Chapter Twenty-Eight
Freddie woke in the early hours of the morning with a start.He had slumped down over the kitchen table and woke to Saintspreserveus licking his face.As he lifted his head, his back muscles immediately protested at having been held in such an uncomfortable position.
“Oh,” he groaned.
He climbed up from the table and stretched his arms above his head.His neck was stiff and tight, and it barely yielded at his attempts to loosen his muscles.
The first sign of morning light shone through the kitchen window.There was no point in him going to bed now.His stomach rumbled.The bread was mostly gone, and there was nothing to feed the dog.
“Come on then, lad.Let’s go and see if we can find a pork pie.My coins should extend to a couple of those for us.”
By the third day of living on cold pork pies and over-salted roast beef from a nearby tavern, Freddie knew something had to change.He sat at the table in the downstairs kitchen and counted out his rapidly depleting coins.His money wouldn’t last forever, and Saintspreserveus ate enough food for two people.
He had to find another solution to the problem of staying alive and not ending up being found half eaten by a giant Irish wolfhound.Why couldn’t Eve have chosen a small dog for their game, something that did not threaten to eat him out of house and home?
The sudden thought of her pulled him up short.He had been so caught up in his own predicament that he had quite forgotten about Eve.
Perhaps Osmont had read him right.He was a cold-hearted brute capable of breaking a young woman’s heart without mercy.
From out of his jacket he pulled the final challenge letter Osmont had given him.It had become habit to carry it with him.He read it once more, knowing if he were asked he could cite it word for bitter word.
Wherever she was, he knew Eve hated him.When she eventually found out about his reduced circumstances he hoped she would gain some satisfaction in knowing he too was in pain.
Yes, but you brought this on your yourself. She didn’t deserve what you did.
He folded the letter back up and put it in his pocket.
With Saintspreserveus on a tight lead, Freddie headed out to the market just after six o’clock in the morning.He was back to keeping country hours again.
The area around Covent Garden was home to many of London’s ladies of the night.Brothels operated in elegant houses in nearby Fleet Lane and Long Acre.He chuckled as an elegantly dressed gentleman, who was leaving one of the houses, quickly turned on his heel and went back inside as soon as Freddie caught his gaze.Who am I to judge?
In the market, Freddie was pleased to find good quality, sensibly priced apples and pears.He bought some, placing them in the basket he had found in the kitchen at Rosemount House.A well-dressed young man like himself carrying a basket naturally attracted a few enquiring stares.He ignored them, too concerned with filling his empty stomach to worry about the opinions of others.
At another stall he purchased some eggs and cheese, and a small loaf of bread.With the fire now being kept burning in the downstairs kitchen at home, he could cook up some fried eggs and serve them with bread and butter.A hot breakfast was especially appealing.
He was leaning over the counter of a market stall, about to enquire of the price of a pat of butter, when he caught sight of a familiar face passing through the early morning crowd.
Harriet Saunders, Eve’s sister-in-law, was headed his way.She had two strapping footmen trailing behind her, each carrying a heavily laden sack.
He tried to hurry and complete his purchases, intending to make good his escape, but Hattie had already seen him.
“Freddie.Hello, fancy meeting you at the market.”
He swallowed a lump of shame and turned to her.“Mrs.Saunders.A pleasure to see you,” he replied.He managed a half-bow with the basket in one hand, and the lead of his dog in the other.
She turned from him, before stopping and smiling.“I forget that is who I am now.When I hear that name, I keep expecting to see Adelaide standing behind me.Please call me Hattie.So, what brings you out into the market at this hour of the morning?”
He gritted his teeth.Word would eventually come out about the second son of Viscount Rosemount being cut off by his family.Hattie no doubt would also know that he and Eve had broken off their friendship.
He looked at the two footmen standing behind her and winced.If he was to reveal his current circumstances, he would much prefer it not be in front of servants and market stall holders.
Hattie handed one of the footmen a few coins.“Could you please go to the stall nearest to the bookshop and ask if they have any fresh carrots this morning?Tell them I don’t want the soggy old ones they tried to sell me on Tuesday.Not unless they are very cheap.”
Once the footmen had gone, Hattie pointed in the direction of a nearby set of tables and chairs.“They serve a decent cheese bun and weak coffee.Let’s you and I talk there.”
Once seated, Hattie ordered.The proprietor of the makeshift café knew her by name and greeted her warmly.
“I find it odd someone of your station would have friends in the market,” Freddie remarked.
