She noted that the yard was well kept, the horses, that were not turned out, all looked eagerly over their stalls.
‘Which one is Bubbles ? If he’s a little pony, he won’t be able to see out of one of these big stalls, will he Sarah?’
‘You’re silly, Liza, he lives in the paddock at the back and he has two goats and another horse for company.’
Eliza noticed that there was a gravelled path leading round the side of the stable block and it was this that Sarah took. The path widened to a larger space in which there was a five barred gate. Her sister ran across calling to the small dapple grey pony that was grazing halfway down the meadow.
Immediately the animal raised his head and with pricked ears trotted briskly over to greet his new friend. ‘I have nothing for you now, Bubbles. But I have bought my very best sister, Liza, to meet you. You shall take us both for a drive tomorrow morning.’
Eliza walked across and joined her sister as she hung over the gate to stroke the animal. He was far smaller than she’d hoped, too small to pull a trap with two healthy females in it, any great distance. Her plan to escape the next morning seemed doomed before she’d even finished arranging the details.
‘Look, Liza, here comes Silky. She’s the horse that the housekeeper, Mrs David, uses when she goes to market. There’s a bigger cart for Silky and it’s kept next to the one that Bubble uses.’
‘Silky’s a lovely horse. I wonder if we could ask to use him instead of Bubbles tomorrow? You see, darling, I am such a very large lady, I doubt if Bubbles could pull us very far before being completely worn out.’
Sarah looked from the pony, no more than 12 hands high, to her sister, almost six feet in her stockings. ‘Yes, I think that might be best. I’m sure Jethro, the nice groom who looks after Bubbles and Silky will do that. Shall I go and ask him straight away?’
Eliza nodded. If they could have use of the larger cart it would be possible to take Ann and Jane with them. Although she was prepared to leave with only Sarah, she would much prefer them all to be well away from wherever it was they were, before Lord Wydale and his gentlemen friends arrived tomorrow afternoon.
She strolled after her sister and when she arrived back in the stable yard Sarah was deep in conversation with an oldish man, who was nodding and smiling as he answered. Eliza tried to look unconcerned as she walked across to join them.
‘Good afternoon, Jethro. I am so sorry to burden you with my problems so soon after arriving here, but Sarah is determined to show me how well she drives around and as you can see, I’m far too large to be pulled around in her little cart.’
She waited for the speculative gleam to appear in the older man’s eyes, for the sneer, the sly looks that all the inside staff had been giving her. The man merely nodded, his face open and polite.
‘It’ll be a pleasure, miss. When I heard that Miss Sarah’s sister was coming to stay I was that relieved. She’s not really up to all this, is she, miss?’
‘You’re quite correct, Jethro. I’m afraid she’s not as other young women of her age, and does need to be carefully looked after.’ She hesitated, not sure if she should reveal any more of her fears.
The groom pre-empted her. ‘You might not remember me, Miss Fox, but I worked for Captain Carruthers, the young man you were to marry, before he was killed fighting for his king and country. I don’t believe a word of the nonsense that I’ve been hearing. Lord Wydale is up to something, that I’m certain.’
The man stopped guiltily, and glanced around in case he had been overheard. Sarah had wandered off to play with a cat and a litter of kittens which were living in an empty box in the far corner of the yard. It was safe for them to resume their conversation.
‘This estate used to belong to an elderly lady, Miss Simpkins. I believe she was Lord Wydale’s great aunt. She was a good employer and I have been happy here these past five years; but when her great-nephew arrived a few months ago to take possession, I decided it was time to look for another job. I didn’t like the cut of his cloth, if you take my meaning miss.’
‘But you’re still here, Jethro, did something happen to change your mind?’
‘Yes, Miss Fox, it did. Lord Wydale decided to rent out the property and farms to a family from London. They have been here ever since, but Lord Debden heard his father had suffered an apoplexy and decided it was time to return to Northumberland. So he took his family away with him two weeks back.’
