Starcross Lovers

by Merry Farmer

  “Ladies and gentlemen,” Lord Peter called over the buzzing crowd as he stepped up onto the dais. Harry felt a rush of pride in the man, not only for helping the people who depended on him, but for addressing them as ‘ladies and gentlemen’ when they were all simple, common folk. “If you could take your seats, I would like to ask Mr. Stephen Adler to come up and tell you about our new endeavor.”

  At least two hundred men, women, and children had gathered on the lawn, and it took a while for them to stop chatting, help themselves to the simple treats Mrs. Harmon and the kitchen staff had nearly broken their necks making, and find places in the sea of picnic blankets spread out in front of the dais. Harry took one look around and knew in an instant where he wanted to be for the fancy surveyor’s speech. He made a bee-line right through the sea of mining families to take up a place by Ginny off to the side of the crowd.

  “Fancy meeting you here,” he murmured to her as he crossed his arms and pretended to focus on Lord Peter and the younger man who stepped up beside him.

  “I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Ginny replied with a teasing smile. “I’m more surprised you’re here. Letting Jimmy watch the stables on his own, are we?”

  “The lad needs to learn responsibility,” Harry said with pretend seriousness. “I figure if I leave the two of them alone long enough, Bear will have him ship-shape in no time.”

  Ginny snorted with laughter, pressing a hand to her mouth. Harry’s heart flipped in his chest. If he had his way, he would whisk her off, confess what was in his heart, and make love to her until they were both sweating and satisfied. But he valued his pride too much to even attempt something so risky.

  Lord Peter raised his arms on the dais once more. “Ladies and gentlemen, if you please, I’d like to introduce you to Mr. Stephen Adler.” A few people applauded tentatively, as if they were at a theatrical performance. “Mr. Adler is a highly-regarded surveyor,” Lord Peter went on. “He has been working with me, Mr. Sinclair at Carleen, and Mr. Llewellyn to ascertain the possibilities for new mines across the estate.”

  He shifted to address the throngs of families watching anxiously with more familiarity. “I know that you are all concerned about your futures and the futures of your families since the Carleen mine was exhausted. But I think you will be encouraged by what Mr. Adler has to say.”

  Lord Peter stepped to the side, giving Mr. Adler a chance to speak.

  “Hello,” the man said. “It’s a pleasure to speak to you all today. Highly unusual, but a pleasure.”

  “He’s younger than I would have thought,” Ginny whispered, leaning closer to Harry.

  Harry could feel her heat beside him, smell flowers and vanilla, or whatever exotic perfume it was she came into contact with while tending to Lady Mariah’s clothes. “You think so?” he whispered back.

  Ginny hummed. “I would have thought a surveyor of his apparent importance would be much older. But Mr. Adler is so young. And handsome.”

  A twist of jealousy hit Harry’s gut. He tried to ignore it. As much as he hated it, Ginny was free to find any man handsome.

  Harry had missed the first bit of the speech, but started listening as Adler said, “I know it can be concerning to learn a whole new way of doing the job you’ve done for decades, but I can assure you, the process of tin mining will become as familiar to you as copper mining was in no time.”

  “Tin mining?” Harry crossed his arms.

  “Yes, weren’t you listening?” Ginny said, leaning close to him again. “While looking for a new copper deposit, they found a sizable amount of tin.”

  “I knew that,” Harry replied with a grin, although it was half a lie. He’d heard something, but his thoughts were so full of Ginny that there wasn’t room for much else. “I didn’t realize the process was so different.”

  “Ssh,” Ginny hushed him. “He’s explaining it.”

  “…if we start with construction of the out-buildings necessary for the new process,” Adler was saying. “That in itself will take up a good deal of time for the remainder of the summer and a good portion of autumn. But I am confident that by the end of the year, operations at the new mine will be in full swing.”

  A murmur went through the crowd. Harry glanced across the blankets, looking for his brother and the rest of his family. They were chatting among themselves, half of them looking hopeful, half resistant.

  “Does anybody have questions?” Mr. Adler asked.

