She smiled at him.
He realised that she was delighted to think that he might be available.
“The cottage is over there,” she said, pointing to the end of the yard. “It is very pretty and was built at the same time as the house. One of my father’s relations lived in it for some years.”
The Earl was wondering whether he could manage a cottage on his own and again, as if she knew what he was thinking, Melva said,
“If you don’t want to cook for yourself and clean the place, I am sure that we could find a woman from the village to help you. It is actually men we are short of at the moment, not women.”
“That sounds a good idea,” the Earl replied. “As it happens my wife should be with me, but she has been held up by the illness of one of her family. She may be joining me later, but I would ce
