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Kate was distressed. ‘What shall be done?’
‘I cannot make the deliveries myself, I’ve two cows on the verge of calving at the moment. It must be you.’
‘Me?’ Kate was appalled. ‘I cannot do it. I should lose my way before I’ve been to the third stop!’
‘Nonsense, you’ve accompanied Mrs. Norwood countless times.’
‘And remained in the cart! I shan’t know who to speak to—I shan’t know what to say, or if they’ve paid the right amount—’
‘Come along, then, and speak with Mrs. Norwood. She’s intent on giving you a thorough explanation as it is.’
Kate’s heart thudded in her chest as she followed her uncle to the bedchamber he shared with her aunt. This was all most irregular, and Katherine was not prepared for any of it.
When she saw Aunt Mary, however, she snapped her mouth shut and forced her panic down. Her aunt was flushed and feverish, and ’twas more than plain she must rest.
‘Now Kate, I told your uncle I must be well enough to go, but he won’t listen—’ Aunt Mary said as soon as Kate sat by her bedside.
‘Heaven forfend, Aunt. You mustn’t dream of it. I shall do very well on my own,’ Kate managed, making her mouth curve into a smile.
‘But the deliveries take all day, Kate, and you must go as far as Inverley, in Berkshire!’
‘Berkshire neighbors Wiltshire, does it not? I shall do very well, I assure you, Aunt. Now, if you please, I should like to hear your advice on how to go about the deliveries once I’ve arrived at a stop.’
Kate listened attentively to her aunt’s instructions, and by the time the woman was finished, she seemed on the verge of falling asleep. ‘Rest well, dear Aunt,’ Kate said to her. ‘You mustn’t fret. I shall make the deliveries without any difficulty, you shall see.’
‘Take Andrew with you,’ Aunt Mary said for the fourth time, naming the farmhand the Norwoods had employed since before Kate was born.
‘Of course, Aunt,’ she said, standing.
But once she was out of the room, Uncle John contradicted his wife. ‘I shall need Andrew here. You may take his son, Patrick.’
Patrick was a gangly youth without grace or wit, but Kate knew better than to argue. She must have someone with her, or risk attracting the attention of those willing to accost a young woman on the road for the money and goods she carried.
‘Very well, Uncle,’ she said, and made her way to the courtyard, where the loaded cart already waited. It was hitched to one of the younger workhorses, she saw with relief. Birdie, a large sorrel, would pull the cart faster than an older nag might, but she knew him to be a level-headed gelding, as well. She gave her uncle a smile.
‘You’ve thought of everything, haven’t you,’ she remarked.
‘Birdie’ll see that you’re home for dinner,’ he agreed.
And so it was that Kate began her long, unexpected road, which would bring her to Inverley, where a surprise awaited her she could never have imagined.
Chapter 5
James
‘I must say, this is a pleasant surprise,’ Alden said to James as he showed him the pond where a dozen ducks swam, eyeing the pair of gentlemen hopefully.
James gazed at them, making a plan to return on the morrow with some bread. ‘I simply realized I’ve little interest in London at the moment. And with the rising heat, the countryside has a certain appeal.’
‘It most truly does,’ Alden agreed.
’Twas growing later in the day, and the shadows lengthened. Weary from his ride, James hoped Alden would soon turn back to the house and they might have a spot of tea.
Soon enough he got his wish and they walked at a brisk pace through the wooded grounds, coming up along the side of the road that led to the front courtyard. In the distance away, James noticed a cart drawn by a sorrel workhorse approaching.
‘Who could that be?’ he wondered.
‘Someone with a delivery, I've no doubt. Our cook has at least three every day, I daresay.’