  Several hands shot up as Adler scanned the expectant faces of the miners. But before picking one question to answer, he cast his gaze wide. So wide that it landed on Ginny, far off to the side. Adler blinked, then smiled. Ginny smiled back.

  Harry’s gut clenched. His arms were already crossed, but he stiffened his back and put on a glowering frown. Adler didn’t see it, though. His eyes were only for Ginny.

  At least until Lord Peter said, “Yes, Mr. Martin.” He pointed to a miner near the front of the crowd.

  “How will this affect our wages, my lord? It sounds like the mining proper won’t start for months now.”

  Adler shook his head and focused on the men in front of him, but he continued to steal glances at Ginny while Lord Peter answered the question.

  “I will do my best not to let the change in labor affect anyone. It’s true that this represents an enormous cost for the estate, but any man who wants to avoid going without any work during the transition period is invited to help with the construction of the mine and out-buildings.”

  The murmuring of the crowd turned positive. Harry’s mood took a decided downward turn, especially when Ginny whispered, “Mr. Adler is quite well-spoken, don’t you think?”

  Harry shrugged. “If you like the fancy, city type.”

  Ginny hummed.

  Harry cringed. Chances were that Ginny actually did prefer the handsome, well-spoken city type. That was the sum total of the problems between them.

  “How are we supposed to learn a whole new way of mining?” one of the other miners asked, only partially drawing Harry out of his increasingly frustrated thoughts. How was he supposed to learn a whole new way of being a man in order to be what Ginny wanted?

  “Ah,” Adler answered. “Lord Dunsford has generously agreed to pay for training for a handful of your mine supervisors. They will, in turn, instruct the rest of you on the proper technique.”

  “What about you?” the man standing next to the miner who had asked the question spoke up. “Ain’t you gonna teach us?”

  Adler laughed. “I would if I could, but my job involves traveling to locations such as this to advise on improvement techniques. In fact, I’m due to sail to Australia to help with a consultation there at the end of September.”

  “Australia,” Ginny said, eyes wide, a bright smile on her face. “How exotic.”

  She turned to Harry, but the excitement in her eyes only dampened Harry’s spirits further. Adler might as well have been traveling to the moon for all Harry could compete with him.

  “It’s a long way away,” he said, his frown deepening.

  “But wouldn’t it be fun to visit?” Ginny went on. “To see kangaroos and exotic birds and the like?”

  “We’ve got birds here in Cornwall,” Harry replied, then took a chance by continuing with, “I’m looking at a pretty one right now.” He smiled at Ginny.

  Ginny laughed and slapped his arm, her cheeks going pink. “You’re a charmer, Harry Pond. It’s a wonder you don’t have girls lined up to drink in blarney like that.”

  It took a tremendous act of will not to take Ginny in his arms and kiss her, to prove to her that she was the only girl he wanted to charm. Keeping his distance from her was making less and less sense. He was beginning to think that the problem wasn’t that she didn’t want a man like him, but that he was a coward for not pursuing her.

  “Ginny,” he began, turning toward her. “We need to talk.”

  She blinked at him, but before either of them had a chance to say anything, Adler marched up to
them and said, “Hello.”

  Harry sucked in a breath and glanced around. The speech had ended, and the crowd of miners and neighbors had gone back to socializing and devouring the food Lady Mariah had provided.

  “I’m Stephen Adler,” Adler went on, holding out a hand to Ginny. “I noticed you watching my speech with interest. Are you a miner’s wife?”

  Ginny laughed, the sound causing the hair on the back of Harry’s neck to stand up. “Heavens, no,” she said. “I’m Lady Mariah’s lady’s maid.”

  “Oh.” Adler blinked, his smile growing, his eyes filling with ideas.

  “And I’m Harry Pond,” Harry cut in, taking Adler’s hand so Ginny couldn’t. He squeezed with more force than he needed to. “I’m the head stableman here at Starcross Castle, but my brothers are all involved in the mines.”

