Holiday House Parties by Elizabeth Mansfield

Author:Elizabeth Mansfield [Mansfield Elizabeth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781504040068
Publisher: Open Road Media
Published: 2016-07-05T00:00:00+00:00

10

Caroline, dressed in her dinner clothes and protected from the cold with only a shawl, stood in the draughty stable pleading earnestly with one of the grooms to take her to London. Behind her, a pair of horses pawed the ground in their stalls, the breath from their nostrils visible in the icy air. The wiry little groom standing before her also pawed the ground with his feet, not only to keep himself warm but because the conversation with the lady from the manorhouse was making him uneasy. She was making a request with which it was quite impossible to comply. “It cain’t be done, m’lady,” he said for the third time. “We’d never make it. An’ I’d surely be sacked in the bargain, which I cain’t nohow afford.”

Caroline was unwilling to listen to reason. “Not even for ten guineas?” she asked plaintively.

“It’s a deal o’ money, miss, an’ I’d like t’ oblige yer,” the fellow said, politely but firmly, “but the snow’s too deep. We’d get mired fer certain.”

She was unwilling to accept his argument. “But by tomorrow the sun will come out. You can see already that the sky is clearing in the south. You can even see stars.”

“Even if the sun does show itself, miss, it’ll take days fer the roads t’ open. Three, at least. Four, if the cold don’t break.”

“But can’t we just try? If we get mired, we can put up at an inn,” she said in desperation, adding glumly, “at least I’d be gone from here.”

“Are ye wishin’ to be goin’ off somewhere, Miss Woolcott?” came a voice behind her.

She wheeled about. “Lord Dunvegan!” she gasped.

“Ye promised to call me Geordie,” he reminded her. “Why on earth would ye be wantin’ a carriage, ma’am, and at this particular time?”

Her cheeks grew hot. “I mean no offense, but it is no affair of yours.” Her eyes flitted over his elegant black evening coat, high starched shirt points, and beautifully-tied neckcloth—evening clothes that seemed incongruous against the background of stalls and straw. “I suppose I’m holding up dinner,” she murmured guiltily. “Did Lady Teale ask you to search for me? It was not kind of her to send you out in the wind so lightly dressed. You haven’t even a hat.”

“Ye dinna seem so warmly dressed yersel’,” he pointed out.

She wrapped her shawl more closely about her, as if in answer. “How did you think of seeking me here?”

“Sheer good luck,” he said, forgetting his own reason for coming and waving the groom away.

The little groom was eager to leave, but he looked questioningly at the lady to make certain she was willing to let him go. She merely shrugged in defeat. The groom expelled a relieved breath and quickly whisked himself out of their sight.

“Now, then, lass, he’s gone,” Geordie said gently, “so ye can tell me what yer doin’ here.”

“Nothing that should cause anyone concern, I swear. If you’ll give me your arm, Geordie, we can go back to the house.”

“Ye can take my arm, my girl, but we’re not movin’ a step ’til I have an answer.

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