Eliza smiled warmly at the man. ‘Thank God he did, Jethro. You being here, and
knowing me to be nothing to do with Lord Wydale and his coterie, might very well be the lifeline I’ve been praying for. I need to get us away from here before his lordship arrives tomorrow afternoon. Once seen in his company my good name will be gone forever. No matter what I say or do, I shall be always tainted by association.’
‘I thought as much. You get your maids and bags down here at dawn, and I shall do the rest. It’s not far from here to Newfield, and there’s an overnight mail calls in at eight o’clock every morning. I’ll get you all there in time to catch that, never fear.’
Abruptly the man turned away and vanished inside a loose box. Eliza realized they were being spied on; a surly looking individual, wearing a red spotted neckerchief and rough brown coat, had just come in to the yard leading one of the large shire horses Sarah had told her about.
She decided it was time to return to the house; it was almost five o’clock and she felt sure that Sarah would soon be demanding supper. She wished she knew how long the eavesdropper had been lurking there. Had he heard Jethro offer to help them escape the next morning?
She glanced back and was met with a stare of such malevolence that she flinched and hurried on. Whoever the unpleasant ruffian was, he was no friend of hers.
Chapter Fourteen
The small party was ready at dawn. Eliza had told Sarah that their clandestine departure and as her sister had never driven out before sunrise she thought the escapade exciting.
‘Miss Fox, I have the bags packed, and am just waiting for Jane to arrive with Miss Sarah’s doll. She left it behind in her bedroom and as you know she will not travel without it.’
Eliza had decided that they should make good their escape via the servants’ stairs. They were less likely to seen if they went that way. Sarah waited impatiently for Jane to join them. They had convinced her it was an elaborate game of hide and go seek and that they were trying to get to the stable without being spotted by the housekeeper.
Jane arrived her face creased with worry.’ We’re too late, miss. There’s chambermaids about already. You can’t go down the back stairs now.’
‘In which case you go down that way. Miss Sarah and I will use the main stairs. If we’re accosted I shall tell them the truth; that Miss Sarah wishes to see the sunrise over the house and that we’re taking the horse and trap out in order to do so. Don’t bring the bags in case you meet anyone. Put them in my closet where they won’t be seen.’
The two maids did as instructed and Eliza called Sarah over to her. ‘We’re going to go down the main stairs, Jane says no one wants to play hide and go seek today because they’re all too busy. Are you ready for your adventure?’
‘I am. I’ve never been up when it’s not light. Do you think that we’ll be in time to see the sun come up?’
Eliza waited to reassure her sister, that they would be in plenty of time, until they were both visible and audible. It would do no harm for any hidden listeners to hear them discussing the reason they were leaving the house at such an early hour.
She knew that the side door would be the easiest to open for it had only two bolts and no key to turn. She expected to be accosted at any moment. Her hands were shaking as she struggled with the door.
‘Can I help? I’m a very strong girl.’ Sarah added her weight and the bolts slid back silently.
They stepped out into the greyness and found the two girls waiting for them anxiously. Eliza signalled that they should proceed in silence.
They walked down the length of the house and took the path that led to the coach house and stables. There were already sounds of clattering buckets and stamping hooves which indicated at least one other groom was working.
They crept quietly past the yard all walking on the grass in order to avoid the sound of crunching gravel. To her extreme relief Jethro was waiting with the horse and trap. He nodded a greeting but his smile was absent. They scrambled inside and Jethro jumped onto the box, gathered up the reins, released the brake and they were moving.
No one spoke until they were away from the house; even Sarah was subdued. Eliza felt her pulse slowing and she began to believe they had made good their escape.
‘Jethro, I think it would be better if you didn’t drive us to the village. You said it was no more than a mile or two across the fields to the inn so we shall walk.’ She had decided during the long sleepless night that she would tell Sarah they were going to London to see the menagerie at the Tower. She knew that her sister had always wanted to visit the sights and this should be enough to persuade her to get on the mail coach without making a fuss.
