- Chapter 17 -

Eliza Ritewood often walked on the numerous paths that snaked over the grounds of Rosforte castle. Now that her closest friend was happily married, she spent most of these walks with Betsy and Cecilia Wheaton. Katherine's younger sisters no longer needed to serve as ladies' maids, and the Baroness had taken on another from the village (whom she was currently trying to match with her Steward). On this cool and sunny spring day in early April Eliza was on one of these walks with Katherine's sisters when they met, as they often did, with Mr Harding. After the customary greeting and an invitation for him to join the small party, the ladies continued their conversation.

"We were just speaking of Katherine," Cecilia smiled "Bet has just returned from a visit and is telling us of the gardens at Landyn House. They are beginning to bloom now spring has settled in, and I am oh so glad. Winter is terribly dreary!"

"She is doing well then?" Harding asked Betsey in his usual quiet, stoic manner.

"Yes very, although she was beginning to feel a little ill just before I left, but that is to be expected." She grinned.

"Yes!" Eliza added quickly "the spring season is notorious for making people ill." Betsey frowned and looked as though she would interrupt, but Eliza hurried on giving her a sharp look "It is good you came home when you did."

"True." Mr Harding agreed "And how is Mr Gray?"

"Just as well, and in very high spirits!"

Mr Harding chuckled "In high spirits when his wife is ill? What can be the reason for it?"

"Oh, Betsey said she was only a little ill;" Eliza cried before Betsey could answer. "and the promise of warm weather and fishing would put any man in high spirits, surely! But how are things at Norcastle?"

"Nothing of interest to report, as usual. It's grown very dull since Routley left. Mrs Routley is growing ill again."

"I'm sure Mr Routley will be home again soon. It was unfair of him to return to the navy, after giving you hope of a steward's position London."

"Like mother like son." Cecilia commented quietly from the back of the group. The others turned to hear.

"Did you say something Celia?" Betsey prompted. But Mr Harding, having heard her, replied.

"In truth, I would assume he is more like his father, for he has little of his mother in him. His mother is ambitious and unaffectionate, condescending and prejudiced. Routley is neither prejudiced or unaffectionate, nor is he ambitious; though the latter may be considered a fault."

"Yet he still broke his promise to you. He and his mother are similar in that they care little for those they injure by trying to satisfy their own goals."

"He has a passionate and loyal nature, but his mother's will is stronger than his own. You cannot blame him for his mother's misdeeds."

"That is fair, but I can blame him for his own. Not only in that he gave you hopes of working for him in London, and then ran off to the navy on a notion; but also that he used Eliza, and my sister, so badly."

"I can defend against your first charge against him. He made no promise to me, he merely asked if I would join him if he did. There was no guarantee. He is also my friend Miss Wheaton, and as such I know a little of the reasons he returned to the navy. I cannot say I would not do the same, in his position."

"And as for the second charge?" Cecilia inquired. "How do you defend him in that."

"I cannot, save for an understanding of my friend. He did not do it with malicious intent. I claimed he has a passionate nature, not a wise one."

All the while they spoke, Eliza and Betsy watched in mild astonishment as their two, normally stoic, companions engaged in an almost lively debate. The silence that followed Mr Harding's last reply was broken again by Cecilia.

"It is of no matter either way, all is in the past and forgotten. Katherine is blissful in her marriage and as long as you are content in your place, I am content to think well of him."

They walked on a moment in silence, then Cecilia attempted to restart conversation with him "Mr Harding, have you had any news of the war?"

"I know not what you heard last; you've heard of the troops at Boulogne?"

"Ah yes! Papa said more than one hundred thousand! It's most worrisome!" Cried Betsey.

"True, but I don't believe anything can be done with them until Bonaparte achieves any naval superiority?" Cecilia commented tentatively.

"Quite right," Mr Harding agreed, with a hint of a smile for the youngest Miss Wheaton "which is highly unlikely. Especially not while our fleets are in the channel. Nelson has been sent to run down Villeneuve, last I heard from Routley. No news on when the victory will be back in port."

"Wars are so exhausting." Eliza sighed. Cecilia smiled and her gaze wandered to a lake that appeared as they emerged from the trees. She became lost in thought as she followed the others who chatted on ahead; Mr Harding merely listening for the most part.

