Chapter 4

Morning is here and the sun is shining brightly in the sky. The atmosphere in the house is melancholy at best. I arrive to the dining room and see the buffet set with what could be called a continental breakfast, there is coffee, cheese, biscuits, jams, jellies, and added to the menu was smoked salmon. I ate just enough to make it through the morning and took a cup of coffee to the room Melissa had set up as an office type room.

I take out the box that I put in there earlier and proceeded to read the documents within. The deed to the estate showed that the area of land a mass 900 sq acres. The house itself is said to have 20 rooms, well I had only seen a few guess; I better start to explore my new home. The account at the bank is showing a total of £500,000. I don't know how much that would be currently but I like the sounds of it this era.

While I am checking things over, there is a knock on the door. I look up and bid enter. Mrs. Croft enters with a tray stacked with small finger sandwiches and a nice aromatic tea. She also announced that I have a visitor. Who can be visiting me I am thinking because I don't know anyone except for Duncan, the staff, and Mr. and Mrs. Williams. I told Mrs. Croft to show the person in. As I stand to meet my guest I saw that my visitor was Mrs. Williams. Mrs. Williams came into the room and dropped a curtsy.

"Please, Mrs. Williams, have a seat".

"Thank you ma'am".

"Mrs. Williams, please you don't have to curtsy or call me ma'am". My name is Charlotte and I am not of royal blood so there is not need for formal protocol."

"Thank you, ma...I mean Miss Charlotte."

Oh well when in Merry Olde England, do as the English do. At least I may be able to get her to stop at the curtsy.

"Now what can I do for you today, Mrs. Williams?"

"Well miss, I wanted to ask if you would be able to find a position for me 'usband and meself", she says, "me 'usband does not have the work anymore, and wit' the babe, it is very hard to feed 'im and ourselves"

"So you are here to seek employment, what can you do for Mrs. Williams?"

"Well miss, I can sew, clean, do laundry, and cook. Me 'usband can work in the field, or barn. He can work with 'orses maam."

"Okay Mrs. Williams let me think about this and talk to Duncan to see if he can suggest what can be done to help you out."

"Thank you miss, I am sorry that Miss Melissa went away, she said she was going to go away, and not come back."

"Well, thank you for your concern, and I will contact you tomorrow okay."

"Yes, Miss that is okay."

I serve up some sandwiches and tea, and we just speak of nothing but small talk, about how the baby is growing, the fact that spring is just around the corner. About an hour later Mrs. Williams leaves and I call for Dominic.

"Dominic, do you know if Duncan will be here this evening?"

"Not sure miss, but 'e usually does come and eat 'is supper 'ere at the 'ouse."

"If Duncan does come to the house for supper, please have Lily find me, I must talk with him tonight"

"Yes, miss"

"Oh, and Dominic; could you please inform Donald; I will be taking a ride this afternoon in the buggy."

"Yes, miss."

"Thank you Dominic, you may go"

"Thank you miss."

As Dominic reaches the door he bows as he takes his leave. I sit and contemplate all the things that I am to do. I am now mistress of the manor, I have servants, land, a house, people who look to me for help, and pure bred horses, what else is going to show up that is technically mine to with what I want. Now all I have to do is to figure out a way to get a twenty-first century woman accept eighteenth century protocol.

Thirty minutes later, I was ready for my ride. The little grey mare was hooked up to the buggy and ready for me to take up the reigns when I got settled in the seat. Little Lady, as I call her, and I just set off in the direction of the Williams' home. I just took my time to take in my property and I will go a different direction every day until I have inspected my holding to see what I have available and try and figure out how to handle it.

While I am riding out I come across the little stream that Melissa and I sat at the other day. I decide to just stop here for now. As I disembark from the cart I grab the blanket from the seat and lay it out on the bank. I sit down and look out over the horizon. While I am sitting there I just start to cry and can't seem to stop. What I am crying about, I have no idea. I could be crying because my friend has left, or it could be because I am remembering my life in another lifetime. I don't realize how late it is getting until I hear hoof beats coming my way. I look up and see Duncan coming my way. By the time I am on feet, Duncan is there and dismounting. I pick up my blanket and head to the cart and because my cheeks are still wet with tears it takes me a minute to wipe my eyes and face him.

"Hello there Duncan, how are you today?"

"I am fine m'lady how are you?

"I will be honest Duncan and let you know I really miss her. I am going to miss the time that we spent talking and taking rides and just her companionship."

I can feel the tears starting again and I don't want to let Duncan see me cry. I am afraid that Duncan would try to comfort me and I just know that I would crumble if he did.

"You know m'lady; Melissa is going to miss you too. Before you arrived you are all she talked about."

I looked up at Duncan and was surprised to see that he was sad also. Now I know that I am not alone in my love for a friend.

"Duncan, will you join me for dinner tonight?"

"M'lady, I would be happy to."

"I am ready to go back to the manor now. The ride has been a big help and now I am ready to start and make decisions. There are a few matters I would like to discuss with you after dinner if you have the time."

"It will be my pleasure to give you advice on matters whenever needed, m'lady."

"Duncan, will you call me Char or Charlotte please? We don't need stand on formal ceremony."

"As you wish. May help you back into the cart?"

I smile up at him and said, "Thank you very much, I would appreciate that."

Duncan hands me back into the cart and ties his horse to the back. He then climbs up onto the seat with me and takes the reigns heading back in the direction from which I have come. Because the seat of the cart is narrow, I can feel the heat from Duncan's thighs. Just sitting there thighs touching is making me shiver even though I have the blanket wrapped around me. In the words of my previous lifetime this man is "very HOT eye candy".

The ride home seems to take longer than it did when I came out this way. I keep thinking that it felt long because of the close proximity with Duncan here. The rock of the cart, and the heat I am feeling is making me drowsy, so I slouch down as far as I can in the cart and close my eyes. I feel a hand reach over and place my head on a shoulder, Duncan's shoulder, and I give out a heavy sigh and take a nap. We arrive at the manor and stop the cart at the door of the manor instead of taking down to the stable area. Duncan reaches up and putting his hands around my waste helps me out. As he puts me down, my body slides down his and I start to feel the friction and the little shocks of our bodies touching.

Dinner fared better than breakfast. I was happy that I was not eating alone, and the company was delightful. Duncan was telling me little stories about Melissa when they first met. By dinner's end Duncan had me laughing so hard that I was crying, this time, with mirth. After we finish dinner Duncan pulled out my seat and we adjourned to the drawing room, for a brandy and we sit and make small talk. About a half hour later, I ask Duncan to join me in the Study; he takes a seat at my request.

"Duncan, Mrs. Williams came to see me today. She wants to know if we have any positions that we could offer them here at the manor"

"What can she do?"

"Well she can do basically anything within the household, and her husband is strong and could probably do some stuff outside. Maybe like keeping things in shape, making sure that the structures are secure and make any repairs."

"That sounds good to me. Will they be living here to?"

"I don't think so they live on the estate so they can come and go."

"OK then send Douglas over to let them know to come by tomorrow after breakfast."

"Thank you Duncan, I hope I won't be too much trouble as I learn the ropes."

"Charlotte, I am looking forward to helping you as much as I am able to."

"Thank you again Duncan. I think I am going to retire to my room now. Are you staying tonight?"

"Yes, I will stay", and he offers me his hand and walks me to my room. When we reach my room, I turn around to say goodnight, and Duncan leans over and kisses my cheek. My body begins to inflame and I want to invite him to my room. I know it is too soon to initiate anything at this moment, so I calmly say goodnight and close my door behind me.