“I’m not sure his lordship would approve of this, my Lady,” the Kellworth groom had said as he accepted the basket from Ellen.
“And why not?” She placed her foot into the hands of another groom, who hefted her easily into the saddle. “Aunt Nellie visits her tenants.” Ellen settled into the saddle and urged the horse forward without another word.
Reese mounted her horse and followed her, leaving Lulu and the groom to catch up. The horse Reese rode was a lovely animal but not as fun to ride as the palomino. When she returned to the future, she would miss Honey.
“I so enjoyed meeting Aunt Nellie’s cottiers,” Ellen said a few minutes into the ride. “I have had few opportunities to associate with children. I did not know how delightsome they are.”
“They aren’t always,” Reese warned. “Believe me. I used to babysit for a neighbor, and she had a couple of boys who were hellions.”
“Babysit?” Ellen asked.
“Oh.” Reese didn’t acknowledge Lulu’s fake cough from behind and tried to think of a reason a rich man’s daughter would take on servant duties. “My mother thought it good training for us to tend other people’s children. You know, as a service.”
“Your mother is also a philanthropist?” Ellen asked.
“She helps people when she has time.” Her mother, working two jobs most of Reese’s memory, hadn’t had time to do more than work and sleep. “I’m an only child, and she wanted me to have chances to interact with them.”
“Ah, preparing you for motherhood.” Ellen nodded. “Your mother is a wise woman.”
Reese wondered what her hostess would say if she knew the truth, that Reese had babysit to help pay the bills, that she and her mother were of the same social class as the Earl’s tenants.
“I learned that children are like the rest of us. They have good days and bad days.” Reese grinned at her. “But you’re right. They can be delightsome.”
Eventually they came to a rise on a hill, overlooking a little village.
“My Lady,” the groom said, bringing his horse abreast of Ellen’s, “we should turn back now.”
While Ellen argued with the man, Reese squinted at the buildings. Unlike Nellie’s cottages of well-maintained stone walls and thatched roofs, the Earl’s tenants lived in squalid shacks. Little grew around the huts, and the village didn’t appear to have a common area like the one Jem had entertained the children in. With pinched lips, Reese urged her horse forward. Ellen followed.
As they approached the nearest structure, the breeze shifted and a terrible stench wafted over them. Reese coughed and covered her mouth with a handkerchief. Lulu pointed to a trench that went down the road, full of dirty water and smelling of raw sewage. Reese gagged.
A few bedraggled people, including children in rags, watched them listlessly. Working in clinics, Reese had thought she’d seen poverty and despair. It had not prepared her for this. The people looked in bad health and must be riddled with malnutrition and disease.
Reese met the huge eyes of a small naked boy with a distended belly, and she dropped her hand from her mouth. “Thatpoorbaby.” Her eyes burning, she slid from the horse. She had todosomething to help.
“No, miss,” Lulu moved her horse between Reese and the child. “You must go no further. This is not a safe place.”
A gasp came from behind them, and they turned to find Ellen approaching, her eyes as wide as the child’s.
“I do not understand,” Ellen said. “How can this be?” She turned blazing eyes on her groom. “Youknew. That is why you wished to stop us from coming. You knew my brother had people in his care who were . . .” Her ladyship’s eyes glistened. “We need much more than what I brought in the basket.”
“But it’s a start, Ellen.” Reese strode forward. “The first thing we have to do is get a list of what they need.” She coughed and stepped away from the trench. “Besides a decent septic system.”
“Miss—” Lulu began.
Reese spun around and pointed a finger at the maid. “If you’re worried, then you send a message to Nellie. See if she can spare some of that tonic of hers or if she has other medications that might help these people.” She shifted to Ellen, her mind already considering what must be done. “Can you get your hands on some food?Lotsof food?”
“I believe so.” Ellen stared at the little boy. “You know how to help?”
“For that kid I do, but we can’t do it alone,” Reese said. “I’ll talk to these people and make a list. You should head back to Kellworth and see what resources you have there. Maybe you could order things to be brought in. Press them to get to you fast.”
“Yes.” Ellen sat taller, hope shining in her expression. “I can dothat, at least.” She turned to her groom. “Leave the basket with Miss Clarisse and come with me.”
The man looked both relieved and concerned. Lulu slid off her horse, and he handed it to her.
“Are you sure I should leave the two of you here without a man?” he asked.
“I will keep her safe, have no fear,” Lulu said.
