Page 15 of Estelle’s Ardent Admirer (The Bookshop Belles #1)

CHAPTER 15

The Battle of Ferndale Hall

F erndale Hall smelled very strongly of medicinal herbs by dinnertime that evening, but nobody minded. Given a choice between herbal aromatics and breeding bed bugs, everyone would have gladly chosen the plants any day of the week, Felix was quite sure. His muscles were pleasantly sore from working the water-pump most of the afternoon, but eventually the demands for more buckets for the laundry-maids had ceased and he’d pumped one more bucket to dump over his sweaty head. He’d long since discarded his shirt and jacket by that time and he rather thought he’d seen Estelle peeping at him from a window above the pump-yard.

By the time he blinked the water out of his eyes and looked again, though, she was gone.

He hadn’t seen Estelle since leaving her in the still-room, and found he was already missing her presence. When she appeared at the doorway to the salon where the family always gathered before dinner, he jumped to his feet and hurried over to escort her in.

“Good evening. Would you like a glass of sherry? You look absolutely beautiful.” She was wearing a lovely gown of yellow-and-white striped silk, her dark hair piled atop her head, a few curls framing her face becomingly. Her cheeks flushed at his compliment.

“A sherry would be lovely, thank you, Mr Yates,” Estelle murmured, and he escorted her over to the sofa to sit beside his great-aunt before going to the sideboard to fetch her a glass.

“I have Bernadette’s tonic here for you, Lord Ferndale,” Estelle said, and he turned back to see her handing his grandfather a stoppered bottle. “Two teaspoons in a glass of wine with dinner.”

“Why, thank you, my dear!” Lord Ferndale accepted the bottle. “I do hope it doesn’t ruin the taste of the wine.”

Estelle laughed. “Bernadette assures me it has little taste. It may make you feel sleepy, though, so I would recommend retiring soon after dinner.”

“I shall take my book to my bedchamber to read instead of sitting in the library,” Lord Ferndale declared solemnly.

Felix handed Estelle her sherry, and she sipped at it demurely as Miss Yates began recounting a conversation she’d had with another of the Hatfield ladies after church that morning. Felix didn’t listen, too busy staring at Estelle, and had to quickly cover his lapse of manners when his great-aunt said “Don’t you agree, Felix?”

“But of course, Aunt Florence,” he said hastily, and caught Estelle covering up a smirk. She knew he hadn’t been listening, drat it all! But it was so hard to focus when she was sitting right in front of him looking so pretty…

“Felix, I’d like you to ride over to the Benbury farm sometime this week,” his grandfather said then. “Had a note that they’re concerned about the roof. Can’t have leaks once the autumn rains start, so go and investigate for me, would you? There’s a good chap.”

It would be a pretty ride to the Benbury farm, through some charming woodland. Felix determined then and there he’d find a suitable lady’s mount with a side-saddle in the stables for Estelle and take her on a ride the following day. A marvellous opportunity to be alone, as well as to take her about the estate.

He got the opportunity to be alone with her rather earlier, however, when after dinner both his great-aunt and grandfather retired rather promptly, leaving him and Estelle staring at each other across the cleared dining-table at only seven o’clock.

“The library?” Felix suggested, and Estelle nodded.

How his heart soared at that simple gesture. They left the library door wide open for propriety’s sake, but ended up sitting close together on comfortable reading chairs.

“You know that this is my favourite room in the hall,” Estelle said, “But the Yellow Suite is a very close-run second.”

“I’m so glad,” he said. “The library is almost my favourite room as well.”

“Almost?” she said with a smile, tilting her head at him, one delicate eyebrow arching questioningly.

Memories of their glorious kisses earlier today played in his head. “Of late, I’ve become rather partial to the stillroom.”

They both made a soft giggle at that.

“But, the library could become my favourite room,” he hinted hopefully.

She leaned in at the invitation and he delivered a kiss to her soft lips.

“Now it is,” he teased.

He cast a glance toward the doorway and listened for footsteps. Nothing. As if the entire household had allowed them privacy. Turning back to Estelle, her shining eyes and hint of a smile invited another kiss. He gladly obliged.

