“No, I told you. I didn’t recognize her at all.”
“Odd thing, that.” His father frowned into his tea. “We know everyone hereabouts. I’m sure we would have heard if anyone new had moved into Little Chillendale.”
“Perhaps she was just travelling through, Papa. It was a bit of a mystery, but there are a lot of other things going on just now. I’m going to put that one away for a while.”
Reid sipped his tea and prayed that would be the end of it.
No such luck.
“Where would she have been staying, if she was staying around here?” Lady Jocelyn pursed her lips. “You were all the way up by the meadow, you say?”
Reid nodded. “Yes. I’d walked further than I’d intended.”
“Damned if I can think of anywhere habitable around that way. Not even a cow byre. We kept it clear so that the field could run fallow now and again without any interference from anything but nature,” Sir Rodney added.
“A wise course, sir. And I agree. I can’t think of anywhere…” Reid’s thoughts scampered around. There wasoneplace that might provide shelter, a place he’d completely forgotten about. In fact, it was so long ago, he wondered if it was still there at all.
He did not, however, think it a good idea to mention it to his parents. The entire project had been orchestrated by two young lads without any adult supervision. In fact, it would have been immediately forbidden, should they have been found out. He had the urge to grin, but held it in check, agreeing with his family that it was probably some passing visitor or else just a figment of his temporarily disordered mind.
“And you didn’t recognize her at all?” queried his mother.
“No. I would be willing to swear I’ve never seen her before.”
“Describe her.”
Reid swallowed. “Well, she had sort of reddish brown hair.”
“Long or swept up?”
“Er…long. I think. Yes, definitely long. I remember it touched me when she leaned over me.”
“Hmm.” Lady Jocelyn looked pensive. “Eyes?”
“Yes. Two, if I recall correctly.”
“Don’t be silly. Color?”
“Mother, it was dark. The moon was just rising. A branch had just fallen on me and knocked me flat on my back in the snow. I was not, at that moment, cataloging the appearance of whoever it was that helped me.”
“So there’s nothing else that you recall? Nothing at all?”
He paused. “She smelled of spring flowers.”
“Well, now.” His father regarded him with a quizzical look. “Spring flowers. That is nice, isn’t it.”
“Hush, Rodney. You’re not helping.”
“Sorry, dear.”
Reid rolled his eyes. “All this isn’t accomplishing anything, and I’m still plagued with a bit of a headache. So if you both will excuse me, I’m for bed. Busy day tomorrow.”
His mother nodded. “Yes indeed. Do go and rest, Reid. Remember Emmeline and her mother are coming for tea and we shall expect you to be present.”
“And there’s new ale to be tested,” added his father hopefully.
“That’s at the top of my list,” grinned Reid. “And I’ve had an idea I’d like to talk to you about, as well. But it can wait until morning.”
“Don’t forget.” His mother called after him as he headed toward the door. “Tomorrow at four, Reid. Youmustbe here.”
