Page 106 of Rival to Resist
She glanced up from the paper, and her lips pulled into a broad smile.
He hurried toward her, happy to see her—and happier still to know where they were going.
“Have you been waiting long?” he asked.
“An eternity,” she teased. “But I have been pleasantly occupied.” She cleared her throat and read from the newspaper. “In a brief but pointed address, Mr. Frederick Yorke, Member for Trelowen, spoke in favor of measured reform, remarking that ‘The strength of this nation does not rest solely in its institutions, but in the daily lives of those who rely upon them. As my wise wife has stated, “When we neglect our villages, our laborers, and our children, we do so at our own peril.”’”
Frederick came up beside her to regard the column, frowning. “The man sounds insufferable. His wife, on the other hand…”
Caroline closed the newspaper and looked up at him, love glimmering in her eyes. “You had better take care, my love. If you continue quoting me in Parliament,Ishall soon be the insufferable one. I am coming to think quite highly of myself.”
“You always have,” he teased.
His gaze caught on the line of carriages nearby, and his brows went up.
Caroline followed his focus and took his hand. “Ah, yes. Our entourage awaits—and Aunt Eugenia is quite impatient to be on the road already. She says so, at least. I believe she and the others are in the haberdashery just now.”
Frederick glanced at the nearby shop windows and, sure enough, caught sight of his brother Silas and his wife, Arabella.
“We shall double the population of Trelowen,” Frederick said as they walked to the first chaise, arm in arm.
After Aunt Eugenia’s glowing report of her time in Cornwall, Frederick’s entire family had hatched a plan to come for a visit. More than two years later, it was finallycoming to fruition.
Frederick took Caroline’s hand to help her into the chaise.
“Freddie!”
His family was emerging from the haberdashery, Silas at the forefront.
“Is it true?” Silas asked.
“More than likely not,” Frederick replied. “Iswhattrue, exactly?”
“William says you were appointed to a committee.”
Caroline’s head whipped around, her eyes wide.
Frederick smiled at her and nudged the newspaper in her hand. “I did not want to overshadow your moment of fame.”
She gave a small laugh, but her eyes were intent. “What committee?” She, and she alone, knew how much he had been hoping for such an appointment.
“There is to be an investigation into the condition of agricultural laborers,” Frederick replied. “Particularly in relation to the Poor Laws—and I have been asked to sit on the committee.”
She squeezed his arm, and he pressed her hand with his own. Caroline was everything to him, and because of his admiration for her mind and heart, they had shared dozens of long, deep discussions over the past two years. On horseback, at the beach, walking in Trelowen’s gardens. Topics as particular as what should be taught in Trelowen’s school to those as grand as what sorts of reform ought to be pursued for the country—and how best to achieve them. For there was no doubt at all in his mind that reformwasneeded.
This committee appointment was, he hoped, a stepping stone on that journey.
“Congratulations, Freddie,” Aunt Eugenia said. “Now, let us go without any more delay. If I do not have a fairing in my hand in four days, I swear I shall meet an early grave. I have waited years, and I shan’t wait a moment longer.”
Charlotte, the wife of Frederick’s brother Anthony, slipped her arm through Aunt Eugenia’s. “I too am eager to taste these infamous biscuits.”
“Well,Icertainly have no wish to delay the prospect,” Frederick said. “Let us be off!”
As by far the most advanced in age in the party, Aunt Eugenia might have been expected to be the one slowing the party down on the journey to Cornwall.
If she had had her way, they would have gone at a hell-for-leather pace. It was the children who could not abide it, and it was five days before the line of Yorke carriages arrived at The Silver Pilchard just after midday.
Mrs. Tonkin and Jory came out to meet them—the former in what looked to be a very new dress and apron, the latter holding an entire platter of fairings. Hosting the Duke of Rockwood had gone to Mrs. Tonkin’s head, and she was quick to broach the subject to whoever would listen.
