Of course, he hadn't found a servant by that name, either. Not yet.
But for now he circled back to Reginald Harper, head of the house during the most likely era.
Just who were you, Harper? Prosperous, well-heeled. Inherited the house, and the holdings, because the older brother ran off to be a solider, and died fighting for the Cause. Baby of the family on top of it.
Married well, accumulating more holdings through that marriage. Expanded and modernized the house, according to Roz's notes. Married well, lived well, and you weren't afraid to spend the dough. Still, there'd been a consistent turnover of housemaids and other female staff during his years at the helm.
Maybe Reginald liked to play with the help. Or his wife had been a tyrant.
Was the long wait for a son frustrating and annoying, or was he happy with his girls? It would be interesting to know.
There was no one alive to say.
Mitch went back to his computer and contented himself, for the moment, with facts.
SINCE SHE HADso many houseplants from the division of her own, Roz rotated some into store stock, and at Stella's suggestion worked with her to use more in creating some dish gardens.
She enjoyed working with Stella, and that was rare. Primarily when she was potting or propagating, Roz preferred only the company of her plants and her music.
"Feels good to get my hands in the dirt," Stella commented as she selected a snake plant for her arrangement.
"I figure you'll be getting plenty of that soon enough dealing with your new gardens. "
"Can't wait. I know I'm driving Logan crazy changing and redefining and tweaking the plan. " She blew a stray curl out of her face and slid her gaze over to Roz. "Then again,plan isn't exactly the word for what he was doing with the landscape. It was more of a concept. "
"Which you're refining. "
"I think if I show him one more sketch he might make me eat it. This coleus is gorgeous. "
"Focusing on the gardens helps keep down the nerves over the wedding. "
Stella paused, hands in dirt. "Bull's-eye. Who'd think I'd be nervous? It's not the first time around for me, and we're keeping it sma
ll, simple. I've had months to plan, which hasn't made him all that happy, either. But we had to at least get the living room and the boys' rooms painted and furnished. You wouldn't believe some of the gorgeous pieces his mother gave him that he's had stuffed in a storage garage. "
"This dracaena should work here. Nerves are expected, I'd think. A bride's still a bride, first time around or not. "
"Were you nervous the second time? I know it turned out awful, but . . . "
"No, I wasn't. " Her tone was flat. Not bitter, just empty. "Should've told me something. You're nervous because you're excited and you're happy, and because you're the type who'll worry over every detail. Worry especially when it's important. "
"I just want everything to look special. Perfect. I must've been crazy, deciding to have the wedding outside in the backyard when the gardens weren't even finished. Now we only have until April to get it all done. "
"And you will. You and Logan know what you're doing about the planting, about each other, about everything that matters. "
"Remind me of that every now and again, would you?"
"Happy to. These look good. " She stepped back, fisted her gloved hands on her hips. "You got prices worked up?"
"Thirty-four fifty. Forty-five ninety-five for the large size. "
"Sounds good. Nice profit margin since the plants are mostly all divisions. "
"And a good value for our customers since they're not going to see dish gardens this full or lush anywhere. I'll help you carry some in, then plug these into the inventory. "
They loaded a flat cart, wheeled it into the main building. When Stella started to shift stock to rearrange, Roz nudged her aside.
"Go on, do the paperwork. If you start here fiddling with display, you'll be here an hour. You're just going to come back when I'm done and fool with it anyway. "