your good self of course.”
Estelle smothered a laugh with her hand.
Mrs Sykes turned a warmly gratified look on Estelle. “Well, that’s very gracious of you, Miss Baxter! My goodness, what a marvellous lot of herbs. Now, Mr Yates.” She turned a stern look on Felix. “You’re going to be in our way in here, why don’t you run along now?”
“I’ll get out of your way, Mrs Sykes, but I do feel terribly guilty about bringing bedbugs to the Hall. I can’t leave all the work to you and the maids, especially not on a Sunday. What can I do?”
Mrs Sykes considered Felix for a moment before apparently concluding that he was serious. She delivered a nod of approval his way. “That’s good of you, Mr Yates. There’s a great deal of water to be pumped and hauled. I’m sure you could take a turn at the pump.”
“I certainly shall!” Felix squeezed Estelle’s hand surreptitiously before heading for the door. “Look after Miss Baxter for me, Mrs Sykes. Show her all about the Hall!”
“You can leave her in my hands, Mr Yates.” Mrs Sykes chuckled fondly as he left, shaking her head, before turning a knowing gaze on Estelle. “Yes indeed, Miss Baxter. Let’s get to showing you everything about the Hall. I’m sure it’s knowledge which will come in handy in the future.”
Estelle blushed.
Furiously.