Part 7 (1/2)
”Andre, what be ye doing in here?” rebuked a motherly voice. ”Your papa has been deathly ill and I wouldna' be surprised if yer mama was on our hands before this be done. Between Leora and yer pap she has slept little these four days past.
”Sit quietly while I add to the fire. They both need all the sleep they can sum up.” The rustle of skirts and thump of logs followed. ”Come.” Lord Adrian felt Andre being lifted and then heavy steps went out of the room.
So, Adrian thought, the auburn one beside him was a dedicated nurse. More interesting she hailedfrom Rouen. What had he heard of happenings there? Trying to recall, his thoughts began to swirl.Slowly he dropped back into an uneasy sleep. * * * *
Downstairs, Meg placed breakfast before her family. ”Let's be keepin' the gagglin' down,” she admonished as Ned clanged his spoon into his empty bowl. ”Her ladys.h.i.+p needs her rest.
”Ye should see her-sleepin' like a lamb, the dear soul. From the looks o' her man, he'll soon be in fine fettle again. 'Tis a piece o' reason I'd like to be givin' him then.”
”That Lady Juliane is far differn' any o' them ladies o' Quality we've heard tell of,” said Ned reflecting the deep respect and affection all held for Lady Juliane.
”None o' them puttin' on airs, 'cause she be bettern' us neither.”
Alva came down the stairs leading Andre, now fully dressed.
”Well Master Andre, do ye 'ave appet.i.te or no this morn?” asked Meg sternly.
”I am very hungry, Mrs. Meg,” he answered with a bright smile.
”Then to the table with ye. Alva-” The sounds of horses in the yard interrupted Meg. First she glanced a question at Jove and then tried to see who it was.
”They'll be a comin' to the door, woman. I'll see to 'em,” Jove told her. He pulled on his heavy cloak
and went outside where he found six men. Four were checking over Lord Tretain's phaeton, which his sons had brought to the yard only two days earlier.
Peeking around the door, Meg watched. Two of the man she knew-Jacob and Tom from Time's
Crossin', an inn not far from the fork where her folk had found Lord Adrian's phaeton. She was pleased
when she saw Jem leading them to the cottage.
”Warm brew-woman, be quick now. Pardon, yer honour, this be the best we have,” Jove said to the man directly behind him.
”Never mind that. What other information can you give about these people?” demanded Squire Preston.
”Nothin', sir. All we know I've told ye. They be Lord Tretain, his wife, and young un's. There was an
accident-his carriage tipped over. They got lost tryin' to find the Time's Crossin' and strayed here. That were five days since and froze near to death they be then.”
”I must speak with Lord Tretain.”
”Beggin' yer pardon, yer honours,” interrupted Meg, ”but his lords.h.i.+p just pa.s.sed the peak o' a fever
last night. He and his lady be sleepin' and well needin' it. Could ye talk to his man?”
The squire had pulled off his left glove. He slapped it irritably in his right palm. ”I suppose so,” he agreed with distaste.
”Ned,” Meg jerked her head, a clear order for him to summon the valet.
Ned allowed Mallatt no time to fully awaken before he dragged him before the squire. Mallatt was, after
all, fully clothed, and his mum would be rare put out if Lady Juliane had to be got up.
Mallatt valiantly tried to martial his intellect to the fore as he took in Squire Preston's stiff pose. His only thought was to ask why he might be heading for gaol.
”You are Lord Tretain's man?”
”Yes,” he thought to err on the side of flattery, ”my lord. Mallatt.”
”You may address me as sir,” the squire tossed as an aside. ”How is it you came to be here?” Preston
asked. He motioned to the surroundings with distaste.
Trying to garner a clue as to his intent, Mallatt looked at the others in the room. They seemed as puzzled as he.
”There was a mishap, sir. We found our way here quite by accident.”
”Where was Lord Tretain bound?”
”We were going to Trees, the earl's country estate, to visit his mother. She is not well.”
”Is it not rather odd to choose that particular carriage for travel with his family?” Squire Preston inquired
diligently. ”How did Lord Tretain's phaeton come to mishap?”