  To his credit, Adler didn’t flinch or grimace. He returned Harry’s shake with equal strength and a smile. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’ve seen some of Lord Dunsford’s horses, and I’ve been impressed by how healthy and well-maintained they are.”

  Damn. The man was likable. Even though every fiber of Harry’s being wanted to hate him.

  “I’d be happy to answer any questions you might have about the new mining operation,” Adler said to Ginny. Even though she’d just said she had nothing to do with the mines.

  “Actually,” Ginny faced Adler, resting one hand on her hip, “I’d love to hear more about Australia. Do they have mines there too?”

  “Plenty of them,” Adler laughed. “So much of that land is still wild and untapped. But we’ve been making great strides in quelling the native population and maximizing the productivity of the land.”

  Harry frowned. He didn’t like the sound of anyone being quelled, native or not. Those natives were there first. But he didn’t have a chance to share his opinion.

  “It sounds fascinating,” Ginny said. “So different from dozy old Cornwall.”

  Her words were like an arrow in Harry’s heart, proving once again that he would never be what she wanted.

  “I’d be happy to tell you more about Australia,” Adler said. “If you would be interested in, say, lunch and a walk sometime soon.” His brow rose hopefully.

  Harry clenched his fists at his sides. But there was no justification for him to pound the man into a pulp. Ginny was her own woman and could step out with whomever she wanted. Even if it made him see red.

  “Oh.” She blinked as if surprised by the invitation. “Well, I….” She glanced to Harry, biting her lip. The simple gesture sent blood pounding through Harry’s whole body, but Ginny was quick to glance back to Adler. “Um, I don’t know. I—”

  “Ginny?” Lady Mariah called from several yards away, near the end of one of the refreshment tables. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but we need your help.”

  “Yes, my lady,” Ginny answered immediately, jumping into action. “Right away, my lady.”

  She left Harry and Adler standing in her wake, Adler with a hopeful smile and Harry a seething ball of frustration.

  “Enjoy the gathering.” Harry nodded to Adler, then turned to march off. He needed to get back to the stables to check on Jimmy. More than that, he needed to dunk his head in one of the troughs to cool off and to remind himself of where he really stood in Ginny’s eyes.

  Chapter 3

  “I can carry that, my lady.” Ginny rushed forward to take the heavy platter of sandwiches Lady Mariah was presenting to a group of grubby-faced children. “You shouldn’t be lifting things in your condition.”

  Lady Mariah laughed. “There are plenty of reasons I shouldn’t be lifting things, and the baby is the least of them.”

  The two of them shared a laugh, as they moved down the row of eager children and their mothers who had gathered for the free lunch following Mr. Adler’s speech. Ginny supposed she should have remembered much more about the speech itself, but thoughts of Australia filled her head instead.

  “How long do you suppose it takes to sail to Australia these days, my lady?” she asked as they worked.

  “Months, I suppose,” Lady Mariah answered. “Although now that most ships use steam power instead of the wind, I suppose it doesn’t take as long. Why do you ask?”

  Ginny would have shrugged if she hadn’t been carrying the tray. “Mr. Adler says he’s heading to Australia after finishing up with Lord Dunsford’s new mine.” Mr. Adler had said a few other highly interesting things too, but Ginny still couldn’t believe it. She hadn’t had a man show interest in her in years. Well, not unless she counted Harry. But that was a kettle of fish she wasn’t sure she wanted to open.

  “Is that what you and the surveyor were talking about?” Ginny’s American friend, Millie, asked.

  Ginny had been so caught up in her thoughts that she hadn’t seen Millie standing with the families waiting for their lunch. The moment she saw her, though, her face lit up.

  “Why Millie Llewellyn, you’re positively glowing today,” she said.

  Millie laughed modestly, glancing to the tiny baby wrapped in a knit blanket that she held. “I give all the credit to Lowry here.”

  Ginny craned her neck to get a look at Millie and Owen’s little girl. She had brought so much light and life to her parents’ life. It made Ginny especially happy to know that Millie was blessed with so much joy and peace after the trauma of her younger years.

