“Colin,” he said firmly.
“Thank you, Colin.”
He watched as she galloped toward the Featherstone cottage. He couldn’t seem to take his eyes off her as she rode. All the unwelcome thoughts about her returned with great speed. The idea of her riding him seemed paramount in his mind.
With a shake of his head to clear his unsolicited thoughts, he headed to Hartsfield Manor. Once there, he quickly found Hart examining his empty fountain.
“Is there a problem?” he asked as he walked toward his friend.
“Damn thing isn’t spouting water like it should.”
“Why don’t you have one of your men fix it?” Colin asked with a suppressed laugh.
“Why would I do that? It’s a beautiful day. There is no point staying inside staring at my books.”
Colin did laugh that time. He knew how much Hart despised working on the estate books. His friend would always prefer to be outside, preferably tinkering with things.
“What brings you here?” Hart asked as he examined the fountain.
“I accompanied Miss White.”
Hart frowned deeply. “Odd, I haven’t seen her around the estate much.”
“Apparently, she still spends much of her time tending to my tenants and servants.”
“Ah, so all you did was make it harder for her to perform her duties.” Hart examined the mouth of the cupid where water normally spouted.
Hart’s remark added another spoonful of guilt onto the mountain Colin already felt. “I suppose I did. Anyway, I left Daisy with her for her use. You do have room in your stables, don’t you?”
“Of course, first your wise woman and now your horse. I shall take good care of both.”
Hart’s quip sent a streak of resentment through him. He didn’t want Hart taking care of Selina. Nonetheless, the remark was nothing to feel jealousy over. Colin knew Hart had feelings for Miss Featherstone, but still the sensation of jealousy continued to grow. It made no sense. She was the wise woman. A peculiar one at that.
“Hand me that wrench,” Hart said.
Colin handed him the tool and watched as he twisted the wrench around a nut. “I tak
e it you found the problem?”
“Just a loose nut. That should take care of it.” Hart climbed out of the fountain and gave the order to start the water again. They waited for a few minutes as the water flowed smoothly out of the cupid’s mouth.
“Join me for luncheon,” Hart said.
Colin agreed and before he knew it, luncheon turned to dinner and a little too much brandy.
“Tia is joining us tonight, isn’t she?” Selina asked Mia as they gathered wood for the fire.
“Of course she will be here. She hasn’t missed a solstice yet.”
After arriving at Mia’s house, Selina discovered Mrs. Featherstone had taken ill with a fever. Tonight would be the first solstice ritual the women had ever performed on their own. “Are you nervous?” she asked Mia.
Mia flashed a smile. “Yes. What if we do something wrong? My mother will have my head.”
“We have been doing this since we were children. I’m certain we shall get everything correct.” Selina picked up a piece of wood and dropped it in the cart. “At least with your mother absent, I don’t have to call you two by your given names.”
“Oh, but what English girl doesn’t want to be named after a Greek goddess?” Mia asked with a touch of sarcasm. “I’ll never understand what she was thinking.”
“True, but Damia is rather a pretty name.”