Perhaps the lady doctor had a valid point, if this madly tufted shepherd dog had more sense than he did to be strolling about in the dark of night.

He turned around in place to face the opposite way. The dog came to his side and panted up at him happily. Apparently, this was the correct direction. His hand was hanging at his side and the dog shoved its cold damp nose into his palm. He let his fingers linger in the shaggy, silky fur and toyed with the ridiculously large ears for a moment.

Then he began to walk, with his new friend at his side. He had faith that the dog would take him where he needed to be.

CHAPTER 9

Chapter 9

GEMMA AROSE AN HOUR after dawn. Her room was a small chamber on the first floor, not far from her stillroom. It was probably meant to be a housekeeper's room or lady's morning room but she managed to fit her bed into it after the mistress's chamber had developed a leak in the eaves. She had asked some of the village men to help patch it up and they had begun the work cheerfully enough, but had not been done before winter, and then lambing season had kept everyone so busy, and then there was planting to do.

Well, their livelihoods were certainly more important than fixing the damp and musty bedroom.

She'd liked her old room for the windows. She'd always risen effortlessly when that beautiful early light poured through the glass. Her current bedchamber remained dark far later and when she awoke, she tended to feel cross until she'd downed her first cup of tea.

Dressing herself was exasperating. She did up most of her buttons before she donned her gown. She'd never had a lady's maid, not being an actual lady, even when Edmund yet lived. The only full-time man had been Mr. Bing then, as now, but Edmund had provided cash employment for many other day workers.

Gemma grimaced at the memory of considering herself busy when her sole responsibility was supervising others and cooking only when she was in the mood.

Of course, she'd sometimes accompanied Edmund on his rounds but her role had been that of an assistant when he thought he might need an extra pair of hands.

Her wrist and shoulder twinged sharply as she slid her arm into the long sleeve of her gown. Heavens, if dressing was this onerous, how was she to manage all the work she had to do?

For a moment she allowed a spike of hopeless exhaustion to have its way with her. She could scarcely manage Yew Manor when she was well. She and Mr. Bing worked themselves to exhaustion every day and still the manor deteriorated around them!