A Berkshire Christmas

by S. White

  Enough of this feeling sorry for myself.

  Kathleen rose from the bed. Susan had thoughtfully left another dress on the bed so she added another layer of clothing on top of the woolen dress she already wore.

  Kathleen checked to make sure Susan hadn't missed anything. Her portmanteau sat on the bed waiting for her along with her heavy outerwear. She shrugged into her heavy coat, placed her bonnet on her head, and her wool scarf around her neck. The last thing was her gloves.

  ❄

  Downstairs, Luther, the butler, was waiting for her. He handed her wagers. She liked the old man. He had pretended to be a stodgy curmudgeon, but he had a heart of gold and a wonderful sense of humor. Of the servants, Kathleen would miss Luther and Susan most.

  Luther's eyes held regret and sympathy. “I am so sorry, Miss Richards. That boy is a spoiled brat. I was hoping that school would teach him a lesson or two, but apparently not.”

  Kathleen dropped her portmanteau and hugged the old man. “I will miss you, Luther.”

  “I will miss you to, miss,” the butler said. “Are you sure that you would not want to wait until morning. It is mighty cold out there.”

  “Quite sure, Luther. It could be colder tomorrow.” Kathleen kissed the man's wrinkled cheek.

  Luther opened the door. He shivered as a blast of cold air blew in. Kathleen stepped outside allowing Luther to close the door behind her.

  She had a heavy task ahead of her. It was at least a half a mile to the road. From there, it was another three miles or more to the nearest Posting Inn.

  There was nothing for it except to put one foot in from of the other, so she did exactly that.

  It took Kathleen more than an hour trudging through the newly fallen snow to reach the road. She was freezing even with all those layers of clothing and outerwear. Her hands were so cold Kathleen couldn't feel the handle of her portmanteau and she was already tired from just that short walk from the house to the road.

  How am I going to make it all the way to the Posting Inn?

  Kathleen took a few steps up the road and stopped. She sat the portmanteau down and sat down on it to rest a little bit. A little bit turned into an hour.

  Enough is enough. I will never get there at this rate.

  Kathleen rose, picked up her portmanteau, and began to walk again.

  ❄Chapter Nine ❄

  Simon Audley sat on the forward facing seat. His Valet, Rogers, sat across from him. The windows were closed to keep out the chill. Hot bricks were at their feet and heavy woolen traveling blankets laid across their legs.

  Simon moved the curtain aside to glance out. This was the wrong road.

  “Why are we on this road? This route is a much longer way to reach Berkshire.”

  “I believe, my lord, Bertie told you that the other road was blocked by snow and that he would have to take the longer route to arrive safely at Audley Manor,” Rogers answered.

  “Oh, yes, I remember him mumbling something. I guess I was not paying attention.”

  Simon was distracted. He didn't know what he would tell his mother about his broken betrothal. He knew she would very disappointed, but at least he tried.

  He noticed the carriage was picking up speed. Simon hoped the driver was careful and they didn't end in a ditch somewhere.

  “Perhaps, Bertie is making up the extra distance with speed. At least, we are the only carriage on the road right now.”

  “That is certainly possible. I don't think we are too far from an Inn. We will able to replace these bricks.”

  ❄

  Kathleen heard the carriage before she saw it come around the curve at a high rate of speed. At least, faster than the weather and road condition allowed for true safety.

  Kathleen had just stepped into the road to skirt a particularly large snowdrift. The carriage would have missed her if the wheels hadn't hit a hidden patch of ice. As it was, the carriage slid towards her and the driver couldn't stop the coach's momentum.

  It seemed to her like everything happened slowly. She saw the look of horror on the driver's face and heard the screams of the horses. The carriage swayed dangerously.

  Kathleen did the only thing she could do. She leapt out of the way which put her into the giant snowdrift.

  The driver finally brought the horses and carriage to a stop just before it ended in the snowdrift on top of Kathleen.

  She was struggling to get out of the snow which seemed to want to suck her deeper when the carriage door opened and a man stepped out.

  “Bertie, what happened?” the man spoke to the driver.

  “The wheels hit the ice and I could not control the horses or the carriage, my lord. Someone was walking alongside the road. I might have hit him.”

  “Where is he now?”

  Bertie was visibly shaking, he could only point to the snowdrift only a few feet away.

  Simon stepped towards the snowdrift where what he thought was a person struggling to get out of the fresh snow. He couldn't tell if it was a man or woman since he or she seemed to be made of snow.

  He walked over and offered his help. The person latched onto his hand a small one and he hauled this person out of the snow. Simon could see now it was a woman. She brushed the snow off her face.

  He gasped. He recognized Kathleen Richards immediately. She hadn't changed a bit even after two years. She was just as he remembered her.

  I have finally found Kathleen after all this time. Perhaps all is not lost after all.

