realized we don't have much money."
"I don't think any the less of you for it."
"So I should think," Amy retorted. "Money isn't the sole determinator of quality, Mr. Crisp."
He raised his brows. "Has anyone ever told you you've got a damned sharp edge to your tongue, Miss de Lacy?"
He was daring to criticize her. "Yes," she said. "Doubtless the same people who tell you you've got an uncouth edge to yours."
"Uncouth!" He caught his breath and his temper. "All I meant, Miss de Lacy, was that I don't look down on you or your family for being poor, as I'm sure other people do, it being the way of the world. Is that deserving of rebuke?"
"I - " Amy caught herself, too. What was going on? She was normally the most moderate of people. "I am sorry," she said sincerely. "And after you've been so kind. I'm just not myself, Mr. Crisp, and you're right, there are family problems, but not ones I can discuss with a stranger. Please excuse my outburst."
They had come to a stop during their spat, and now he touched her elbow to urge her on toward the gate which led into the yard of Ashridge Farm. "You are excused. This must have been an ordeal." He stopped by the gate and smiled at her in a way that reminded her of that strange time in the warm kitchen. "I don't suppose you could bring yourself to call me Harry, by way of reparation."
Amy felt a pang of alarm. "Of course not," she said, rather more sharply than she had intended.
"No, of course not," he repeated without offense as he ushered her through the gate. "But despite our brief acquaintance I feel very at ease with you, almost like a brother. I have no sisters, though, so I don't know how a brother really feels."
Relieved at his light tone, Amy grinned at him. "Blue-deviled, I think. Jasper seems to think his sisters are his cross to bear."
He smiled. "My friend Chart appears to feel the same way, but protective, too. Toward his younger one at least."
"Poor Jasper has only older sisters. Even his twin came into the world ahead of him."
They crossed another muddy yard, and the farmhouse door opened before they got there. In it stood a pretty, brown-haired, brown-eyed girl in cap and apron. "Good day to you, Mr. Crisp."
"Good day, Meg. This lady got caught in the rain near our place. I was hoping your mother would give her shelter for the night. Then I can ride over and tell her family she's safe."
The girl was already standing back and urging them in.
In moments, Amy was in a proper kitchen. Pots were bubbling on the hob, filling the place with warm, aromatic steam. Five loaves sat cooling, adding their own perfume. A big pie sat on a table already laid for dinner.
Mrs. Coneybear came forward. "Oh, the poor young lady! Come stir the gravy, Meg, while I see to things. Why," the gaunt woman said as she came toward them, "it's Miss de Lacy, isn't it?"
"Miss Amy de Lacy," Amy said. "I'm surprised to be recognized so far from home."
The women chuckled. "Once seen, never forgotten, dear. Saw you at Stamford market last year. Are you wet? Oh dear, you are. You'll catch your death. Now, Mr. Crisp, if you're to ride over to Stonycourt, you'd best be on your way. Night's coming."
And so Amy found her good Samaritan gone without a special farewell, but she scarce had time to consider if this was a good thing or not as she was sent off with a talkative Meg to find dry clothes.
"Put us all in a tizzy, I'll tell you, having three fine young gentlemen a-come and live next door. Very nice, they be, when all's said and done. They come over now and then to get milk and eggs and such, seeing as they mostly have just the one servant."
She opened a wardrobe within which the clothes hung on hooks and pulled out a green print gown. "Here, try this, miss. It'll doubtless be a mite tight around the top, but it's this or nothing, for Ma's flat as a board, despite having bore five kiddies."
She cheerfully helped Amy out of her gown and didn't say anything about the lack of a shift but produced one of her own. Amy wondered what she was thinking, and could feel her face heat up. She wanted to protest her innocence but knew that would