  “Oh, I’m forgetting my manners. Lady Mariah, have you met my dear friend, Millie Llewellyn?” Ginny made the introduction.

  “I don’t think I have.” Lady Mariah smiled in Millie’s direction as she continued to hand out sandwiches.

  “Oh, my lady, I’m so sorry.” Millie quickly curtsied, a pink flush coming to her cheeks. “I can never remember who I’m supposed to talk to and who I need to hold my tongue around. It comes from being American I suppose. I’ll find Ginny and speak with her later. I’m so sorry, your ladyship.”

  Lady Mariah laughed. “I’ve only been a lady for four months, so I forgive you, Mrs. Llewellyn. Please don’t let me interrupt your conversation with Ginny.”

  Millie turned a wide-eyed look to Ginny, as though she couldn’t believe a countess would allow the two of them to converse in front of her. Ginny answered with a proud grin that she hoped conveyed her affection for Lady Mariah, as a mistress and as a friend.

  “We can talk some other time,” Millie insisted. “I was just wondering what Mr. Adler could possibly have been talking to you about.”

  “I was wondering the same thing myself,” Lady Mariah said.

  “Oh.” Ginny felt the heat rush up her neck to her face. “I had no idea so many people saw him come over to talk to me and Harry.”

  “It wasn’t Harry Mr. Adler was interested in,” Millie said. “At least not the way I saw things.”

  “No, it wasn’t,” Lady Mariah agreed.

  Ginny moved on when the tray of sandwiches was empty, carrying it back to the nearest refreshment table, but Lady Mariah and Millie followed her.

  “I think Mr. Adler is introducing himself to all of the mining families,” Ginny said. She twisted, scanning the dispersing crowd, until she spotted Mr. Adler talking to Owen and Mr. Sinclair. “See?”

  Millie made a skeptical noise. Lady Mariah arched an eyebrow and rubbed a hand over her stomach. “It looks as though he’s only conversing with a few people who are important to the mines,” she said.

  “And you, my friend, have nothing to do with the mines,” Millie added. “But he seemed to make a point of introducing himself to you.”

  “That’s all he did,” Ginny insisted. “Introduced himself.” She paused, growing more and more self-conscious as both Millie and Lady Mariah studied her. She could have made light of one or the other woman’s doubt, but dubious looks from both of them was beyond her ability to feign indifference. “He also asked if I would be interested in walking out with him,” she confessed at last.

  “I knew something like that was going on,” Millie burst, then added, “My
lady,” with an odd curtsy.

  Lady Mariah sent Millie a reassuring smile and said, “I came to the same conclusion. He seemed quite taken with you as far as I could see from where I was standing.”

  “And he is quite handsome,” Millie added.

  Ginny put her tray on the table with a heavy sigh. She turned to Millie, planting an impatient hand on her hip, but with Lady Mariah standing right there, she shifted to standing more respectfully. Except that meant she didn’t know what to do with her hands. Just like she didn’t know what to do with the roiling restlessness inside of her.

  “Mr. Adler is handsome, I suppose,” she admitted. Although not as handsome as a certain sandy-haired, dark eyed stableman she knew. A stableman who wasn’t interested in asking her out to lunch, or anything else.

  “So are you going to take Mr. Adler up on his invitation?” Lady Mariah asked.

  Ginny’s brow rose at the mischief in her mistress’s smile. “I don’t know, my lady. My duties to you keep me awfully busy.”

  “I can do without you for an afternoon,” Lady Mariah said, stopping to hand one of the last tea cakes to a shy little girl who had wandered up to the table looking for the last of the treats. “Here you go, sweetheart,” she said, giving the girl the cake and a kiss on her forehead. She stood straight and watched the girl run to her mother, and touched a hand to her stomach again.

  Ginny felt a surprise flash of envy. She wondered if she’d ever be in a position to look forward to the birth of a child, the promise of a family. It startled her to feel the pull so strongly. And yet, when she searched the clearing yard for Harry, wondering if he felt the same way, and if she could ever be the woman he looked forward to that life with, he was nowhere to be seen.