  Simon tried to help her brush the snow from her clothing. She swatted his hand away.

  “If all the idiotic things to do. Anyone know ice is a danger on this road or any road for that matter.”

  “I am afraid we have never traveled this road before.”

  Simon waited while she tried to brush as much of the snow off her person as she could. He spotted her portmanteau half buried and retrieved it.

  “Allow me to introduce myself, Miss Richards. I am Simon Audley, Earl of Stratmore.”

  Kathleen looked at Simon for the first time. “How did ...”

  “It is much too cold for conversation out here. Let me convey you to wherever you like. It is the least I can do.” Simon smiled.

  “I guess that I don't have a choice in the matter.” Kathleen still hesitated a moment before she allowed Simon to assist her into his carriage. She sat in the empty seat and was pleased to feel a hot brick at her feet. Well, almost hot. Simon joined Rogers on the backward facing seat.

  “My Valet, Rogers, totally harmless I can assure you.” Simon smiled.

  Rogers nodded. “A pleasure, Miss Richards.”

  After the carriage began to move again at a slower pace, Kathleen asked, “How did you know my name, my lord?”

  “We met briefly two years ago but were never formally introduced. It was the Braxton Christmas Ball. You were leaving early and I was arriving late.” Simon patted his jacket pocket to be sure the slipper was still there.

  “I am afraid I can't remember that night very well.”

  “A lot has happened in two years. I had Bertie stow your portmanteau in the boot. Are you traveling?”

  “You could say that. I lost my governess position and was on my way to the Posting Inn.” Kathleen tried to smile as Simon plucked the rug off his Valet's lap and placed it on hers. “I will, of course, convey you there. You need to get out of those wet clothes and a hot bath would not go amiss.”

  “My lord, I am grateful for your concern, but I don't want to put you to any trouble.”

  “No trouble, Miss Richards. I was planning to stop for a hot meal anyway. I hope you will join me.”

  “Well, I don't know ...”

  “Please. I hate to eat alone,” Simon pleated.

  I have no intentions of ever letting this woman out of my sight until the ring is on her finger.

  ❄Chapter Ten ❄

  They made it to the Blue Goat Inn without further mishap. Kathleen waited just inside the front door with her portmanteau wh
ile Simon went in search of the landlord, Mister Oats.

  He found the man in the Tap Room. Simon ordered a room for Kathleen and a bath. He reserved one of the two private dining rooms before he took the key from Mister Oats. Simon joined Kathleen.

  “My lord, I am not sure about this. I will not be able to repay you.”

  “Miss Richards, my coach nearly killed you. I owe you a debt. Allow me to repay it in some small measure. I will take you up to your room where you may take as long as necessary to clean up. A bath will be up soon. When you are ready, you can join me for a hot and hearty meal.”

  Simon didn't bother to see if she followed him after picking up her portmanteau and started for the stairs. Evidently, she did, for she entered the room right after Simon.

  The room was small but clean. A small bed sat near the shuttered window. A fire glowed in the small fireplace. Simon placed her portmanteau on the bed.

  “Take your time, Miss Richards. Join me when you are ready.”

  Kathleen sat down on the bed to wait for the bath. She was feeling slightly overwhelmed. Her luck had changed somewhat. She didn't know if she would have made it to this Inn alive. It was much further than she thought.

  Kathleen was still feeling chilled so she jumped off the bed and walked to the fireplace. She could feel the warmth soak into her body all the way to her bones.

  She was deep in thought as she stared into the hot flames when a knock on the door startled her. Kathleen quickly went to the door and opened it. Two large men entered carrying a giant copper tub followed by several maids with buckets of water. Another maid brought drying clothes and soap.

  The last maid to leave after the tub was filled asked, “Will there be anything else, miss?”

  “No. Thank you.” Kathleen closed the door after the maid departed.

  She only hesitated a moment before she stripped off her steaming clothing and stepped into the bath. Kathleen sighed as the water's warmth seeped into her cold body. She relaxed for the first time since leaving her former employer's home. Was it only this morning? It seems like much longer.

  Kathleen picked up the bar of soap and smelled the fragrance. Lemon and lavender?

  She began scrubbing her body until she felt thoroughly clean and warm. Since the tub was here and the water was still warm, Kathleen decided to wash her hair as well. There was no telling how long it would be before she was given an opportunity to wash her dark tresses.

  As she soaked in the tub, Kathleen thought of the man waiting for her downstairs. Somehow, he did look familiar. The night he spoke of was the night her father …

  Simon Audley was the kind of man she had dreamed of her whole life. Under different circumstances, she could see the man courting her and her father granting him permission to marry her.

  Kathleen wiped tears from her eyes. Her father was gone and she was now an unemployed governess. A titled man like Simon Audley would never marry a woman like her.

