In the early morning hours, if either of them were nowhere to be found inside the house, just as everyone knew to look for Lorena in the summer kitchen, so too could they be assured of finding Temperance in the stables.
She was a spirited girl, and though some might look upon her equestrian pursuits as unladylike, Papa did not believe in discouraging an impassioned heart. And Temperance’s passion was for horses. For several years now he had turned a blind eye to her daily visits to the stable. He pretended not to notice the occasional absences from her duties. No one complained when there were no carrots to be found in the garden for dinner because they’d been fed to the horses earlier. Anyone could see they thrived under Temperance’s love and attention. They were God’s creatures. And Papa considered she was doing him a service in helping to groom and exercise his horses, for as long as the girl promised to be careful, he did not forbid her to ride them.
Sometimes he even brought her along riding with him for the company.
Lorena handed her back the piece of straw. “Now, Temperance, what of Captain Talvis? Has there been a change of plans about his joining us for supper?”
“Oh no, nothing like that.” Temperance claimed the white ribbon Lorena held and turned her to face the mirror. As she combed her fingers through Lorena’s long brown ringlets, she said, “But Mother would like to know which sweet you plan on preparing for this evening’s dessert.”
Lorena waved the girl’s hands away. “And what of my cranberry tarts? I was up at five this morning baking them.” As she whirled to confront Temperance, her hair tumbled once again down her back. “What’s become of them?”
“Drew ate two, dropped one on the floor, and stuck his fingers in another. There’s only a few left to serve with tea.”
Lorena didn’t dispute it was true, but four missing tarts was not cause to bake a whole new dessert. “And?” she prodded, suspecting more than Temperance was telling. “How many did you eat?”
“Only two. Mr. Huntley said I could, after he took four for his own breakfast and made me promise not to tell.”
Temperance lowered her lashes, twisting the white fillet ribbon around her finger in a show of conscience. A show, Lorena knew, because not a moment passed before Temperance’s frown curled into a grin.
“Oh, Lorena, it will be little bother for you. All of Duxboro knows how much you enjoy baking sweets. Of course, Mother is the house cook. She could easily prepare something, but you told her you wished to do the baking for dinner guests.”
Lorena had no argument, and with a roll of her eyes admitted, “Yes, yes. I did say that. Very well, Temperance. I had hoped to avoid the heat of the summer kitchen at midday, but I suppose I’ll have to change back into my work dress and bake a gingerbread.”
Temperance’s face dropped in disappointment. “Gingerbread? For a guest like Captain Talvis? Oh no, Lorena, your father would not be pleased. I suggest you make your chocolate custards.”
“Chocolate custards require a great deal of preparation. I have too much on my mind at present to bother with chocolate custards.” She started for the door before Drew got restless and came looking for her, but Temperance blocked her path.
“Lorena, I have come to tell you something more. I have come to advise you to choose your garments carefully this evening.”
“And why is that, pray tell?”
“Because the captain . . . Captain Talvis, that is . . . oh, his eyes, they’re beautifully . . . haunting. You will need to see for yourself to understand, but he bears quite a singular and striking appearance.”
Lorena was already haunted by a pair of eyes from earlier that morning; she had no interest in another’s. For a brief instant she regretted to think she’d never behold them again, and she was quite horrified to discover some obscure part of her maintained even the slightest interest in a second encounter with that arrogant stranger.
She shook it off, and as she brushed past, Temperance chimed in a little birdy voice as though expounding some great prophecy, “I suspect Captain Talvis will be capturing the attention of all the marriageable young ladies in Duxboro.”
“Hurrah for Captain Talvis and the unmarried ladies of Duxborotown. I am going to see about Drew.”
“You know, Lorena, at nineteen years of age, with no husband and no suitable prospect for one, you should pay more attention to a man like Captain Talvis,” Temperance called after her from the bedroom doorway. “Unless you’ve changed your mind and plan on marrying George. Have you? Changed your mind, that is?”