Marcus would be glad to get home. He was covered in mud. It had been raining for 4 days along the border. There had been a few small run ins with the Scotts the 3 weeks he had been here but nothing major. The main subject of dispute right now was who the land belonged to right on the border. The Scott's claimed it belonged to them and England claimed the same. The Scott's had had the land for generations. He didn't necessarily disagree with their claim. But he was a Captain in His Majesty's service. Personal opinion had nothing to do with it. His mother had been Scottish from the Highlands. But Marcus knew nothing about her family his father had made sure of that. He shook off his thoughts and thought about his wife and smiled. Tomorrow he would head home and he couldn't wait. He couldn't believe how much he missed her. He trudged through the mud with a smile on his face. Soon little one he thought.
Devin pushed a stray hair behind her ear. She put her hand on her hips as she argued with the merchant over the price of the eggs. As far as she was concerned this man had been robbing them blind with his prices. She had been over the ledgers and found they were being overcharged on several things eggs being one of them. "I refuse to pay these prices." she said. "I will take my business elsewhere." She said. "Wait M'Lady, I will come down 3 cent to the dozen." The rough looking merchant said. Devin looked at him for a moment. She stuck out her hand. "It's a deal." She said. "You drive a hard bargain M'Lady." He said with respect in his voice. She smiled at him and left. "Joe loads the eggs into the wagon." She said. Yes Lady Devin." He said and ran off to do as she said. Maggie just shook her head and smiled. Lady Devin was something else. The merchants at the Market had at first thought they could run over her because she was a woman. But over the weeks they had come to know her for stubbornness. She drove a hard bargain and they knew it. They had come to respect her. Maggie got in the wagon and waited for Joe. "Maggie I'm going to head back home." Devin said jumping on her horse. Maggie nodded. She rode astride like a man and in pants no less. No doubt Lord Marcus would not approve. Maggie grinned. No doubt he was going to have trouble taming this girl. Devin turned the horse and headed for home.
Devin stopped in the aviary. "Good day Mr. Carlson." She said. "Good day Lady Devin." He said with a smile. Mr. Carlson was a middle aged man. He had gray hair and twinkling blue eyes. "The hawks are doing much better since your suggestion to replace the perches." He said. The birds had been having troubles with infections on there feet. Devin had suggested replacing the perches every few months since they were made of wood. When the wood got saturated mold started growing on it. She had figured that what was causing the infection. Mr. Carlson admired Devin she had a very sharp mind and was very pleasant to be around. She was like a breath of fresh air around here. They talked a few minutes more and Devin headed toward the house. She walked in and Mary and Janet were polishing the wood work in the entry way. "The house is looking wonderful; you two are doing a nice job around here." Devin said. Mary and Janet beamed. "Thank you Lady Devin." Mary said. They both adored Devin. She never failed to praise them for their work. She was close to their age. They would sit in the kitchen at the end of the day drinking tea with them and chatting and laughing. She treated them like friends. Fact was Devin took her meals with the staff in the kitchen everyday. She told them it was silly for them to serve her in that huge dining hall everyday. Devin went up to her room and washed her face. She was tired but she had told Tom she would help him re shoe some of the horses. She got up and headed for the stables.
Devin. That's the one thought that had kept him going. He was dirty and exhausted. He was riding alone. He had sent his men on there way knowing they were eager to get home to their families. He wondered if she would be happy to see him. After what had happened the night he left he wasn't sure. But then again she had ridden all the way down the rode in nothing but her nightshirt to give him a ribbon and her mother's necklace. She had seemed concerned about him. He smiled at the memory. He hadn't been smiling when it happened though. He should have listened to her explanation before he had thrashed her. He had let his temper get the best of him. No doubt the girl needed a firm hand but she was really very sweet. He imagined her sitting in the drawing room practicing her sewing waiting for him. Those big blue eyes and long brown hair. He picked up his speed. He could see the house from here.
Marcus reined in his horse in front of the stables. He walked in to call Joe to take his horse and couldn't believe his eyes. "Lady Devin hold her steady now while I put this shoe on her." Tom said. "Okay Tom." She said. Marcus stopped in his tracks. Devin was filthy from head to toe. She had on pants and a dirty work shirt. Her hair was tangled and stuck to her head where she had been sweating. She was out here working like a common laborer. He was furious. Devin looked up and seen him. She smiled and ran toward him but stopped when she seen the look on his face. "I see I can't leave you alone for a few weeks. You look like a damn stable boy. I wanted a wife not a laborer. You are an embarrassment to me." He said angrily. Devin had never been so hurt in her life. His words cut her to the quick. All the nights she had cried herself to sleep wondering if he would leave her for the Countessa had just been confirmed. She turned and ran toward the woods. Tom looked after her in concern. "M'Lord it's my fault I shouldn't have allowed the little miss to help." Tom said. Marcus raised his brow at the obvious affection in his voice. "I know my wife well enough to understand you couldn't have stopped her." Marcus said. "The stables look good Tom, better than I ever seen them." Marcus said. "That's all due to the little miss." Tom said. He went on to brag about all the changes she had made on the estate and how much everyone liked her. Marcus walked through the stables noting how good everything looked. He decided to go see about the rest of these changes on his estate.
By the time Marcus got to his room and in a hot bath he was thoroughly impressed. The whole estate was thriving in just three weeks time. He had looked at the ledgers and seen she was keeping them perfectly. She had cut expenses by forty percent. Every member of his staff was singing her praises, more than that they loved her. He could see that. What was really bothering him was the fact a woman could run his estate better than him. He sighed and lay back in the tub. When he had taken a wife he had expected to have a willing woman to warm his bed and to knit and sew and make babies. Devin was never going to be a demurring little wife. But she was very warm and willing in bed. He smiled at the thought.
Marcus went down for dinner. Maggie was in the dining hall serving dinner. "Where is my wife?" he asked. "Still in the woods I imagine M'Lord." She said. "It will be dark soon; does that girl have no sense?" Marcus said. He got up to go look for her. Maggie stopped him. "M'Lord may I speak plainly with you?" she asked. Mark nodded he had known Maggie since he was a babe. She was the closest thing to a mother he had. "M'Lord you have treated Lady Devin too harsh. She has worked her fingers to the bone these last weeks to try to please you, staying up half the night to work on those ledgers. Getting up early to work with the staff to get this place in running order. And after all that she set up so tired she couldn't see trying to learn to sew to please you, even after I told her it was hopeless she still tries because she thinks it will make you happy. She is a good girl M'Lord. She did not deserve those hateful words today." Maggie said. Marcus looked at Maggie she was like a mother bear protecting her cub. But she was right once again he let his temper overtake him. He nodded at Maggie. Patricia walked in. "M'Lord you have a guest. Countessa Biddeford is here to see you." She said. Marcus could swear both these women were giving him disapproving looks. "Buy all means show her in." he said.