Mercedes sighed and turned her attention to the seemingly endless fall of snow visible through the window. As she stared out into the increasingly colourless landscape, she felt a sudden moment of disquiet. Biting her lip, she hugged Flossy to her, taking comfort in the little dog’s warm body snuggled inside her cloak. As far as she was aware, there was only the Black Swan Inn between here and Corsham. The carriage was travelling apace, but not alarmingly so. She could only assume that Arthur, the lead coach driver was confident they would reach their destination without too much trouble. If she remembered correctly, the inn was on this side of the town.
***
‘You’re certain her carriage will be stopping here?’
‘The coach driver told Smiffy that Stanhope ‘ad already paid fer the rooms. Private parlour an’ everythin’.
‘Who is she travelling with?’
‘Coach driver got a bit suspicious o’ ‘is questions and Smiffy din’t want to push it, but she ain’t goin’ ter be on ‘er own. Chits like ‘er don’t go anywhere wi’out a bloody nursemaid.’
‘What time did they leave Tewkesbury?’
‘Jus’ after eleven milord. There ain’t no other inn between there an’ ‘ere. An’ with the weather closin’ in, they’ll not be tempted to try and get past Corsham to Salisbury. I reckon they should be arrivin’ jus’ as it starts to get dark. Perfect timing.’
The man shook his head. ‘I won’t take her today. We’ll only have one chance to grab her. Tonight, we find out who she’s travelling with. Let the bitch have her last supper.’ He patted his coatpocket. ‘I already have the licence, and once I have her, all I have to do is get her to the priest.’
***
‘When the deuce did it start snowing?’ The Reverend cast an incredulous look through the carriage window.
‘Not long after we left Tewkesbury,’ Mercy answered with a sigh. ‘Initially, I didn’t think it would settle, but it doesn’t seem to be abating at all.’
‘Lawks, snow in April, Augustus! Surely it means we’re coming to the end times,’ Agnes cried, clutching at the Reverend’s arm. ‘Promise me you’ve had a word with the Almighty and apologised for all the misery you’ve caused me?’
She retrieved a kerchief from her reticule and dabbed it under her eyes, adding. ‘I know you’ve not been much of a husband – lord knows you’re too ripe and ready by half - and I can’t deny you’re a bit of a toad eater. You’re nearly always in a devil’s own scrape … and you’re deuced good at upsetting people,andmaking a cake of yourself…’ she paused and blew her nose before finishing, ‘but there’s no getting away from the fact that you’re the only one I’ve got.’
The Reverend and Mercy stared at Agnes silently, both lost for words as they digested the matron’s catalogue of reproaches. When Mercedes finally glanced over at the Reverend, she couldn’t help wincing at the interesting colour of his face. ‘I really don’t think the snow is apocalyptic, Grandmama,’ she inserted hurriedly. ‘There truly is no need to worry. I’m sure it will be entirely gone before we recommence our journey tomorrow.’
‘Well, I can’t deny I’m looking forward to reaching Cottesmore,’ Agnes sniffed. ‘A nice clean bed without any deuced bedbugs.’ She gave her posterior a quick scratch for emphasis.
‘I’m sure Mama will be delighted to see both of you,’ Mercedes soothed.
Her step-grandfather snorted in answer. ‘I’ll wager Chastity would rather have her fingernails removed with a rusty spoon.’ He waved towards the window and chuckled. ‘She might have to put up with us for a bit longer than she’d hoped though if this keeps up.’
‘Oh, I’m certain it will be gone in no time,’ Mercedes repeated, crossing her fingers under her cloak. ‘It is April after all.’
‘Snow in April,’ Agnes muttered. ‘You mark my words; it’ll be fire and brimstone next.’
The Reverend raised his eyebrows. ‘Well, if it is, I’m sure you’ve got a potion for it somewhere in your bag.’
***
Hoisting the panniers over Duchess’s back, and mounting up behind them, Nate whistled to Ruby who was busy nosing at something particularly noxious mixed in with all the snow in the gutter. He’d managed to purchase enough provisions to last him a sennight though he doubted the unseasonal spell of weather would last that long.
Nudging the mare with his feet, he walked her carefully along Corsham high street, taking care to avoid the deeper drifts of snow gathering at the side of the road. Not that the centre of the street was much better, covered with a crisscross of muddy white slush, effectively concealing any hidden stones and rocks.
Despite his cautiousness, as he broke free of the last houses on the edge of the town, the horse began limping. Swearing under his breath, Nate stopped the mare and dismounted, patting Duchess’s flank as he lifted the effected hoof. As he raised her leg, she favoured him with a quick irritable nip on his shoulders. Accustomed to her bad temper, he tapped her nose before crouching down to inspect the hoof. Almost immediately he spotted a stone embedded in her shoe, its sharp edge slicing into the tender flesh underneath.
‘Fiend seize it,’ he muttered to himself, letting her foot go and rising back to his feet. The stone needed removing, but to do so before getting her inside might make things worse rather than better. The stone would almost certainly cause a bruise which in turn could turn to an abscess, and walking her on the hard, snow-covered ground for another three miles… He grimaced, dragging off the scarf covering his lower face in frustration. She needed to be stabled overnight, and since he’d be unable to continue on foot carrying his supplies, he’d have to stay with her.
Running his hand through his unkempt shoulder length hair, Nate squinted through the still heavily falling snow. The carriage tracks outlining the road were already being covered by fresh snow. There really was no time to lose. He shook his head, staring up at the heavens. Bloody snow – in April.
If he remembered correctly, there was an inn a little further along the main road. He couldn’t remember exactly how far since he didn’t usually pass it, preferring to take a short cut from Carlingford whenever he was forced into Corsham - one that avoided the usually busy main road as much as possible. Today however, the road was deserted, since clearly he was the only person bacon-brained enough to venture out in such filthy weather. Taking hold of Duchess’s bridle, he urged the mareonwards, walking beside her to reduce the weight on her back. Ruby trotted happily along, darting in and out of the snow drifts collecting on the side of the road.
Mentally counting how much coin he dared spend, Nate decided he’d simply request a couple of blankets and sleep in the stables with Duchess - providing there was enough room of course.
And at least the equine guests wouldn’t be spending the evening staring at his face.
