early, and then scuttle off to Jonas’s cottage. Sometimes he was still asleep when she arrived, but even if he was awake, she didn’t linger, just left the knapsack on the table and departed.
Then it was off to the stable for hours of work before wandering back to the house to collect her dinner. Back to the cottage, where she would visit with Jonas until the sun started to sink beneath the trees, then once more across town to climb into the same bed she’d slept in for five nights running.
Everything was the same. Well, except for Mr. Whitworth. He’d trained her the first two days, but now he left it to Mr. Barley, and she never knew when she would see him or what mood he’d be in. He was often stoic, occasionally frowned, and even more rarely smiled. Mr. Barley’s attitude was changeable as well, though his seemed to move steadily downhill.
She didn’t know if they feared she was going to take a tumble or worried the judgmental onlookers would start doing more than mumbling.
She did know that her head didn’t miss donning that horrid wig every day, her stomach didn’t miss being hungry, and not a single part of her missed arguing every day about receiving her full wages. Mr. Whitworth had said she’d be paid on Saturdays, and yesterday she’d received her money promptly and without requiring even a subtle hint from her.
There was money in her bag to take to Jonas today. Actual money.
If there was a downside, it was not being able to ride Rhiannon or stay with Jonas and look up at the stars. Well, that and having to deal with the way her insides tumbled over each other every time she saw Mr. Whitworth. Or sometimes when she didn’t see him. Or when she saw him and then he left.
Yesterday she’d gone on another brush run, though this time she’d been added to the back of the line for another stable Mr. Barley worked with. Every movement she’d made had been scrutinized, and she’d bitten her cheek until it felt bruised and tender to keep from speaking the entire time.
Then she’d had to do another set of starting trials in the afternoon because she was to have today off. She’d told Jonas they would get to spend the whole day together, but he insisted she attend church first. It was important that people see her, that she not arouse suspicion.
Life was a delicate balance right now, and it wouldn’t take much for it to come tumbling down.
She lay looking up at the ceiling, having woken even earlier than usual. In an hour or two, she would rise, dress in her one good dress, and go to church. She wasn’t expecting much of the service, but Jonas was rarely wrong with his advice.
He seemed better already. It hadn’t even been a full week yet and the rest was doing wonders for him. He could even sit for short periods, using a pile of leaves and grass as padding. She had to keep this job, this room, and the food that went with it so she could provide him more time.
It would be best if she could find her way back to sleep. Even though she wouldn’t ride today, there was a lot of walking in front of her. The thin leather of her boots was paying the price for walking the miles to and from Jonas’s cottage every day.
With a sigh, Sophia closed her eyes and willed her body to relax. In her mind, she rode Rhiannon and counted the jumps as they charged through the fields of Ireland. When she reached triple digits, she gave up and returned to staring at the ceiling. Ireland wasn’t big enough to get her to sleep, apparently.
If only it had been big enough to provide her a home.
Fifteen
She managed to doze until the movement of the waking maids signaled it was time for her to rise as well.
She reached for her riding dress before remembering it was Sunday. Just shifting the fabric of her practice gown sent a stench into the air. Frowning, she held it up to her nose. One inhale almost sent her cross-eyed. She’d have to ask someone where the washroom was.
And if she was allowed to use it.
At least she had another dress—a proper dress—for church this morning. She washed as best she could with the basin of water and dressed. Then she bent to press her face beneath her arm and