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squeezed it. “I am well, thank you. I am glad you approve of the robin’s egg blue. The color perfectly suits our new yellow sofa.”
    After a fleeting grin, Ross peered up to the newly painted walls. The light blue accented the white plaster garlands nicely. For the life of him, he could not remember the old wall color, but the blue did look well now.
    â€œSo what is in the box?” She gazed at him fondly.
    â€œA gift for our mantel. Go ahead, open it.”
    She opened the box and pulled out a Staffordshire figurine of a shepherdess. At first sight of the two-foot-tall statue, her glorious smile appeared. “Oh, how wonderful. Isn’t this lovely? And look at the detail. Even the little sheep have painted pink noses.”
    He took his accustomed place on an old upholstered chair facing the sofa, delighted that his gift made her happy. He would always do his best to please her, but any man would draw the line when it came to voluntary admiration of pink sheep noses.
    She cradled the shepherdess in her lap. “How was your first day touring the property? Did you meet with Mr. Douglas this afternoon? Did he take my side and agree we must stop the farm improvements until we furnish the house?”
    â€œWe had a long talk. I’m impressed with our steward. The home farm is well maintained, and the estate books are in good order. I also examined the terrain where the surveyor suggested we erect the foundry. The ground at the site is elevated, so next week we will dig three wells. If there is no groundwater at a depth of twenty feet, then the site is a good one for a foundry. Imagine it. Once our steam engines are available for sale, Blackwell will generate twice the profits it is currently producing. With all that money, I’ll be able to keep my promise. You can then furnish this place with acres and acres of the mahogany furniture you desire, even Gillow’s overdecorated firewood.”
    He winked at her. “However, before any capital is committed, we must obtain a lease to move our engines across Mrs. Colton’s land. My calculations show the foundry will be profitable only if we use a waterway to obtain fuel for the blast furnaces and haul our small steam engines to our customers. Since you are acquainted with our neighbors, you must have met this widow Colton already? What is her situation? Does she need the money?”
    Lady Helen stared at his muddy left boot. “Mrs. Colton is a high-spirited lady who is financially independent due to a considerable jointure. She lives in that newer Gothic house in the direction of Knutsford, the one with the lovely view of the river. She is not old, but not young, and has no children from her marriage. She is currently raising her nephew, a Mr. Berdmore Deane. That young coxcomb lacks modesty and is full of silly levity. Indeed, both aunt and nephew are frivolous creatures.”
    Ross stared into the fire. “Even if she doesn’t need the funds, I can’t imagine her refusing the extra capital she would earn from the lease.”
    â€œI wouldn’t wager on it. Her late husband left her well provided for.”
    â€œThen I’ll call upon her soon and ask for our lease. I’ve one month to make the first payment to reserve the steam engine for the foundry. If not, I may have to wait months before the next one becomes available.”
    A slight haze settled close to the tall fireplace. He strode to the opening, grabbed the poker, and stabbed the fire. “Bloody fireplace! Look at all this smoke. The whole damn house smells smoky. Remind me to have the chimneys cleaned.” A piece of soot landed on his nose, forcing him to wave his hand and step backward.
    She shook her head. “I believe they are clean. The smoke is due to the shortness of the chimneys.”
    â€œExcuse me?”
    â€œThe chimneys are too short.” She wiped a piece of soot off the ornate table. “To retain the classical