Daisy smiled a watery smile.
“Stay for lunch, my lord,” Mrs. Bullock suggested. “Afterwards, you and your wife can head to town.”
“That's a very kind offer, Mrs. Bullock,” Colin replied. “Are you sure there's enough, though? I would hate for anyone to go hungry on my account.”
“We will be fine,” Mrs. Bullock insisted. “It's mostly beans, and I needed to use them up in preparation for this year's crop. The vegetable gardens are doing so nicely, there will be plenty for winter.” She beamed. “Children, clear away the painting supplies and let's eat.”
The Bullock children jumped to obey, laying out their wallpaper squares around the floor to dry and capping the paint and ink bottles. Viscountess or no, Daisy helped set the table. Mrs. Bullock looked at her long and hard, and then shrugged