His heart crashed against his ribs as their lips came together. They matched so perfectly.

As long as he lived, he would never get enough kisses from his darling Estelle.

This .

This was what love truly felt like. Delightful, intoxicating and yet welcoming at the one time. Not itchy at all, that had been the wrong path entirely.

This was love. It had to be.

He, Felix Yates, was in love with Estelle Baxter.

And it was glorious.

Steps sounded in the hall. They were exaggerated for good effect. Estelle pulled away and pretended to read her book. He looked toward the doorway and smiled. It was Mr. Thorne, come to extinguish the candles in the chandelier.

“I did not realise you were still reading,” the butler said with a bow. He addressed Estelle as if she was already the mistress of the house and asked, “Do you require further refreshments, Miss Baxter?”

Estelle gave a shy smile and said, “Thank you Thorne, a small sherry perhaps?” Then she looked at Felix and he nodded that he’d like one as well.

The staff were already giving her the respect she was due, and she was handling it magnificently. She would make the most excellent mistress of the hall.

The butler nodded and made another bow. Knowing he’d be back soon, Felix sidled up to Estelle and they shared another quick kiss, then separated before anyone else arrived. When Thorne returned, they were perusing the shelves and the absolute picture of innocence.

As Thorne placed Felix’s sherry on a nearby table, he muttered the words, “Very good, sir.”

He couldn’t help but feel the butler was letting him know that everyone approved of Estelle.

“Thorne, please let the staff know that anyone who had to work extra today, on account of … my indiscretion, is to have tomorrow afternoon off. I’ll not deprive them of their rightful rest day.”

Thorne smiled and said his usual, “Very good, sir.”

As Thorne left, Estelle turned his way and said, “That’s very kind of you to do that.”

Felix shrugged. “It would have been kinder of me to have never brought the bedbugs home in the first place. I should have known the signs, as I’d had them before, in Greece.”

“All the same, I’m sure this is why the staff are so dutiful. They work hard, but they know they are appreciated.”

“That they are,” Felix agreed. He inhaled with satisfaction at how magnificently Estelle would oversee the staff in the not-too-distant future. “This situation was my fault. I caused the problems, and yet other people had to do the work to fix it. It sits uneasily with me. I should have helped more.”

That startled Estelle. “But you carried water all day, and you exhausted yourself.”

“Aha, so that was you at the window?”

Estelle blushed beautifully, providing the answer.

He chuckled to himself, now that he knew he’d seen her watching him. He truly hadn’t been trying to show off, but the work had made him hot and the water was right there. “I’m not afraid of hard work when required,” he said.

She nodded and said, “I have witnessed this now, many times. And I am sorry I misjudged you at first.”

“Water under the bridge,” he waved his hand away. “I am only glad I’m nothing like my father. Now there was a man afraid of hard work.”

Estelle reached for his hand and squeezed it in support, encouraging him to go on. Her hand in his felt so perfect. So right.

“I wasn’t witness to much, because I was in the nursery most of the time, and after that I was at school. But he was a terrible wastrel. He made my mother so dreadfully unhappy as well. She hid it as well as she could, but the signs were there.”

Estelle nodded with interest, rather than a look of pity. It was exactly the tone he needed to continue.

“She remarried, and she is happy now, living in Ireland with her second husband. I would like to visit her in the near future, but I also don’t want to leave my grandfather and Aunt Florence so soon after returning. I admire them both so much. And they need my help here at the Hall. I have a town council meeting tomorrow night to attend with him, and from what I’ve heard, the numbers are not in his favour.”

She nodded and he appreciated that she understood his quandary. “Lord Ferndale and Miss Yates have become good friends to my family in the past few years as well,” Estelle agreed. “I can see they are both delighted to have you home.”

The sherries were forgotten as they stole some more kisses. Each felt more perfect and more miraculous than the last. For a moment, he was almost grateful for bringing bedbugs to the hall, as it meant he’d had so much more time to get to know Estelle. Felix could have stayed in the library kissing her all night, and he probably would have, but after a while, she stepped back with a shy smile and red-kissed lips and bade him a good night.

