Free A Lord for Olivia by June Calvin Page A

old leather breeches and smock shirt. “These will be more comfortable, too. You’d best do the same.”
    â€œRot! I can’t appear dressed like that among my own workers. I would look and feel a right fool. I will anyway, you know. Me, the squire, on a hay wain.”
    Edmund grinned. “You’ll get a nice view of the countryside from up there.”
    â€œYes, and that’s another thing. Been thinking about that. Why do they stack the hay so high? Just bound to tumble off, isn’t it?” Jason looked a little uneasy.
    â€œYour sister explained yesterday. Unless you have a fleetof wagons and battalions of workers, it would take too long to carry the hay to the barn if the wagons were not loaded to the skies.”
    â€œWell, it seems to me it would be better to make a number of trips than to risk dumping a load of hay on the way.”
    â€œAnd she also explained that a good worker can load a wagon in such a way that that doesn’t happen.” He studied Jason’s expression. “What is it, lad? Don’t like heights?” Edmund challenged as he loaded his plate with ham slices and coddled eggs.
    â€œDon’t call me lad! And I’m not afraid of anything,” Jason snapped.
    â€œNonsense. Everyone’s afraid of something. The bravest man I ever saw in battle was terrified of mice. Jumped up on a chair like a girl whenever one came near.”
    â€œLike a girl?” Olivia Ormhill swept into the room, her voice chiding. “I never mind mice, nor snakes, nor bugs. Not all females are so hen-hearted, my lord.”
    â€œI daresay they are not.” Edmund looked at her appreciatively. Miss Ormhill looked a treat in a green riding habit and a gleaming white habit shirt. She carried the train looped over her wrist with an ease that was obviously second nature to her as she stepped briskly up to the buffet. She filled her plate, then sat next to her brother.
    â€œWell, at any rate, I’m not afraid of heights.” Jason returned to his original topic. “I’m afraid of not being able to keep the hay on that wagon. I want to win this bet!”
    Olivia grinned wickedly. “You have good reason, brother! Yesterday my newly recruited crew dumped their loads as they climbed the hill to the barn. If it had not been so inconvenient it would have been quite amusing.”
    Jason did not find this information humorous. But before he could voice his feelings, Edmund interrupted him.
    â€œWhere are we going to be working? I did not see any cut fields yesterday.”
    â€œOn my farm, near the river. When it begins raining, that area will become damp, possibly even flood, so we must get the hay made there first. ’Tis a half hour’s ride, no more. We have a lovely day, so we’d best finish our breakfast and beoff. Forgive the truism, but we must make hay while the sun shines.” She then focused single-mindedly on demolishing the hearty plateful of food in front of her.
    When the elder Miss Ormhill entered the room a few minutes later, she looked puffy-eyed and out of sorts. “I don’t see why you could not have held this event later in the day,” she groused as she took a cup of coffee and a plate of buttered toast from the servant.
    â€œOh, Aunt, you had no need to get up for this.” Olivia stopped eating to look pityingly at Lavinia. “I know how you hate to be up before ten of the clock.”
    â€œAs if I would not be there to observe what very well could determine the fates of my niece and my nephew.” Aunt Lavinia nibbled uneasily at the toast before pushing it away.
    Both the Ormhill siblings stiffened at this reminder of the importance of the wager. Jason scowled at his plate; Olivia gnawed at her lower lip.
    Edmund made himself look away. He had realized last night how hopeless his situation was. So why was he thinking only of again kissing that full lower lip, of gently nipping with his own