Free Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand by Carla Kelly Page A

down, swatted her lightly on the bottom, and pointed her in the direction of her own room.
    "Lord Winn, really, forgive us."
    "Nothing to forgive, Mrs. Drew," he assured her. "She's better than a hot-water bottle."
    Mrs. Drew smiled then, and went to the door. "Lord Winn, in a few minutes I will have a can of hot water for you. I'll knock on the door when it is ready. There will be some coal, too. Not much, I fear, because it is so dear this season." She turned to leave, then looked back, hesitating. "If you wish, you can find Anthony's shaving gear in the dressing room. I... I left it there."
    "Thank you, Mrs. Drew," he replied, rubbing his chin. "I must have left my saddlebags in the shed last night."
    "Well then, please use what you can find here. We'll eat when you are ready."
    She closed the door, and in another moment, Lord Winn heard her admonishing Felicity in firm but quiet tones. He lay still another moment, considering his early-morning bed partner. I wonder if Felicity would like red mittens or green ones? Red, I think. And where can I find a pony? He got up and pulled on his smallclothes and breeches. Soon there was a knock at the door. After waiting a modest moment for her to retreat, he opened the door and brought in the hot water and a very little coal.
    "So coal is dear," he said as he dumped the hot water in the washbasin. "I think I shall save this, then."
    He washed his face, but couldn't bring himself to use the razor belonging to the late vicar. He stood a moment in the dressing room, breathing in the lavender fragrance from Mrs. Drew's clothing, then pulled on his shirt.
    Still tying his neckcloth, Lord Winn came downstairs and followed his nose to the kitchen, where Mrs. Drew, dressed in black with her hair pulled back tidily under a lace cap, was stirring the porridge. Felicity counted spoons, while a tall, thin woman brewed the tea and eyed him with vast suspicion.
    "Lord Winn, this is Meggie Watson. She was Anthony's nursemaid, and came to help us out when ... things were difficult. Now I do not know what I would do without her. Meggie, Lord Winn."
    He nodded to her, then ruffled Felicity's hair. "And you are in charge of spoons? Did you count out an extra one for me?"
    She nodded, intent upon her work as she gathered up spoons and napkins. "I am to behave myself, Lord Winn, if you do not make it difficult."
    Mrs. Drew laughed out loud, then covered her mouth with her hand. "Felicity! Be a little kinder to our landlord!" she insisted, and gave her daughter another gentle swat. She looked at him then. "Couldn't you find Anthony's razor? I was sure it was in the dressing room."
    "As to that, Mrs. Drew, a man would always rather use his own blade," he said as he finished tucking in his shirt and pulled on his riding coat, which someone had thoughtfully draped in front of the fireplace. "I'll retrieve my gear from the shed and shave after breakfast, if the sight of a day's growth doesn't upset anyone's appetite."
    "I think we can manage," Mrs. Drew allowed as she removed the pot from the stove.
    "My lord, perhaps you could hurry along Helen," Miss Watson suggested. "I sent her outside with a bucket of water for your horse."
    "She still isn't back?" Mrs. Drew said. "I don't wonder. She gets dreamy-eyed around horses."
    "So do I, madam," he said as he opened the back door.
    The back steps were deep in snow, except where Helen had walked, so his first task of the morning was to clear them off.
    When he finished, the air was moving briskly through his lungs and he looked about in appreciation. There was no wind, and not a branch or bush rustled. The diamonds of snow and ice still jeweled the trees and the ground, and the silence was almost as intense as the blue sky. I wonder why people live in cities? he asked himself as he followed much smaller tracks to the shed.
    There he found Helen, nose to nose with his horse, saying something to the big gelding that was generating a wicker of appreciation. He paused