At breakfast, Felix’s grandfather was full of bright cheer. “My dear Miss Baxter, you must send my best congratulations to Miss Bernadette. I have not slept so well in an age!”

“I am glad to hear that, as I’m sure my sister will be.” Estelle beamed at him.

“Good to see Felix up early as well,” Lord Ferndale said, turning to him as he delivered the disguised barb.

“Early rising is good for the soul,” Felix said by way of greeting. He poured his great-aunt a cup of tea and then delivered the same to Estelle, along with an invitation. “Miss Baxter, would you like to ride with me to Benbury this morning? It’s a delightful ride. I’m assured there is a horse in the stable who is a suitable lady’s mount, and though it is some years since dear Aunt Florence gave up riding, her side-saddle is still in excellent condition.”

He held his breath, waiting for her to accept.

“Thank you, I would love that.”

Thank heavens. He was afraid he’d gone too far last night and she might be having second thoughts. Riding together would give him a chance to see the extent of the Ferndale property and show Estelle off to the tenants. He was sure they would love her, just as the staff in the hall did.

Barely an hour later, they were walking their horses along the river under the dappled shade of the beech and elm trees that grew along the boundary.

“You ride very well,” Felix noted, “although I think you said you rented a horse, when you came here last time?”

“Indeed, we don’t keep horses of our own, but I have had plenty of opportunities to ride. Father used to take me with him on book-buying trips all over England; I have been to many towns as far away as Wales and Cornwall, and even to Edinburgh on one occasion! We generally travelled horseback with smaller packs as it’s much faster. If we bought lots of books, we’d pack them in a trunk and have them sent on ahead.”

“So you are well-travelled, then,” Felix noted.

Her voice sounded wistful as she answered, “Better than most young ladies, I suppose, but I would not call never leaving this island well-travelled, not when conversing with a gentleman who has been so far as Greece!”

Felix smiled, and shook his head. “I have found that people are much the same everywhere, even if they speak a different language. Their motivations are no different.”

“That’s rather philosophical of you, Felix.”

“Well, I have been in Greece, the home of the ancient philosophers; some of it must have rubbed off!”

She laughed, and joy welled in his chest. A fine day, a good horse, and a beautiful woman who laughed at his jokes; what more could a man ask for, truly? Their conversation flowed easily and happily. Laughter often arose as the warm summer breeze played over them. Felix was starting to believe and hope that Estelle truly was the woman for him, and Ferndale Hall.

They soon emerged from the trees into a field of ripening grain.

“That way, along the hedgerow.” Felix pointed. “I would not for the world trample any of the farmer’s crop.”

They were at the farmhouse a few minutes later, the Benburys hurrying to greet them. Felix swung down off his horse and handed the reins to the farmer while he lifted Estelle down from her mount, savouring the feel of her in his arms for the few brief moments before he set her on her feet.

“Why, it’s Miss Baxter, isn’t it?” Mrs Benbury said, her smile inquisitive as she looked from Estelle to Felix and back again. She made a bobbed curtsey and said, “Welcome back to Ferndale, Mr Yates.”

“I thank you, and I feel most welcome,” Felix said as he alighted from his horse and helped Estelle dismount into his arms. He had to let her go quickly, otherwise he might not be able to resist kissing her even with an audience.

Estelle beamed with good cheer at the farmers. “What a lovely farmhouse you have, Mrs Benbury! And hello, young Mary.”

Estelle crouched down, and it was then that Felix saw the little girl hiding shyly behind her mother’s skirts, thumb in her mouth. “I think I might have something in my pocket you would like… what is this?” She unwrapped a small oilskin packet to reveal a jam tart, and the little girl’s eyes lit up.

Estelle already knew the family, Felix realised. She had known little Mary Benbury was shy, and had gone to the kitchen and begged a treat from Cook to bring for the little girl.

He didn’t need to teach her a blessed thing about the Ferndale estates. She knew these people better than he did.

“That’s right kind of you, Miss Baxter,” Mrs Benbury said warmly.

Little Mary thanked Estelle shyly and stuffed the jam tart in her mouth whole. Felix hid a grin and looked back at the farmer, a sturdy man about his own age.

