the Pryces.’
She did not add that she hoped to meet someone who might escort her back to England. If he offered, she could not accept.
There was a tap on the door, and Tanner appeared.
‘I beg your pardon, Miss, Sir Carey, but Frisby wants to know if he should put the horses to. Your baggage is all packed.’
‘Then I’m afraid you’ll have to unpack it. I’ll need the carriage later, but not for an hour or so. Tell him we will not be leaving here today.’
Tanner bowed himself out, and Sir Carey turned back to Julia.
‘Where is this convent? And the abbey? I will go and see how Maggie and the coachman are, and when they might be able to travel. Will you come with me, to vouch for me to the good nuns?’
* * * *
They obtained directions to the abbey, and were carried there swiftly, despite the snow which was falling steadily.
Julia was shown to a small room where there were just two chairs, being told courteously that women visitors were not permitted further. It was half an hour before Sir Carey came back and ushered her into his carriage.
‘Williams is recovering, and very fretful. He blames himself very much for the accident to the coach, and Spicer’s death, but I think I persuaded him these things happen, we cannot prevent all accidents. I have left sufficient money for him and Maggie to come home when they are well enough.’
Julia smiled at him. ‘You are very kind, and Mr Pryce and Fanny will repay you when you get back to England.’
‘There is no need.’
She was wondering whether he had left enough money for her as well, but finding it difficult to ask. ‘I can go on working at the inn until they are better,’ she said finally, and he turned to look at her.
‘You can’t stay there. It isn’t fitting. We’ll discuss what we are to do later, after I have seen Maggie.’
This time it was Sir Carey who was bidden wait, while Sister Maria led Julia to the small infirmary where Maggie was the only occupant.
To Julia’s relief she was looking better, though she began to sob when she saw Julia.
‘Oh Miss Julia, what’s happening? No one here can speak English and I can only understand a few words. I didn’t know where you were, or Williams and Spicer, but whenever I try to ask, they shake their heads and pat my hands. I can’t recall a thing, except I was so cold.’
Gently Julia told her about the accident to the coach, and how Williams had been injured but was recovering, and that Spicer had been killed.
Maggie closed her eyes briefly. ‘I was getting fond of him,’ she murmured. ‘When can we go home? How shall we go?’
Not wanting to bother her with all the details, Julia merely said she had met Sir Carey, and he had made arrangements for them. ‘Don’t worry, as soon as Williams is fit to travel, we’ll be going home. Meanwhile I have sent to let Lady Cunningham know the situation. And Sir Carey can tell her more when he arrives in London.’
* * * *
By the time they were back at the inn the snow had stopped, and the sun was shining on the fresh snow. Julia thought how beautiful it was, the dark fir trees in the background, children playing and sliding on the frozen ponds, and the houses grouped round the main town square, where the gothic church stood opposite the inn.
Sir Carey ushered her in, and ordered food to be brought to the parlour. ‘Now we must make arrangements for you,’ he said. ‘Will you stay with your sister when you get back to England?’
‘I don’t know,’ Julia said with a sigh. ‘We get on well enough, but if I teach the children she insists on paying me a wage, and I feel beholden. It would be bearable if Sir Frederick liked me, but I always feel he resents my presence, and I know he feels that I influence Fanny. She is older than I, but somehow she always asks my advice. Even if she doesn’t always take it,’ she added.
‘Do you think he will give up this Russian Countess, and go back to her? Will she take him back?’
‘Do wives
She did not add that she hoped to meet someone who might escort her back to England. If he offered, she could not accept.
There was a tap on the door, and Tanner appeared.
‘I beg your pardon, Miss, Sir Carey, but Frisby wants to know if he should put the horses to. Your baggage is all packed.’
‘Then I’m afraid you’ll have to unpack it. I’ll need the carriage later, but not for an hour or so. Tell him we will not be leaving here today.’
Tanner bowed himself out, and Sir Carey turned back to Julia.
‘Where is this convent? And the abbey? I will go and see how Maggie and the coachman are, and when they might be able to travel. Will you come with me, to vouch for me to the good nuns?’
* * * *
They obtained directions to the abbey, and were carried there swiftly, despite the snow which was falling steadily.
Julia was shown to a small room where there were just two chairs, being told courteously that women visitors were not permitted further. It was half an hour before Sir Carey came back and ushered her into his carriage.
‘Williams is recovering, and very fretful. He blames himself very much for the accident to the coach, and Spicer’s death, but I think I persuaded him these things happen, we cannot prevent all accidents. I have left sufficient money for him and Maggie to come home when they are well enough.’
Julia smiled at him. ‘You are very kind, and Mr Pryce and Fanny will repay you when you get back to England.’
‘There is no need.’
She was wondering whether he had left enough money for her as well, but finding it difficult to ask. ‘I can go on working at the inn until they are better,’ she said finally, and he turned to look at her.
‘You can’t stay there. It isn’t fitting. We’ll discuss what we are to do later, after I have seen Maggie.’
This time it was Sir Carey who was bidden wait, while Sister Maria led Julia to the small infirmary where Maggie was the only occupant.
To Julia’s relief she was looking better, though she began to sob when she saw Julia.
‘Oh Miss Julia, what’s happening? No one here can speak English and I can only understand a few words. I didn’t know where you were, or Williams and Spicer, but whenever I try to ask, they shake their heads and pat my hands. I can’t recall a thing, except I was so cold.’
Gently Julia told her about the accident to the coach, and how Williams had been injured but was recovering, and that Spicer had been killed.
Maggie closed her eyes briefly. ‘I was getting fond of him,’ she murmured. ‘When can we go home? How shall we go?’
Not wanting to bother her with all the details, Julia merely said she had met Sir Carey, and he had made arrangements for them. ‘Don’t worry, as soon as Williams is fit to travel, we’ll be going home. Meanwhile I have sent to let Lady Cunningham know the situation. And Sir Carey can tell her more when he arrives in London.’
* * * *
By the time they were back at the inn the snow had stopped, and the sun was shining on the fresh snow. Julia thought how beautiful it was, the dark fir trees in the background, children playing and sliding on the frozen ponds, and the houses grouped round the main town square, where the gothic church stood opposite the inn.
Sir Carey ushered her in, and ordered food to be brought to the parlour. ‘Now we must make arrangements for you,’ he said. ‘Will you stay with your sister when you get back to England?’
‘I don’t know,’ Julia said with a sigh. ‘We get on well enough, but if I teach the children she insists on paying me a wage, and I feel beholden. It would be bearable if Sir Frederick liked me, but I always feel he resents my presence, and I know he feels that I influence Fanny. She is older than I, but somehow she always asks my advice. Even if she doesn’t always take it,’ she added.
‘Do you think he will give up this Russian Countess, and go back to her? Will she take him back?’
‘Do wives
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