Page 35 of The Heir and Spare
Darcy grinned. “Good show, woman, whoever you are.”
His horse snorted.
He patted his neck. “Good show to you as well. We’ll be home soon, old boy.”
Racing through the fields and on the roads to his childhood home, he knew that if Miss Elizabeth would have him, she too would not be easily swayed. He wasn’t certain exactly why she had been so resistant to him, why she thought he’d ruined a sister’s happiness. But she was not one to fawn or swoon over a man, he presumed, and certainly not over him. But perhaps there was something he could do to win that heart of hers, something that would prove he was not whatever she dreaded she might find in a man.
He was soon riding through the back lands of his estate. There was indeed mud everywhere and signs of flooding, when he rounded the bend; the devastation in front of him stole his breath.
Had his brother gone to assess the damage himself? Did he know the situation? He guessed not, else servants from the household, people from town, any others, the vicar himself would surely be in attendance.
He leapt off his horse, his boots sinking a bit in the mud. “Stay close, old boy.” He patted Samson. The first house, the home of the Gallaghers, had mud piled up at the door, basically trapping them inside. He could hear the sounds of people. The windows might have offered an escape, but from the sounds, there were still some inside. “Hello in the house. Hello.”
A haggard, mud-streaked face appeared in the window. “Oh, is it you, Mr. Darcy?”
“It is I, Mrs. Gallagher. I do believe we need to get you out of there.”
She looked down at the ground beneath her. “Has the water subsided, then?”
“It has, but the mud has not. It is certainly not an easy passage. But I can carry you to the rise over there?” He pointed up the road to the top of the bend.
She nodded. “And where shall we go?” A shaking hand brushed the hair from her face. “I think there are folks worse off than we. Should we stay put, then?”
He shook his head. “I don’t think so. I think instead we might be having many more guests looking for a bit of floor and a dry place to be? We don’t have beds for one and all but we do have space.”
“Oh dear me no, we can’t be staying at the great house. We will find a spot at the church, surely.”
“Why don’t we discover the situations of all and see what would be best?”
She nodded.
“And how are your young ones?”
“They’re cold. But we are huddling together in the blankets.”
“Do you have a shovel or a bit of wood or something I can use to scrape away this mud?”
“David took that with him to help up the road. Hours ago.” A child started whimpering in the background. She hesitated.
“Go help your child. Maybe you will all pass through the window here. Do you think you can manage if I help you on this side?”
She looked behind her, seemingly assessing. Then she nodded. “I think so. It would be nice to get warm.” She rubbed her arms. “But, Mr. Darcy, you’re going to be covered in mud! Surely the servants have been alerted.” She looked past him as if someone else might be coming to assist as well.
“I don’t know if anyone else has been alerted. I came straight here. But we shall free you of your cold, wet prison, shall we?”
She nodded. “Thank you. Thank you with all our hearts.”
Darcy found a bit of an old tree and started pulling away at the dirt at their front door. It was cold and thick, like clay, up against the wood. The walls seemed thin. The wood was solid, there were no holes, but at the same time, he wondered if he had been neglecting the tenants even while thinking he’d taken such good care. They were cold without a fire and easily trapped inside from the mud.
Mrs. Gallagher reappeared at the window, the top part of her oldest lad’s head visible next to her. “I have Leroy here. He can help with the young’uns out there.”
“He’s a hefty lad, if I remember, but I can get him if you give a little boost from your side.”
She tried to grab him round the middle but he shook his head. “No, Mama. You cup your hands like Pa. I’ll stand on them and then Mr. Darcy, beggin’ your pardon, sir, but he will catch me on the outside.”
“He’s exactly right and no apologies. We are all working together here. And there are more to help down the lane, I gather.”
“We think so, Mr. Darcy, sir.” His little head bobbed as though nodding yes. Soon he was fully visible and starting to climb out the window. Darcy reached for him and pulled him through.
