“Oh, Uncle George,” Primrose said when she finally reached the man, “you have outdone yourself this year. It is all so very beautiful.”
“Thank you, sweetheart.” He kissed her on the cheek and then took her into his arms and hugged her tightly. “And I was so sorry to hear about your father. He was a good, good man and my sister loved him dearly.”
The sound of the burr in his voice, one she could recall from her mother all those many years ago, warmed her heart. “Well, he is with her again and I like to think they are both happy.”
“I am sure they are.” He cupped her face in his hands. “You do look so much like her.” He glanced at Bened who had moved to stand beside her.
“This is Sir Bened Vaughn. Bened, my uncle, the Honorable George Haigh.” After her uncle shook Bened’s hand she introduced Frederick even as she hugged the man who smelled deliciously of cinnamon. “Have you been cooking, Freddie?” she teased.
“With company riding our way? But of course. I even made the cinnamon buns you so like.”
“You are an angel.”
“A Vaughn, are you?” said George as they all headed into the house. “Related to the man in the castle?”
“He is the head of the family, aye. Vaughns and Wherlockes,” Bened said, and nodded at Lilybet and Morris.
“Rumor has it there is a Vaughn who now owns the old manor on the other side of the castle.”
“I would be that Vaughn.” Bened succinctly explained how he had come into possession of the place. “I was hoping to visit Modred and have a quick look at the place before we have to leave.”
“The young couple tending it for you have everything well in hand. Repairs and all are moving along at a good pace. We could not resist having a look when we heard it might be lived in once again.”
“A good sturdy building,” said Frederick as he stood up from the seat he had taken next to Simeon in the parlor. “Now I need to get us some food and drink and prepare something for the children.”
“Children?” Primrose asked her uncle.
“Yes, we adopted two orphans. It was a battle but since no one else would take them in and we had signed intent allowing us to do it from their parents, they are now ours. A boy and a girl. Their parents worked for us and tragically died while fishing. One of those horrible storms that appears to pop up for the sole purpose of killing someone.”
“How wonderful for you yet how sad it came about because of such a tragedy. Where are they?”
“They should be returning from their tutor soon.”
“You are having the girl tutored as well?”
“Of course. Had to fight over that as well but found a good lad just back from Oxford who was more than happy to take them both. I made it clear he is not to temper what he teaches the girl and he appears to be of a like mind. Idelle and Gerwin Craddock, now Haigh. We are very proud about how far they have come in just this year, especially after all they went through after their parents died. Too many refusing to help them and the officials refusing to honor the wishes of their parents.” He shook his head.
“I am happy for you that it all worked out in the end.”
“We had a duke on our side. Hard for pompous officials to argue with a duke.”
“Modred helped you?” asked Bened, and smiled when the man nodded. “Sounds like our cousin.”
“Strode in on the day we truly felt all was lost and told the men they were breaking the law. The will was fully legal and they were trying to thwart the last will and testament of the ones who had died. If they did this, they weakened that law, which meant their own wills could be contested. Even said he might consider it himself since some of the lands they would bequest in their wills abut his. He then pointed out that since no one else was offering to take the children they would be put on the parish and that meant a regular cost to them. Hard. Cold, precise, and very effective.”
“The smartest approach. That is our Modred,” said Bevan.
“We could never thank him enough but I did send him a few rose cuttings which Dob prettily thanked me for and Frederick sent him some of his very fine cakes.”
“A perfect choice.”
“To be quite honest the roses were more for Dob,” confessed George. “His Grace told us that he had had one more arrow in his quiver if they had still balked. He had been given permission to use Dob, to point out that these were the same men who had, without hesitation or question, handed his care over to Dob and they had known all about her.”
“Actually, he could have just threatened them with sending her down to argue your cause and they would have quailed in their boots.” Bened laughed softly. “Dob is a force to be reckoned with.” He took one of the tiny lemon cakes Frederick offered and, after one bite, closed his eyes and hummed his appreciation.
“Frederick cooks like a god,” said Primrose as she savored one of her favorite cinnamon buns.
“So, Sir Vaughn . . .” began George.
“Bened will do.”