Farringdon's Fate by Linda Finlay

Author:Linda Finlay [Finlay, Linda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2021-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

Hoping Sam might have pulled in further along, Jane peered over her shoulder, but all she could see was a rising cloud of dust as his cart continued climbing the hill. She couldn’t believe it. Having written asking to see her, why had he ignored her like that? How naive she’d been, hoping to surprise him, for clearly he’d changed his mind. Thank heavens he hadn’t been at home; at least she’d been spared the embarrassment of him having to explain. Well, she had more important things to worry about, she thought, trying to blot out the image of his twinkling hazel eyes and cheeky grin as they shared a joke.

The sudden jolting of the trap as it turned into Combe brought her sharply back to the present. They’d already passed the forge and the school house where the children would be learning their lessons, and were heading along the meandering lane where the colourful spring flowers peeped bravely from the hedgerows. The row of thatched cottages spread out before them, beyond which the church of St Winifred’s with its Norman square tower soared. Despite everything, she couldn’t help admiring the magnificent stone building which had been set on a terrace so that it couldn’t be seen by Viking raiders sailing along the coast all those years ago. Finally, they pulled to a halt outside Ida Somers’ tiny dwelling, a wispy plume of smoke drifting up from the crooked chimney.

‘I’ll only be a few moments,’ Jane told the driver as she climbed down. He nodded uninterestedly, but before she’d even reached the door, it burst open and the woman stood staring from her to the pony and trap beyond. Below her bonnet, which was trimmed with the pink ribbon Jane had given her, beady eyes burned bright with curiosity.

‘Well, yer a sight for sore eyes,’ she muttered. ‘Come into money, have yer?’

‘Hello, Mrs Somers, and no, not exactly,’ Jane laughed. ‘Although I have called to pay you for my board last month.’ She drew out a purse from her pocket and counted out some coins.

‘I’da can’t deny that’d come in useful,’ Mrs Somers said, gazing greedily at the money.

‘Then you must take it—’ Jane began, only for the woman to interrupt.

‘But I’da be a truthful soul so that would be wrong when Lady Louisa did call by and pay me herself.’

‘Oh, I didn’t know,’ Jane replied, amazed at the woman’s honesty when she had so little.

‘Being poor don’t make me a thief,’ the woman declared, as if she’d read Jane’s mind.

‘No, of course not,’ Jane replied hastily. ‘I’m glad you’re not out of pocket. I’ve brought you a little gift to thank you for having me,’ she added, handing over a small packet. The woman took it and tore eagerly at the wrapping.

‘Oh my,’ she gasped, holding up the square of satin fabric in the same colour as the ribbon. ‘Here, yer didn’t steal it from your employer, did yer?’ Her bird-like eyes bored into Jane.

‘No, it was mine to give to whomever I please.

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