‘Very well, Miss Fox. I’ll take the carriage through the woods and around the lake. If anyone is watching I doubt they’ll be able to see that the vehicle is empty.’
Eliza thought this an excellent idea. ‘If you wait there for an hour and then return at a canter as though you’re worried about our continued absence. Tell the housekeeper that Miss Sarah wanted to explore and asked you to wait, but we never returned. That way you should be above suspicion when our disappearance is discovered.’
She glanced at her sister, waiting for Sarah to comment on the change of plans, but she was asleep, her face hidden inside her fashionable chip straw bonnet. She checked that both Jane and Ann understood and they nodded.
The carriage bowled along through the trees, the dawn chorus filling the air, but this morning Eliza didn’t hear it. She flinched and jumped at every shadow convinced that they were being followed by sinister, dark cloaked figures. She knew she was being fanciful, but until they were safely travelling towards London in the company of others she would not believe they were safe.
Twenty minutes after leaving the stables Jethro pulled up. He turned round on the box. ‘Take the path over there, Miss Fox. You’ll come to a stile after a bit, climb over and take the path through the fields. You’ll be able to see the church spire so you can’t get lost. The White Hart is next to the church.’ He touched his cap. ‘Good luck and God speed.’ He didn’t get down to help them dismount knowing it would take valuable time.
Eliza watched the only friend she had at Winterton House vanish between the overhanging trees. Now she was on her own. It was up to her to get them all safely away before Lord Wydale appeared that afternoon with his disreputable friends and their ladybirds.
‘Come along, we have to take this little track. Sarah, why don’t you and Jane run on ahead and see if you can find the stile we have to climb?’
She waited until they were out of earshot before speaking to Ann. ‘We have ample time to reach the inn. I’m hoping there will be a private parlour we can use; I expect Sarah will be ravenous and demanding breakfast by then.’
‘Miss Sarah doesn’t seem bothered about the change of plans. She’s not accustomed to being up so early so I reckon she’ll sleep as soon as we’re on the mail coach.’
‘I shall tell the innkeeper the same story. If he enquires about reserving seats for the return journey I shall explain that we are unsure exactly when we wish to come back. You must talk about the Tower and all the exciting things we intend to see. That way I hope we will not appear suspicious.’
She heard Sarah running back laughing and calling far too loudly. ‘Liza, Liza, we have found it. It’s just a little way ahead.’
‘Good girl. Are you looking forward to going to London and seeing the animals at the Tower?’
For a moment Sarah looked bewildered. ‘Are we going to London? I had forgotten that. I love animals. Shall we have cakes as well?’
‘Of course we shall. We have to travel for quite a way on the coach before we get to London, but you like to travel in a coach, don’t you darling?’
Sarah smiled happily. ‘Shall I get to sit by the window?’
‘I’m not sure, my dear, it rather depends how many other passengers there are already travelling, but if there’s a space be sure it shall be yours.’
The walk across the fields was accomplished in less than an hour, but was sufficient time for the sun to have risen and the villagers to be about their business. Eliza was pleased that their route took them behind the High Street and directly into the inn yard.
Thankfully this was deserted. The ostlers were not needed to change the horses for at least another two hours. ‘Let’s go inside and find some breakfast, I’m sure everyone is hungry after that long walk.’ Eliza could have added hot and dirty but wisely refrained. If Sarah though she was untidy she would demand to go back and change her garments.
Inside the flagged hallway was well-scrubbed and the welcoming smell of freshly baking bread greeted them. Eliza spotted a small brass bell on a side table and rang it loudly.
The landlady appeared wiping her floury hands on a clean white apron. ‘Good morning, miss. You’re a mite early for the stage, but I expects you’ll be wanting a nice breakfast before you travel.’
