Hide in Time (32 page)

Laura watched the parson carefully; his
cheerful countenance seemed to be fading as he put his hand to his
mouth. “Forgive me, I do not travel well. I think, oh yes!”
He leaned out of the window and belched loudly and called for the
coachman to stop. “Yes, I am feeling very ill indeed.”

Laura had no hope of sleep; no chance
for her memories of the future to fade. Dear Parson Raffles, he would
never know how much good he did in this world.

Hide in Time ~ Anna Faversham

It was Wednesday afternoon, 21st June
when Adam returned in the old carriage clattering up to the front of
“Foxhills”. If anything, the carriage looked worse, as
did Johnson sitting on the dusty box on the back. There being so few
household servants now, only Millie was available to open the door
for the homecoming master. Catherine and Alexandra burst through and
stood at the top of the steps, taking in the scene. William, sensing
the pounding of the horses through the flimsy soles of his worn-out
boots, was soon attending to his duties; he was too grateful to be
needed to miss any opportunity to be of service. Billy had been
summoned by Adam to London, further depleting the number of servants,
and he’d taken Esky through lack of choice. Johnson lowered the
steps. Adam descended slowly, looked up at Alexandra and called, “It
is done. We must now await the outcome.” There followed the
merest hint of a smile – perhaps at his unintended rhyming
rather than thoughts of the future.

Alexandra and Catherine exchanged
glances before rushing to greet him, Alexandra with a kiss and a
linking of arms – oh how she longed to be alone with him –
and Catherine with a hug. As they passed Millie in the doorway,
Alexandra quietly asked her to bring as much refreshment as she could
muster immediately.

“We have such a lot to tell you,”
said Catherine to Adam. “So much has happened while you have
been away.”

“I’m very glad to hear it,
so long as it is all good news, for I have little to tell you.”
He paused before adding, “Yet.”

Alexandra said she’d help him off
with his boots, but Adam would not hear of it and yelled for Johnson.
“Won’t be long and he’ll be rewarded for his
faithful service.” Johnson was a few moments coming and when he
did appear he looked unkempt and tired. “Help me with my boots,
Johnson, then that’s all for today; take some time for
yourself. You’ll be needed soon enough to rouse this household
from its slumbers.”

As Adam slumped in his chair, with
stockinged feet stretched out, Catherine felt she must set the record
straight. “Slumbers indeed! Adam, you’ve no idea, have
you?”

Alexandra could not help but smile. She
stood behind him, laid her hand on his shoulder, and toyed with the
lock of chestnut hair at the nape of his neck. He put his hand up to
hers, caught hold of it and kissed it lightly. Whatever else had
happened, she knew that all she needed in the world was right here
with her now.

Millie brought the only remaining
silver tray and set its contents alongside Catherine.

“Do tell then, Catherine, but
food first, fables following – that order please.” Adam
leaned forward to take a large slice of ginger cake but as he did so,
Catherine spun the plate around so that his hand alighted on a small,
plain fritter. He touched the plate and turned it slowly. “What’s
this? A spinning serving plate?”

Catherine playfully smacked his knee
and handed him one of the smaller plates. “It is one of Billy’s
inventions. Tell him, Alexandra.”

“It’s true, Adam. Billy
said it might be useful now that we have so few to serve at table.
He’s called it a Lazy Millie; Millie doesn’t know whether
to be honoured or offended. This is his smaller version. The larger
one suits when we all dine together. Quite simple really. The base
stays still and the top rotates. Laden dishes revolve with but a
touch so that we can all serve ourselves. He has asked if he may make
some more to sell as no one in this part of the country has seen such
a thing.”

With a cross between caution and
enthusiasm, Catherine said, “He says it will pay for his keep.”

“A servant – paying for his
keep! Whatever next!” Though Adam sounded affronted, he did not
resist giving the plate another turn to seize the ginger cake before
it was whisked away again. “A clever fellow, indeed.” He
savoured his slice before venturing, “Alexandra, he seems
devoted to you. I wonder what your connection to him was – you
are both so charmingly innovative and unconventional.”

