“Botheration.” She wrinkled her nose. “Do you think it would be too much trouble to take the carriage out? I would like to visit Mrs. Barnsley and talk to her about my thoughts on a local market here at Wolfbridge. And then I want to see Trick. It’s been too long, Jeremy. I miss him.”
He nodded. “I do as well, Adalyn. We all do.”
She walked to his side and leaned against his shoulder. “It’s as if a part of us is missing, isn’t it?”
He looked down at her. “It is. We are a unit. If one is away, the others are lessened a little.”
She glanced up, seeing the warmth in his eyes as he stared at her face. “Astute and correct. I couldn’t agree more.”
He quietly lowered his head and just touched her lips with his. “We shall pull through this, Adalyn.”
She nodded, loving his casual and encouraging caress. “I know.”
“I’ll see about the carriage,” he said.
“Give me an hour and I’ll be ready,” she answered.
“I’m not sure there’s anyone to go with you, my Lady…” he sounded a little hesitant. You should have a maid, or one of us…”
She frowned. “I know. But that kind of social protocol, while expected in London, is more relaxed here, I believe. I will have the driver. And Jane said something about being there today, so if she is, I will try to make sure we connect.”
“It’ll have to do, I suppose.” He sighed. “Giles won’t like it…”
“He’ll forgive me. He pardoned me this morning for a much greater sin.” She grinned and hurried from the room.
Slightly less than an hour later, Adalyn was bundled up against the rain and tucked into the Wolfbridge carriage. The driver was one of the tenants sorely affected by the bad weather, so he was pleased to earn a few extra shillings on the box.
Adalyn hated the thought of him getting soaked, but he had simply shaken his head when she’d mentioned it. “Don’t bother me none, m’Lady. An’ the coins’ll help us out. Well worth a bit of a wettin’, if’n yer ask me.”
Thus reassured, she asked him to drive to Mrs. Barnsley, and let him know that after that brief visit they were for Ditchley.
Mrs. B. was happy to see her, but they kept their discussion short, knowing Adalyn had another trip to make.
“I likes the idea of a little market, Ma’am,” Mrs. B. approved. “Give us all a bit of a chance to trade and barter, even if we make no money.”
“Good.” Adalyn wanted to cheer. “I will see about setting it up then, and as soon as I do I’ll make sure you have the details and we can spread the word. Do you think we’ll see many join us?”
Mrs. B. thought for a bit. “I’d say at least a dozen farmers. Mebbe even more, since a lot of folks without land still got chickens and the odd goat or sheep. Might see some good cheese and perhaps a bit of wool if we’re lucky.”
“Lovely. Just what I’d hoped for.”
“Can’t be doin’ it outside though, if this darn rain keeps up.”
Adalyn grimaced. “I know. But we’ll work around it if we have to.”
“Keep your eyes open fer Jane, m’Lady?” Mrs. B. called from the doorway as Adalyn left. “She walked this morning. She’s probably bedraggled as a wet hen by now.”
Adalyn waved back in acknowledgement.
Leaving the cottage with one goal checked off her list, she resumed her carriage ride, eagerly awaiting the chance to see Trick again. It felt like years since they’d parted, but she understood the necessity of observing the proprieties. To the rest of the world, Trick was her head groom; a valued member of her household, but a servant when all was said and done.
No one should know that he was so much more to her, as were the rest of her “servants”.
The watery skies showed no signs of brightening, which was a pity for the spring had arrived and she’d hoped for sunshine to speed things along.
They had rattled over the bridge, where she noted the higher water levels. The rain in the hills was adding to the endless downpours and turning a peaceful river into a bustling cascade of brownish rippling foam.
Then they were past the boundaries of Wolfbridge Manor and on their way to Ditchley. Her foot brushed the basket on the floor; she’d brought some essentials for Trick and tucked them all neatly away beneath a thick cloth.