“My grandfather said there’s an issue with your roof. Will you show me?”

“Aye, sir, and thank you for coming out so quickly.”

Mrs Benbury invited Estelle to the kitchen for a glass of fresh milk while Felix climbed up into the roof space with Mr Benbury to inspect the damage; he climbed down again ten minutes later and accepted a milk glass of his own.

“I agree, Jacob,” he said to the farmer. “No good putting new slates on the roof with the beam rotting like that, and it’s not something you can do on your own. I’ll look into arranging some men and a new beam, and we’ll get it done within the week, if we can. Best to mend it before more rain makes the damage worse.”

Estelle was sitting at the table with young Mary in her lap, Mary showing Estelle two corn dollies and earnestly telling her a story. Felix could feel his heart melting as he looked at them; he could envision how wonderful a mother Estelle would be. He wanted to hear children laughing as they slid down the bannisters of the grand staircase at Ferndale Hall, just as Felix himself had once done. The old house needed bringing to life again.

Estelle looked up at Felix and smiled, before gesturing to her top lip. He blinked in confusion before realising he must have a milk moustache. Hastily, he fished a handkerchief out of his pocket to blot it away.

They thanked the Benburys for their kind hospitality and mounted their horses to ride away. As they waved back at the little family, Estelle said;

“Mary should have a proper doll.”

“Well, the mistress of Ferndale would be able to put one in her Christmas gift basket,” Felix said gently.

“Indeed, she would,” Estelle agreed, and she smiled across at him. “You’ll see to their roof?”

“Of course! I’ll meet with Grandfather’s steward this afternoon. It should have been done some time ago; I think I might order inspections of all the estate properties. Make sure everyone’s roofs are watertight before winter.”

“You’re far more responsible than I first thought you,” Estelle said. “You’ll make a very good master of Ferndale… no matter who the mistress is.”

He felt ten feet tall at her praise. Nobody had ever said anything like that to him before, and he found an unexpected lump in his throat. “Thank you,” he said thickly.

She smiled across at him, before her smile turned mischievous. “Race you to that tall oak,” she said, and she leaned down across her horse’s neck and cantered off before he’d even had the chance to gather up his reins.

“Cheat!” he laughed. “Come on, Hannibal, we can’t let a lady win; our honour is at stake!”

His horse was perfectly happy to race, but Felix deliberately held him in to let Estelle win for the sole reason that he wanted to see her happy, flushed and laughing with her victory.

Honestly, she seemed to get more beautiful every time he looked at her.

On their return to Ferndale, Aunt Florence and Mrs Sykes greeted Estelle with welcoming smiles and further enquiries about resolving ‘the issue at hand’ as they modestly called the bedbug disaster.

Seeing the three women collaborating with such harmony warmed Felix’s heart even more. Had there ever been a clearer sign that Estelle was not only the woman of his future, but the woman for Ferndale Hall as well?

He may have held fantasies about how easy it would be to run Ferndale Hall - with Estelle by his side - but that afternoon brought Felix back to reality with horrible swiftness. Baron Ferndale presided over town council meetings. Which meant they could not begin until he was there, and he could not leave until all items of business were concluded.

This was going to be part of Felix’s unpalatable future.

Joshua Baxter was here, in his esteemed position of town magistrate. Reverend Milings also had a seat, as the town’s leader of faith. Doctor Rasley had a seat, and the presence of the old gentleman had Felix realising why the meetings began mid afternoon rather than after dinner - as Rasley himself began to snore after the first hour.

Hadn’t someone mentioned that Dr Rasley didn’t attend church because early mornings didn’t suit him? Early evenings seemed to be pushing his limits as well.

There was also a Mr Wellworth, and Felix didn’t quite catch what that man did for the town. It didn’t matter, he was aligned with Joshua Baxter as well. Oh, and Mr Burton, the solicitor, who was also in Mr Baxter’s cohort.

There were of course three more members people aligned to his grandfather, including Mr Lennox the apothecary, and the mayor, and another alderman who his grandfather had appointed. But they were badly outnumbered.