‘Yes, thank you, that’s exactly what we would like. We want four seats on the eight o’clock mail coach. We’re going to Town to see the Tower.’ Eliza smiled brightly, wishing she had not been so voluble.
‘And a nice day you have for it, miss. It’s only two hours to London so you’ll have plenty of time to look round before having to come back.’
The landlady ushered them into a snug room which had a cheerful fire crackling in the grate. ‘I’m so hot, Liza,’ Sarah whined, ‘I don’t want to sit in here with a fire going.’
‘I shall open the window, Miss Sarah, and then you can sit by it. You’ll hardly notice that there’s a fire at all.’
Eliza smiled her thanks at Jane. She was too on edge to deal with Sarah’s tantrums at the moment. She realized that they hadn’t been asked what they required for their breakfast, she was about to ring the bell again but thought better of it. In her present mood it would be wise to present her sister with a meal rather than give her the option of demanding something that was unavailable.
A loud thump on the door heralded the arrival of their meal. A surly youth staggered in carrying a laden tray. He slammed it down on the dark oak table that ran across the far end of the room. He didn’t offer to lay up the table or unload but tugged his greasy forelock and stamped back from whence he’d come.
‘Well I never! I hope the food is better than his manners,’ Ann said as she hurried over to set out the meal.
This display had restored Sarah’s good humour. ‘Wasn’t he a naughty boy, Liza? Look, see how he’s spilt the milk on the tray.’
Eliza walked over to join the others. This display of ill-temper had added to her feeling of disquiet, as though it was an omen. This would not do! She must not allow the incident to unsettle her; she had to keep a sense of perspective and remain cool and calm if this escape was to be successful.
‘This looks delicious. What are you going to have, Sarah? I shall have some of this crusty bread and a little of the conserve.’
She watched her companions eat a hearty breakfast, but was unable to swallow more than a mouthful of two herself. The freshly baked bread turned to solid lumps in her mouth and the sweetness of the strawberry jam made her feel nauseous. She managed to drink something from her glass of buttermilk but even this made her gag.
The hands on the mantel clock seemed stationary. Every time she heard a raised male voice or the sound of a horse in the cobbled yard she tensed, waiting to be accosted and forced back to Winterton House. She knew she would do anything to avoid being part of an unpleasant scene. Their appearance so early in the morning on foot was already, she w
as sure, giving rise to speculation.
They were strangers in the village and the staff at the country inn would be speculating about them and trying to decide from which house they had come. She began to wish she had not tried to organize this on her own, but had sent for Edmund instead of banishing him from the house.
By the time they had all visited the privy and tidied themselves, there was an air of expectancy in the building. The yard was bustling with ostlers whose job it would be to change the horses and have the mail coach ready to leave in less than ten minutes.
At last! Eliza gathered up her reticule and gloves and checked that her bonnet was securely tied before turning to the others. ‘I do believe it’s time for us to go outside. We have only a few minutes to scramble aboard and must be ready and waiting when the coach arrives.’
They stood huddled against the wall beside the other two passengers. Eliza eyed them surreptitiously, checking that they were not from Winterton and in the employ of Lord Wydale. The two men were dressed in country garb, stout boots, heavy britches and cloth coats. The younger of the two became aware of her inspection and his face split in a friendly grin.
‘Good mornin’, madam. Off to see the sights? Me dad and me…’
His father interrupted him. ‘Hush up, lad. Don’t be bothering the lady.’ The young man turned an unbecoming shade of red and dropped his head in embarrassment at the public reprimand.
Eliza was about to offer him some comfort when she heard the sound of the coach arriving and the moment passed. It had barely rocked to a halt before the door was flung open by an ostler.
‘Anyone getting off here?’ There was a mumbled sound of voices from inside but nobody emerged. The man turned to Eliza. ‘There’s only two seats inside, miss. Your girls will have to travel on the top.’
Fenella J. Miller Page 12