Lady Ann's Holiday: Chapter Thirty Three - Part Six

6 

Once he had finished cleaning up the stalls and feeding the animals, Burt slipped up the drive toward the hall in the hopes of catching Lady Ann.

He still felt very confused by what had happened when she returned and didn’t know where he stood with the lady. He’d had the feeling that things might have gone differently if it hadn’t been for the interference of Lord Hurley, and was hoping that if he saw her ladyship alone she might be more amenable.

He walked to the front of the house and peered into the lower windows as best he could but there was no one visible. He ducked when Lottie, the maid appeared in one of the doorways.

He felt guilty that he was shirking his duties and knew he shouldn’t be hanging around dirtying up the place – he’d been told that enough times, but he was desperate to see her.

He gazed up at her bedroom window, watching out for some sign, but there was no movement there either.

There was little actual thought in this imperative to see her. The motivation was equal parts related to their potential swap and just a blanket desire to look on her beautiful face. He wondered if she would want to swap back with him but then he wondered too if he didn’t swap back; if he gave her his old life without complaint; that she would be so grateful to him she’d finally show her affection in the clearest way possible.

“You!”

Burt looked up. The front door was open and Lord Hurley was descending the steps looking angry.

“What the devil do you think you’re doing loitering around out here? Don’t you have work to do?”

“I’m sorry sir,” said Burt, backing up, embarrassed. “I was just—”

“I don’t care what you were doing. Move along!”

“Yes sir.” Burt started to turn.

“You clearly think you have nothing to do. Perhaps I’ll speak to the Earl and let him know exactly how slapdash your work is. Perhaps he will have something to say about that.”

“No sir, please don’t do that,” said Burt.

“Are you talking back to me man?”

“No. Sorry.” Burt removed his cap and stared down at the floor dourly.

“Get out of here and get back to work,” snapped Lord Hurley. “Go on!”

Burt hurried off down the path, wishing he’d just kept his head down and kept working. It was awful to think that this nasty man had once sought his hand in marriage. Now instead, he treated Burt like he was inhuman.

It was so humiliating.