Stirring the cooking eggs left-handed proved simple enough. She concentrated on her task until her pulse slowed. "After you've eaten, Mr. Worthington, I wonder if you might help Mr. Bing with a few jobs about the manor. We could certainly use a bit of help, if you're feeling up to it. Since your horse needs time to heal."

He'd returned to his seat at the table. When he saw her waiting for some sign of agreement, Mr. Worthington nodded carefully.

All part of her nefarious plot. Mr. Bing nodded as well, in a conspiratorial fashion. "I'll keep me eye on him, Missus. Won't let him go at it too hard. It might feel good to work them gone, lad, the bangs and bruises."

Gemma turned away and smiled to herself as she dished out the steaming pile of scrambled eggs on a platter. She managed nicely enough left-handed, only dropping a bit on the floor.

He would stay and he seemed willing enough to engage with both herself and Mr. Bing. She could consider the first step of her plan completed.

CHAPTER 10

Chapter 10

LYSANDER FOLLOWED BING OUTSIDE, after he had downed the largest breakfast he had managed in years. Mrs. Oakes made excellent eggs.

As directed by Bing, he'd left his surcoat on a peg in the hall, donning a rough, oilcloth coat against the spring morning's chill.

It was the first opportunity he'd had to see the exterior of Yew Manor in fully daylight. Without the mystery and shadows of moonlight, it was clear that the main house and stables, once gracious in a classical Palladian style, were now becoming rundown and decayed. Still, the gardens were neatly kept and the working yard of the stable was extraordinarily clean.

There didn't seem to be anyone else on the house grounds at all but Mrs. Oakes and Bing.

Bing saw Lysander glancing warily about and snorted. "Not to worry, lad. The boys from Farby'll be too busy working two day's labor to come after you here. Not that they'd pester the Lady of the Dale, no matter how much ruin you caused the village yesterday."

"No workers?"

"And what would I be needin' with a bunch of layabouts to muddle up my ways of doin' things? We've got the jobs down, me and the Missus."

Lysander must have looked as dumbfounded as he felt, for Bing turned on him to shake a finger in Lysander's face. "Don't you be thinkin' she's some useless flibbertigibbet, like your London lassies!"

Lysander didn't bother trying to explain his astonishingly not-useless sisters and sisters-in-law, because in all honesty, there were many ladies in Society who did very little that was useful. He couldn't even begin to capture the right words to do so. In addition, Bing didn't give him the chance.

"Our Missus went to war, you know! She were right there, by the doctor's side for four years, knee-deep in blood and filth in those damned tents!"