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front of it.
    Saskia felt an overwhelming urge to talk the man into taking the room, regardless of his reasons for being here. As he looked about him, she crossed her fingers behind her back, silently pleading that he would find no fault with what he saw. If he took the room for one month then she would be able to pay the butcher’s account for the last quarter. He was one of the few local tradesmen who refused to be intimidated by her father, and was willing to extend them credit. Saskia was uncomfortably aware that they’d exploited his goodwill on more than one occasion. They’d be able to replace the lost hen, as well, and purchase more firewood, if only this man decided he liked what he saw.
    Oh, please, please take the room!
    “If a month is more than you require then there’s a reasonable inn in the village. Otherwise, in Burton Bradstock, there’s the rather more commodious Dove Inn.”
    Now why in the name of heaven had she said that?
    Mr. Beaumont gave up his perusal of a tapestry mounted on the wall behind the bed and turned at the sound of her voice, offering Saskia an engaging smile. “The room is quite satisfactory, Mrs. Eden, and I’d be delighted to be your guest for one month.”
    Without waiting for an answer he delved into his pocket, produced a pile of notes and peeled off the correct amount, forcing it into her hand. “Now, about stabling for my horses?”
    “I regret that none is available here, sir,” she said, disguising her relief at his decision by employing the same distantly polite voice which she had used throughout their exchange, “but there’s a reasonable establishment in the main street. Swyre is a small village. You can’t miss it.”
    “Excellent, I — ”
    The door flew open, and the twins burst in.
    “Are you going to stay with us, Mr. Beaumont?”
    “Indeed I am.”
    “These are my children, Mr. Beaumont.” She smiled, in spite of the fact that she’d lost count of the number of times she’d warned them not to burst into guests’ rooms uninvited. “Joshua and Amy”
    The twins made a bow and curtsey, respectively, and offered up identical lopsided grins for inspection.
    “I’ve already had the pleasure of making their acquaintance,” Mr. Beaumont said, not appearing to take exception to their forwardness.
    “We’re twins,” Josh informed him.
    “Yes, so I observe.”
    “We’re six — ”
    “And this is Hoskins — ”
    “Our dog — ”
    “He can do tricks — ”
    “Yes, he jumps through Josh’s hoop, and he can — ”
    “Have you finished in the schoolroom, children?” Saskia asked, striving to sound severe.
    “Yes, thank goodness,” they replied in unison.
    “All right then, what about those beans you were picking for cook?”
    “Oh yes, we’d forgotten about that. Come on, Josh.”
    Still full of chatter, the children left the room as abruptly as they had entered it.
    “My apologies, Mr. Beaumont,” Saskia said, shaking her head after them. “They can be a little high spirited at times.”
    “Not at all. They’re delightful.”
    “I hope you’re still of that opinion at the end of a month.” She prepared to follow her children from the room. “Now then, sir, tea is about to be served in the drawing room and dinner is at six. We keep country hours.”
    “I shall attend to my horses now and look forward to meeting the rest of your guests at dinner. Is there someone who could bring up my bags and unpack for me?”
    “Of course,” Saskia said, wearily adding yet another task to an ever-increasing list.

    When Felix entered the drawing room at Riverside House that evening, seven heads turned in his direction, and all conversation ceased as the occupants of the room eyed him with differing degrees of curiosity. After what seemed likes minutes, during which nobody moved or spoke, Mrs. Eden detached herself from the group.
    “May I introduce you to my aunt, Mr. Beaumont?” she asked in the same polite, detached tone she’d employed