"You know! It is Katherine's birthday soon!" Cried Betsey a little way down the path "She will be twenty. Gracious how old that seems though I am only a year and one half behind, how fast time flies!"

"You have a younger brother I believe?" Mr Harding asked then.

"Yes, between Celia and I."

"And how old is he?"

"He will be seventeen the end of next month, he wanted to join the navy when he was young but Papa needed him at home; perhaps he will join now, now that he can be spared, though it may be too late at his age."

Mr Harding glanced over at Cecilia with a degree of shock "Sixteen?? You cannot be much younger than your brother?"

Cecilia replied after waking from her reverie, having only been half listening "Ah, no, there is but ten months difference between us." She smiled "People often mistake us for twins."

"I see." Mr Harding said with slightly furrowed brow.

"Now that you have managed to learn nearly all of my siblings ages, you cannot expect not to own us yours!" Betsey laughed. "Do tell Mr Harding, how old are you?"

"Seven and twenty." He said gruffly, rubbing the back of his neck. Then glancing again at Cecilia added "I believe I really must be headed back to Norcastle. My father may require me."

They extended playfully woeful goodbyes, and after he disappeared back the way they came Eliza turned to the girls with a raised brow and laughter playing on her lips. "I dare say, seven and twenty, poor Mr Harding." She and Betsey burst into laughter and Cecilia watched them in bewilderment.

"Why poor Mr Harding?? seven and twenty is not so bad an age, I do not see the joke!"

"My dear no, it is not usually; but I believe he thought you were quite a bit older than sixteen." Eliza grinned.

"I still do not...Oh do be serious!"

"It is a significant gap, between seven-and-twenty and sixteen..." Betsey said in mock contemplation to Eliza "but it is not so uncommon a thing for such matches to be made?"

"Why no!" Eliza grinned in agreement "And quite happy ones too!"

Cecilia gaped but couldn't help but grin at their teasing "He holds no such torch for me, nor I for him!" She smiled "Miss Compton's penchant for matchmaking is rubbing off on you!" She then took a turn to observe a small pond adorned in lily pads, telling the others she would catch up as she'd brought her drawing pad and wished to draw.

Eliza took the opportunity to instruct Betsey in private once they were a little further down the path.

"Bet dearest, you must not give hints of people's private affairs to others...especially men...it is not proper."

"Gracious, do you speak of Kat and Mr Gray having a baby? But that's good news; why, if anyone in the village were with child the news would be spread the moment there was suspicion of it!"

"No doubt, and happy it is indeed; but you are no longer part of the village circles. It would be best to allow the parents to choose the time to reveal the news. And in any case...it is indelicate to speak of such things to a man..."

"Oh fair enough. I suppose you are right." Betsey sighed, then smiled "Men are indelicate creatures."

~~~

Katherine Gray sat on the veranda at the back of Landyn House, overlooking the field that sloped into the forest beyond. She chewed on a strawberry and stroked her tummy with a thumb. Benedict Gray and his pointer were advancing rapidly from the edge of the woods, and it looked as though his venture had been fruitful, judging by the three birds his man now carried. The man took his employer's gun and catch and Gray jogged up onto the veranda to kiss his wife.

"I see you are in proper high spirits again my dear." He knelt with a smile to take her hands, with a loving glance at her growing belly "Our young Mr Gray isn't making you ill, as he was this morning?"

"How sure you are it is a he! If it be a Miss Gray, what then?" She laughed

"It makes no matter what the sex may be, but what a pity for the Gray name not to be carried on."

"Ah but you forget." Kat teased "Your brother has made well certain it will be carried on for centuries!"

Gray raised an eyebrow and his lips quirked in a smile "It would be nice for it to be carried through a legitimate heir..."

"Well you need not worry, the good Gray name shall endure; if not through me then there is your elder brother." She grinned.

"What is this, more poetry?" he poked her current reading material where it lay on her lap.

"There is no greater literature than that which moves the soul."

He planted another kiss on her rosy cheek and stood. "I believe I shall join you out here, with a book. It's an exceptionally hot day for June."

She smiled and leaned back in her woven chaise as he strode off to retrieve a novel, fanning herself and enjoying the sun. A sharp pain in her stomach suddenly came and went, causing her to frown and stroke the small bump. "Heavens little one" She sighed and returned to the pages of her book, unconcerned "don't hurt mommy so."