Felix was unable to vote, as he was granted observer only status. The numbers kept landing five to four, in favour of Joshua Baxter’s faction. The minutes felt like hours, draining his last reserves of bonhomie. This was valuable time he could be spending kissing Estelle.

His grandfather raised a discussion about the hospital committee report, which he wanted to read into the meeting’s minutes. It was put to a vote but he lost, so he couldn’t even raise the issue.

How were they supposed to make any progress in this town if they wouldn’t even let a report be read?

The ride home with his grandfather was full of frustration. “What a colossal waste of time,” Felix confessed once they were ensconced in the safety of the carriage.

“When you take on the barony, you take the good with the bad,” his grandfather said.

“I didn’t realise it would be that bad,” he groaned.

“It was particularly awful tonight,” Grandpapa admitted with a heavy sigh. “Normally they at least vote in favour of reading reports from some of the town committees.”

“Why would you not want a hospital?” That was the part that infuriated Felix.

The old man chuckled and said, “Oh, they want a hospital, they were simply sending me a message that it needed to be on their terms, where they want it. And I rather fear they are trying to push for a change of membership of the hospital committee, to include more of their wives.”

“A power play?” Felix was all for some good intrigue. “Let me guess, Mrs Baxter wants to be on the hospital committee?”

“Got it in one,” Lord Ferndale chuckled.

Felix looked out the carriage window and said, “It probably would have gone better for you if I’d not been there.”

“Don’t you dare make excuses not to come to the next one,” Grandpapa said sternly. “I need witnesses to their obstruction.”

They both laughed at that, to cover for the fact that the town council meetings were utterly awful and really needed some restructuring. Fancy blocking a hospital that could help everyone in town because of a personal grievance! Felix could not fathom it.

Tuesday morning at breakfast, Felix was looking forward to riding out again with Estelle to explore more of Ferndale’s properties. They might inspect some more houses and check for leaky roofs or broken windows. And find some time to enjoy more kisses.

Estelle crushed his spirits with a casual remark that their ‘little problem’ was well in hand and she needed to return to Hatfield and her sisters.

Chills settled in his stomach. He looked to his grandfather with what he hoped was a subtle but beseeching look. It was too early for her to leave. She couldn’t go back to town without a proposal, and he’d been far too busy enjoying her company and her compliments to get around to it. What a pudding-brain he was!

If he hadn’t had to attend last night’s town council meeting, he might have found a way to ask as well. It truly had been a waste of time.

Grandfather delivered a withering look that Felix had wasted his chance, then he cleared his throat and sounded defeated. “I’m dreadfully sorry, Miss Baxter, er, one of my carriage horses came up a little lame on the way back from Hatfield last night. If you wouldn't mind staying one more night, just to make sure she’s fit and steady?”

What a whopping great lie that was, Felix thought, and hid a smile behind his hand.

Grandfather then laid it on thicker than marmalade, “Unless you’re unhappy with the Yellow Suite? Is it not to your liking?”

“Oh goodness, Lord Ferndale. The Yellow Suite is delightful. I am being treated like royalty here.”

Grandpapa nodded benignly. “That’s good, because we’ve had the odd Duke stay there on their travels. But I’m delighted to hear it’s up to your standards.” He delivered the last line with a grin, and Estelle gave a soft laugh and relaxed her shoulders.

“How you do love to jest. The Yellow Suite is delightful and I should dearly love to stay another night. I am only concerned for my sisters, who are having to carry out my many tasks as well as their own.”

Then Estelle turned to Felix and she looked suspicious about this new delay, but was nonetheless gracious about her accommodations. She moved to refill her plate with another slice of toast and his grandfather got out of his seat and indicated they should both stand by the window.

Keeping his voice low, Lord Ferndale said, “We can’t keep making lame excuses.”

“That’s a good one, we could say the horse is still lame…”

“Stop it. We can’t keep her here indefinitely. Get to courting her, lad.”

Felix nodded and knew how serious the situation was. The sun shone brightly in the meadow and the waters on the lake sparkled. An idea came to him, and he could have kicked himself for not acting sooner.