Chapter Four
“Sounds like somebody’s in trouble, sir…” Edward was already heading across the hall as Grace and Perry emerged from the parlour.
“Indeed, yes. Let’s see what’s happening.” Perry followed the lad, with Grace close behind. The scene that met their eyes as Edward swung the front door wide was one of utter chaos.
Two carriages, eight horses and what seemed like a hundred children were tangled into a muddle that had the adults amongst them yelling out instructions, directions and rebukes.
“Grab the reins,” shouted the well-dressed gentleman.
“Mary, hold your sister’s hand and climb over it. I know you can…” A woman spoke sharply to a young girl who grabbed for an even younger girl.
“Jonathan, Mark and Anthony. To me.Now.” A sturdy older woman addressed three young boys with a commanding tone that was instantly obeyed.
“I got ‘em, sir. They’re free now…” The man who must have been the driver was hanging on to four of the horses for dear life, as his feet slithered and slipped in an attempt to find purchase on the icy driveway.
“Well done.”
He was clearly the parent of the brood, deduced Perry, observing how the others glanced his way now and again. Therefore he was the one that should be addressed. “Can we be of assistance, sir?” He shouted from the front step.
His yell made everyone look in his direction and for a few moments things quietened down.
“If you could melt the ice it would help,” answered the man ruefully. “I do apologise for disturbing you, but we could go no further.” He looked at the still confused chaos. “In fact, it’s a miracle we were able to travel this far. We had to get off the road…it’s quite terrible.”
“You must come inside, sir. You and your family.” Grace stepped to Perry’s side. “’Tis cold for the children, and too dangerous at the moment.”
Her point was ably emphasised by one of the young girls who attempted to break free of her sister’s grasp only to lose her footing almost immediately.
The older woman reached out and grasped the child’s arm, swinging her back onto her feet with a move that spoke to decades of experience with youngsters.
“We would be most grateful,” replied the harried mother. “Children. Listen to me now. We are going to go into this house, but you must be careful on the ice. The steps look clear, so slowly make your way to them. Do you hear me?”
“Yes, Mama,” chorused several young voices.
Perry sighed as he observed them heading toward him. He’d managed to avoid persons of such a tender age for most of his life. Now it looked as though this lot would be making up for his negligence. “I hope you know what you’re going to do with ‘em,” he murmured to Grace.
“Me?” She raised her eyebrows. “It’s potentially your house, Perry.”
“And we’ve been here all of what…an hour or so?”
She patted his arm. “We shall manage. We’re enterprising and inventive adults.”
He snorted. “Right now, I feel as helpless as if I were twelve.”
The children made it to the first step and stood there, looking a little confused and slightly nervous. Their parents were sorting out bags and their nurse was making her way to them, clutching at anything that didn’t move. She slipped once, her feet flying out from beneath her, her arms hanging on to a piece of the carriage as her boots and petticoats flapped like a captured goose.
The two older lads turned their heads away to hide their giggles and Perry did his best to hide a chuckle.
“Twelve years old, you said?” commented Grace. “Well, it seems you’ll fit right in.”
“Oh, my gracious,” breathed the woman, finally reaching the steps and her children. She looked up to the door where they stood. “I cannot begin to thank you for your kindness.”
“Nor I,” added her husband, who had skated his way to his wife’s side with a surprising amount of efficiency given his boots, his heavy cloak and the large valise tucked under one arm.
“Please do come in,” beckoned Perry, standing aside as they crossed the threshold.
“We were trying to reach the other side of Stoat’s End,” sighed the woman. “Our home cannot be more than half a dozen miles from here. But this ice…quite frightening.” She shuddered. “A miracle the carriage didn’t slide off the road into a ditch.”
“When we saw your entrance and the lights in the house, we did the only thing we could think of and pulled in,” finished her husband.