Alexandra, still unable to remember any
association with Billy or anything of her life prior to the journey
to “Foxhills”, slowly shook her head before deciding it
was time to give Catherine the focus of Adam’s attention.
“Catherine,” she reminded him, “has much to tell
you.”

Catherine, who had been busy sampling
the seed cake, gulped, then launched into her news. James Frobisher
had taken her to the races on the common. Emmeline had accompanied
them. No detail was overlooked and most repeated several times. “It’s
wonderful to have Emmeline staying with us, Adam. She makes herself
very useful and is such a good friend.”

“Should you not tell Adam about
Jack?” said Alexandra.

“Ah yes, Jack is, well not quite
a changed man, but certainly more…” “Subdued,”
offered Alexandra.

“Yes, subdued. He and Father are
visiting the Carpenters today. Father’s a little annoyed that
you hadn’t returned with the carriage in time.”

Alexandra, who could see a further
prompt was needed, moved to sit beside Adam, and looked across to
Catherine. “Plans are being made, aren’t they,
Catherine?”

“Jack is to marry the Honourable
Charlotte Carpenter within the coming month.” She paused before
adding with the slightest of smiles, “I’m so pleased they
don’t live too close to us.”

Adam looked up from his empty plate,
handed it to his sister who understood the need for frequent
replenishment, and said, “Jack will be her constant companion
now. Constant.” He squeezed Alexandra’s hand and winked.

Jack might be under control but
Alexandra’s butterflies were not.

“And Alexandra has been busier
than all the rest of us put together. She has not stirred from her
desk until you arrived.”

Alexandra tentatively revealed, “I’ve
expanded my short story of flying to the moon into a full length
novel. Well,” she hesitated, “I’m on chapter seven
and have had an enthusiastic letter from my publisher on progress so
far, though he has advised that I must include more romance.”

“Romance and flying to the moon!”
spluttered Adam. “I am relieved such a task is in your hands
and not mine.”

~

That evening, after a quiet dinner,
Alexandra and Catherine repaired to the sitting room. Emmeline had
asked to be excused, saying, “My dear Mr Raffles is to visit on
the morrow and I should like to look my best. The only aid available
to me is a good night’s sleep.” Emmeline was as shy and
appealing as a dormouse.

“It was so cheering to hear Adam
say that once Jack leaves “Foxhills”, we’ll be able
to open up the drawing room again.” Catherine picked up her
embroidery and perched on the edge of the cream brocade chair by the
far window. “I’ve almost forgotten what it looks like.”

Alexandra stationed herself, like a
watchful sentry, behind the matching chair near to the door and
glanced over her shoulder. Intent on noting that Adam was walking
towards the main front doors again, she replied rather absently to
Catherine, “I’ve never seen it, nor all its secrets.”

Catherine immersed herself in the
intricacies of her stitching before responding, “You know Adam
calls it ‘the safe’, don’t you? He’s hidden
whatever is of value so Jack’s gambling ambitions are
thwarted.”

Alexandra looked across to Catherine;
she was growing-up fast. The memory of Adam carrying the rolled-up
‘Tree of Life’ rug on his shoulder came to mind.
Retrieved from Jack, it had been on its way to ‘the safe’,
no doubt. She took a few steps backwards and leaned out of the
doorway enabling her to see Adam still pacing the hall. He glanced at
the long-case clock and disappeared from view. He had gone towards
the steps again. “That’s the third time he has been to
the front doors,” Alexandra said to Catherine, looking
perturbed.

“I overheard him tell Father that
if he didn’t hear by tonight then all was lost,”
Catherine said in an undertone.

Before returning to her post for a
further peek, Alexandra said, “All lost? What does he mean?”

Catherine’s concentration wavered
and she pricked her finger. Sucking it, she beckoned to Alexandra to
move in closer. “He said time would have run out.”

The clock in the hall struck nine.
Alexandra hastened to the doorway of the sitting room. She could not
see Adam; she stepped out into the main hall. Adam was half way down
the steps leading to the carriage driveway and peering towards the
road. He stood listening – Alexandra could hear no sound except
that of a blackbird marking his estate before roosting for the night.
Then she saw, rather than heard Adam sigh and went to console him;
Catherine followed silently behind.

