“I can imagine. They were a love match, you know. And it went very bad.”
“Well, my mum says…” Ethan lost his nerve for a moment. Would Sir Alexander reprimand him—or worse, his mother—for gossiping about the family? All the servants did, of course.
“Yes? Tell me what she said.”
He didn’t sound angry. “Well… Mum says it never was a love match, just some kind of… of brainstorm. Seeing as how they only knew each other a matter of weeks and never… endured anything together.” Ethan had always admired the way his mother could speak so clearly and get to the heart of a matter. There was no one whose opinions he valued more. “Mum says a real love match is when you’ve seen how the other person acts when things are tough, like. And even if maybe you don’t agree with them about… whatever it was, you understand, and you still feel certain how you feel.” That last hadn’t come out quite right. Ethan realized that the master was staring at him, openmouthed. He closed his own.
Silence enveloped the stable. Ethan shifted nervously. He’d forgotten his place in a big way. His mother would have boxed his ears if she’d heard all that. And he didn’t know if it had been helpful, or just bone stupid.
After what seemed forever, Sir Alexander spoke. “It seems a night for home truths.”
“I beg your pardon, sir?”
“Nothing. It appears she’s a very wise woman, your mother.”
Limp with relief, Ethan nodded. “She is that.”
Sir Alexander leaned back against the pile of hay bales. He began muttering to himself, almost as if he was having a conversation with someone unseen. Ethan grew uneasy. He could do no more; he’d dared as far as he was able. “I should fetch somebody to help you inside.” The master was too big a man to handle by himself in this state.
“No, no, I don’t want that. I’ve sent everyone to bed. I’ll just rest here a bit longer. You can go if you like.”
As if he’d leave him here alone in the stables; Ethan leaned back as well, waiting. Minutes passed. The master stopped muttering. Gradually, Ethan realized that he’d fallen asleep. Now, what should he do? He’d been told not to wake anybody, and he was that worn out himself he couldn’t hardly keep his eyes open. In fact… In another moment, Ethan was sleeping, too.
Twenty-six
Neither Charlotte nor Lucy slept well. Lucy hadn’t had the heart to go to the servants’ quarters and face the curiosity of that Alice, and the others. She’d taken the chaise once again. It was broad and comfortable, but she tossed and turned nonetheless. The first light of dawn was pinking the sky, and the birds were just beginning to sing, when they rose and dressed. Lucy packed the small valise. “Stableboys rise very early, I believe,” Miss Charlotte said. “We will go out and find someone to drive us to the stagecoach stop.” Lucy didn’t think they’d be about quite so early as this, but she didn’t argue. It was best that they go. She’d come for Miss Charlotte, and she’d gotten her, and that was the end of the matter. Ethan… what if he’d spoken to his mother already? What if she was just waiting for morning to come and give Lucy the once-over and tell her she wasn’t near good enough for her precious son? Maybe she wasn’t… wouldn’t, but… she just hadn’t thought it through, Lucy admitted. She’d dreamed of coming to Derbyshire with Ethan, of settling here as his wife. She hadn’t considered the sort of introduction this impulsive journey would provide. Could be she was making too much of it, as Ethan seemed to believe. She understood now, though, just how much she valued the respect she’d earned in other households.
“Lucy?” Miss Charlotte was standing by the door.
“Yes, miss. I’m ready.”
They crept out like housebreakers into the cool fresh air of a June morning. Lucy breathed deep. They’d be back in the smelly city all too soon. Walking quietly, they went into the stables. As Lucy had feared, there was no one about, no sound but the soft stamps of horses’ hooves in their stalls. Except… there was something… not… snoring?
They rounded a stack of hay bales and came upon two large men sprawled untidily over them, sound asleep. There was a dark brown bottle on the dirt floor, alongside a lantern.