  There is no use dreaming. If only things --

  ❄Chapter Eleven ❄

  Two hours later, Kathleen was dressed. Her portmanteau was repacked with her almost dry clothing and she was on her way downstairs. Kathleen laughed when her stomach rumbled.

  The landlord gave her direction to the private dining room hired by Simon. She tentatively knocked on the door. It was opened immediately by the earl's valet.

  Simon sat a table with a cup of what she supposed by the smell of it was hot mulled wine. He rose from his chair until she had settled in the chair across from him.

  “Are you feeling better, Miss Richards?” Simon smiled at the woman he had given up searching for.

  “Very much. I cannot tell you how much pleasure it was to bathe in hot water. I am sorry it took so long.” Kathleen couldn't help her rosy blush.

  “I told you to take all the time you needed. What would you like to eat? I am told the lamb stew is excellent,” Simon said.

  “That sounds good. I am a little famished.” Kathleen's smile lit her whole face.

  “Rogers?”

  The valet still stood by the door. “Yes, my lord?”

  “Two bowls of lamb stew, hot baked bread, and another pitcher of mulled wine.”

  “Right away, my lord.” Rogers left the room leaving Kathleen alone with Simon.

  There was a moment of awkward silence before Simon said, “I was sorry to hear about your father.”

  Kathleen bowed her head to hid the sudden tears. “Thank you. Did you know him?”

  “No, I did not. I wished I did. I might have helped. I don't believe they have ever caught the man who stole your father's funds.”

  “No, they did not. I did not have any money to pursue him. He is probably living the good life on my father's money somewhere on the Continent.”

  When Simon couldn't find Kathleen, he had hired the Bow Street Runner, Thomas Blanchard, to find the man responsible for Kathleen's troubles. The Runner last reported that he had a lead on the man in Florence, Italy. With any luck, Blanchard would bring the man back to stand trial.

  “Perhaps. Believe me when I say the man will pay for his misdeeds one day. Soon, I hope.” Simon hesitated a moment.

  “I hope you are right,” Kathleen said, without any conviction in her voice.

  “I do have news if you would like to hear it.” Before Simon could say more, Rogers returned with a serving woman carrying a tray with the bowls of stew with two loaves of bread. Rogers carried the steaming pitcher and two cups.

  “Will there be anything else, my lord?” Rogers opened the door for the serving woman to leave.

  “No, Rogers, you may take yourself off and have your own meal.”

  “Thank you, my lord.” The valet left the room.

  “Your valet is not eating with us? I know it is not customary for a servant to eat with his employer, I thought since you are traveling …”

  “I wouldn’t mind the company, but Rogers prefers to eat his meal with the town folk and other visitors.” Simon paused. “He is my major source of news.”

  “New? What sort of news?”

  Simon swallowed a spoonful of stew. “The conditions of the roads up ahead, the weather and that sort of thing.”

  “Before your valet's arrival, you spoke of news. I would like to hear any news you would like to impart, my lord.”

  “It is about your father or rather the man who cheated him. A Bow Street Runner has located him in Italy. Hopefully ...”

  Kathleen gasped. “Runners require payment to go after criminals. Who would pay the man?”

  Simon tore off a hunk of bread and buttered it before answering. “I don't know. Probably a friend or someone who wishes to see justice done.”

  He shouldn't have told her anything, but she had a right to know that all was not completely lost. The money may be gone, but the criminal will pay for his crimes someday.

  Simon and Kathleen finished off their meal. Too quickly for Simon. He still hadn't come up with a plan to keep Kathleen with him. Unless—

  Simon cleared his throat. “Miss Richards, I have a proposition that might solve your problem of employment.”

  Kathleen rose so quickly her chair fell to the floor with a thump.

  “Just because I accepted a ride to this Inn, a bath and a meal … I am not that kind of woman. I may have fallen from my position in society, it does not mean ...”

  Kathleen ran to the door to escape. She fumbled with the door handle in her haste to get away from the earl. Simon followed her holding the door shut with one hand.

  “Please, Miss Richards, I am doing this all wrong. I did not mean it the way it sounded. Please, come back to the table and have more wine. Believe me, I meant no disrespect. I am not that sort of man,” Simon pleaded.

  I cannot lose her now over my poor choice of words.

  With her hand still on the door handle, Kathleen looked up at Simon. She didn't see any lecherous intent in his eyes, but—

  “Very well. I will hear you out, but if I decided against
this … proposition, you will let me leave.”

  “I will.” I will not! I have to convince her.

  Simon lifted the overturned chair and helped her to sit. He took his place on the other side of the table and poured them both a cup of wine.

  Simon sipped his wine a moment before he began. “I am on my way to my country home in Berkshire. I return every Christmas to visit my mother and family.”