Adam turned and, catching sight of the
two concerned faces, smiled. “Catherine, you should be writing
to that beau of yours.” After a moment’s hesitation he
said, “Alexandra, perhaps you would like to take a stroll with
me around the gardens. We shouldn’t miss the sky marking our
fate,” he pointed towards the west. Alexandra understood: the
sun, on a cushion of pink clouds, was fading, slipping away and
leaving them in twilight with darkness not far behind – he
needed her to be with him. Johnson making his way to the wall
sconces, looked across to Adam, who raised his index finger. Johnson
lit just one candle in each of the sconces.

Taking advantage of Adam’s
distraction, Catherine had seized Alexandra’s hand and was
dragging her up the stairs calling behind her, “She’ll
need something around her shoulders, Adam; the evening air is
chilled.” Had Catherine not done her best to wink at her,
Alexandra might have protested, but she followed behind without
objection. “He means to propose,” Catherine said,
conspiratorial delight shining from her eyes. She shut her bedroom
door with a firm thrust. “Promise me you will not demur.”

Alexandra struggled to keep her smile
in keeping with propriety. “Has he confided in you, Catherine,
or is this merely conjecture?”

“Oh Alexandra! Surely you see his
love for you? Everything he does, he does with you in mind. As he
left for London, his eyes lingered on you alone. When he returned, it
was your face he sought.”

Alexandra fought her growing excitement
– Catherine might be wrong. “I shall soon find out,”
she said and hurried to the top of the stairs, forgetting the shawl
Catherine had found for her.

Adam stood silhouetted in the doorway
with one heel propped against the great doors’ frame, leaning
backwards with his hands thrust in his hip pockets, watching for her
to come to him. Though she could not see his face, Alexandra knew
exactly how he would look. Dark eyes would take in her every movement
as she descended. As she drew near, she could see his eyes flash
angrily towards the clock. Time had beaten him: she loved him all the
more.

“Quickly,” he took her by
the hand, “our chance is slipping away.”

Alexandra shot a worried look at his
handsome face. Was he talking about the sunset or was it as she
feared?

Adam said very little as they walked by
the untended rose garden, on past the walled vegetable plot and up to
the top of the hill where there was an outcrop of rocks. “A
favourite place of mine.” He turned around, still holding
Alexandra’s hand. “Look across to the south; our land
stretches as far as you can see.” Turning, he pointed to the
north. “Over there it encompasses the woods, and to the east,
well you know where the village is, that is part of the estate too. I
bought back the parcel of land Jack sold, of course.”

Alexandra was stunned; she hadn’t
realized the extent of the Foxhills’ estate. The sheer beauty
of the gently swaying wheat fields, glowing in the sun’s fading
rays, was breathtaking. The evening breeze turned the heads of corn
into a shimmering silver canopy, something she had never noticed with
such intensity before. It was a while before she asked, “What
will happen to the farmers?”

Adam’s expression was easy to
interpret. She wished she hadn’t asked. “The farms will
have to be sold and the tenants will not be able to afford to buy.
Jobs inevitably lost. The villagers’ rents will rise if bought
by the Carpenters or their like.”

“The Carpenters? Surely not?”

“Almost certainly, I would say.
They have banking interests and are usually the first to know of a
bargain.”

“ “Foxhills” –
a bargain!” Alexandra could not conceal her horror.

“The bank will sell the estate
quickly to recoup their money loaned for a very short term.”
The sun dropped behind the rocks and much of the estate lay in
shadow. Alexandra shivered. Adam took off his jacket and wrapped it
around her shoulders. “Only an hour ago I had planned to talk
to you of fame, fortune, love, even happiness; now I have no right to
speak to you of any of these.”

“I do not wish to talk of
fleeting fame and flighty fortune.”

“You’re a tonic far better
than any known to modern medical science, Miss Mulberry,” he
said with a teasing smile that banished the frown from his forehead.
“But I now have to come to terms with losing an entire family
estate.”

“There is much that cannot be
taken away, Adam. Whether we live in “Foxhills” or a
hovel, a sunset will look the same. No one can take that away from
us.”

“I know the gift of happiness has
already been granted to you by one more powerful than I.”