Douglas said, eyebrow hoisted up, “You, my dear wife, may observe Alec Carrick from a distance if ever he chances to appear. Is that clear?”
“You always order me about so prettily, Douglas.”
James said, before Corrie could accuse Hallie of being a blind moron, “Now, Jason, you’ve had ten men hammering, painting, carrying wood, not including the three of us, and ten women scrubbing, with Hallie supervising all of us. You’ve agreed on furniture, have you not?”
Jason said, “Surprisingly enough, we managed to come to agreement, for the most part, and that includes draperies and paint colors as well. I scarce remember how bad the house looked when I first saw it. And the paddocks, all freshly painted, the tack room—” and on and on he went, his family so very pleased they smiled and nodded and asked questions even though they’d heard this nearly same recital every evening. When finally no one could think of another question to ask him, James turned to Hallie, “When are you taking your mare to Lyon’s Gate?”
She said, “Piccola’s stable is all ready for her, but she will remain here until Jason and I actually move to Lyon’s Gate. Did I tell you—”
Unfortunately, Hallie wasn’t the long absent son of the house, and was cut off by Corrie. “Oh yes, you told us all about her, Hallie. Goodness, Jason, another week and even the furniture will be there. This is marvelous. And less than an hour’s ride from Northcliffe. We are all so very pleased, particularly my husband.” She beamed at him only to see that Hallie and Jason were now arguing in low voices. It was so common to see them going at it, she said something sure to snag Hallie’s attention. “Hallie, you’re very nearly as beautiful a woman as Jason is a man.”
Hallie turned in her chair so quickly, she knocked over her teacup. She stared at Jason’s sister-in-law and found herself without a word to say. As for Jason, he was laughing.
Hallie said, “Well, thank you, Corrie. However, truth be told, I am only a very vague copy of my father.”
Corrie said, “Come now, Hallie, he’s your father, thus you see him with less objectivity than you would another man. Come now, admit it.”
But Hallie shook her head. “Wait and see.”
As everyone filed out of the breakfast room, Alex placed her hand on her husband’s arm. “Do you know, everything has changed so utterly since Jason came home. I’m quite enjoying myself.”
Douglas looked ahead at Hallie and Jason, still arguing about God knew what, and said thoughtfully, “I wonder.”
Alex said, “Don’t wonder, I beg of you. Can you believe that Hallie and your mother had a fine time visiting Lyon’s Gate? Hallie told me later that when she confessed to Lady Lydia her partnership with Jason, your mother told her to take the upper hand as soon as possible because her two precious grandsons were stubborn as stoats. But then again, she told Hallie, all gentlemen were stubborn and used to getting their own way. Since, she told Hallie, she’d lived eight decades she’d witnessed this many times and Hallie would be wise to take note of it.”
Douglas laughed. “If you had been the one to tell her, she would have accused you of fostering immorality and God knows what else.”
“Well, I must say I’m relieved that Hallie was the one who told her. I thought that at last she’d blast her.”
“Don’t sound so disappointed.”
“I can’t help it. Do you know that Hallie took both Lady Lydia and Hollis to Lyon’s Gate yesterday in the carriage? She even thought to bring a picnic lunch.”
“Yes, I knew. Hollis was grinning from ear to ear, told me about everything going on, just as Jason does every single evening.”
Alex sighed. “Why would Lady Lydia like Hallie Carrick so very much and detest me?”
“I’ve thought about that. I think it’s because Hallie jumped her before she could get the bit in her mouth and chew on it. I think it would behoove both you and Corrie to learn a lesson from this. It might be too late, but who knows?”
“Hmm. Are you going to work at Lyon’s Gate today?”
Douglas shook his head. “With James gone all the time, I must see to business here.”
She went up on her tiptoes, drew him down to her, and whispered against his ear, “I haven’t minded rubbing down your sore muscles, my lord.”
“I married a baggage, thank God.”
CHAPTER 16
Lyon’s Gate
Five Days Later
“Everett! Don’t eat that nail!”
Three adults and Martha ran toward the little boy, but his mother was the fastest. Corrie whipped him up in her arms, pulled the nail out of his hand, spit on her handkerchief and wiped his mouth. “No, no, no!” she yelled in his face and shook him for good measure.
Everett stared at his mother, screwed up his face, threw back his head and yowled.