earl.’ She couldn’t help her smile. ‘Thomas can’t pass his tests?’
The master shook his head. ‘I fear there’s a small brain careening around in that head. My captain wants him to pass and promote himself right out of the Albemarle.’
He returned to his meal and she cleared away the dishes from the last group of diners, the vicar and his wife, who came in every day at noon.
‘I believe you’re flirting with him,’ the vicar’s wife whispered, as Mandy helped the old dear into her coat. ‘You’ll recall any number of sermons from the pulpit about navy men.’
Mandy nodded, hoping the master hadn’t overheard. She glanced at him and saw how merry his eyes were. He had overheard.
‘I’ll be so careful,’ Mandy whispered in her ear as she opened the door.
Reverend Winslow took a long look at the master and frowned.
Now the dining room was empty, except for the sailing master, who worked his way steadily through the roast, saving the carrots for last. When he thought she wasn’t looking, he spooned down the last of the gravy.
‘Is there anything else I can get you?’ she asked, determined to wrap herself in what shreds of professionalism remained, after her battery of questions.
‘What else is in your kitchen?’ he asked.
‘Just a custard and my Aunt Sal,’ she replied, which made him laugh.
‘How about some custard? Maybe I can chat with your aunt later.’
She returned to the kitchen, just in time to see Aunt Sal step back from the door.
‘I’ve been peeking. He’s a fine-looking fellow and that is an odd tattoo,’ Sal whispered. ‘He certainly can pack away food.’
‘I don’t think life on the blockade is blessed with anything resembling cuisine. He’d like some custard.’
Aunt Sal spooned out another massive portion, thought a moment, then a more dainty one. ‘You haven’t eaten yet, Mandy. From the looks of things, he wouldn’t mind if you sat down again.’
‘Auntie! When I think of all your lectures on…’ she lowered her voice ‘…the dangers of men, and here you are, suggesting I sit with him?’
Aunt Sal surprised Mandy with a wistful smile, making her wonder if there had been a seafaring man in Sal’s life at some point. ‘It’s nearly Christmas and we are at war, Mandy,’ she said simply.
‘That we are,’ Mandy said. ‘I suppose a little kindness never goes amiss.’
‘My thought precisely,’ Sal told her. ‘I reared you properly.’
Mandy backed out of the swinging door with the custard. The master formally indicated the chair opposite him and she sat down, suddenly shy. And sat there.
‘See here, Miss Mathison. Despite what that old fellow thought, I have enough manners not to eat first. Pick up your fork.’
She did as he said, enjoying just the hint of rum that her aunt always added to her custard. In a week, they would spend an afternoon making Christmas rum balls and the tea room would smell like Percival Bartle’s brewery on the next street.
He ate with obvious appreciation, showing no signs of being stuffed beyond capacity. Then he removed the napkin from his uniform front and set down his fork.
‘I have a dilemma, Miss Mathison…’ he began.
‘Most customers call me Mandy,’ she said.
‘I’ve only known you about an hour,’ he replied, ‘but if you like, Mandy it is. By the way, I am Benneit Muir.’ He wiped his mouth. ‘My dilemma is this—Thomas Walthan won’t hear of my staying at Walthan Manor. Apparently I am not high bred enough.’ He chuckled. ‘Well, of course I am not.’
Mandy sighed. ‘That would be the Walthans.’
‘I can probably find a room at the public house, but more than anything, I’d like some peace and quiet to read. Can you suggest a place?’
‘Venable doesn’t…’ she began, then stopped. ‘Let me ask my aunt.’
Aunt Sal was putting away the beef roast. Mandy slid the dishes into the soapy water where soon she would be working, now that luncheon was over.
‘Aunt, his name is Benneit Muir and he has a dilemma.’
Aunt Sal gave her an arch, all-knowing look. ‘Mandy, you have never been so interested in a diner before.’
‘You said it—he’s interesting. Besides, you as much as suggested I be pleasant to him, because it is Christmas.’ She took a good look at her aunt, a pretty woman faded beyond any bloom of youth, but kind, so kind. ‘Apparently he has agreed to tutor Thomas Walthan in mathematics, but you know the Walthans—they won’t allow him to stay there.’
‘No surprise,’ Aunt Sal said as she removed her apron.
‘The posting house is too noisy and he wants quiet to read, when he’s not tutoring. We have that extra room upstairs. What do you think?’
‘A room inches deep in dust.’ Aunt Sal took another peek out the door. ‘We don’t even know him.’
Mandy considered the situation. She had never been one to cajole and beg for things, mainly because she had everything she needed. She didn’t intend to start now, but there was something about the master that she liked.
‘No, we don’t know him,’ Mandy said, picking her way through uncharted water. ‘Maybe he would murder us in our beds. Or shinny down the drainpipe and leave us with a bill.’
‘That seems doubtful, dearest. He just wants peace and quiet? There’s plenty of that here.’
Mandy said no more; she knew her aunt. After a moment in thought, Aunt Sal gave her another long look.
‘On an hour’s acquaintance, you think you know him?’
‘No,’ Mandy replied. She had been raised to be honest. ‘But you always say I am a good judge of character. And besides, didn’t you just encourage me?’
Aunt Sal folded her arms. ‘That chicken is coming home to roost,’ she said. ‘Remind me not to be so soft-hearted in future.’
‘It could also be that I am tired of my half-brother riding roughly over everyone,’ Mandy said softly.
Aunt Sal put her hands on Mandy’s shoulders and they touched foreheads. ‘Should I have started Mandy’s Rose in another village?’
‘No, Aunt. This is our home, too.’
Aunt Sal kissed Mandy’s forehead. ‘Let’s go chat with the sailing master.’
Here comes the delegation, Ben thought, as the door to the kitchen swung open. At least I’m not on a lee shore yet.
This
