Page 65 of The Heir
What is he doing? Is he trying to keep me from her? Why would he do such a thing?
Yet more questions she did not know the answers to.
At last, the sun shone, and Sir John was away to meet with the master of the horse about the baggage carts needed for the September tour, while Mama was meeting with the household chef about the next dinner.
So, it was for Lehzen to remind Lady Flora that it was time for the day’s drive.
“If you’re ready, ma’am?” Lehzen said to Victoria. “Miss Conroy?”
Lehzen held her hand as they went down the stone stairs, as required. Jane followed behind, and Dash scampered beside her.
As they all emerged into the sunny courtyard, Victoria wasn’t sure if she wanted to skip or simply be sick.Perhaps both.There was so much that could go wrong. Lehzen had made that very plain as soon as Victoria had told her she wanted to go speak with Gerald Maton.
“Who would drive you? Any of the grooms might talk,” Lehzen had said.
“Then you must find those who won’t.”
Victoria had apologized later for her imperious tone.
“It is not safe,” Lehzen had said. “Let me go instead.”
“No. I will do this myself.”
“Why?”
“To discover if I can.”
“Again, ma’am, why?”
Victoria met her gaze directly. “Because there may come some other time when I have to.”
Lehzen had turned away.
The open carriage waited in the yard. According to a note Lehzen had left in Wordsworth’s poems, their driver was Arthur Saddler. Saddler was the head groom and had taken Hornsby’s dismissal personally.
Because of this, and because it runs afoul of Sir John’s plans, he has agreed to help and not ask too many questions.
The outriders, presumably chosen by Saddler, took their places, and Saddler himself climbed onto the box. He touched up the horses. The usual cluster of onlookers were shooed back by the footmen so they could open the gates, and Saddler drove them smoothly through.
It was the same when they reached the village proper. The onlookers cheered. Hats were tossed in the air, and ladies curtsied deeply. Victoria waved, and the crowd waved enthusiastically in return.
“Beg pardon, ma’am,” called Saddler from the driver’s box.
“What is it?” answered Lehzen.
“The off horse has come up lame. There’s a livery stable in the next street. If we stop there, we can change him out, and one of the boys can walk him back.”
“Very well,” agreed Lehzen.
Despite the sun, Jane looked pale. Victoria itched to ask if she was sure her woman would be waiting, as promised.
“You’ll need a maid,” Jane had pointed this out. “You’re still a gently bred young woman, no matter what bonnet you’re wearing. You can’t be out alone. It would look very odd. People would remember you, and you don’t want that.”
Jane was right. Victoria did not want her to be, but some facts were inescapable. A young woman driving alone would draw attention.
“Who then? Lehzen must stay with the carriage, and I cannot ask anyone of the palace staff.”
“I might know someone. She’s in need of work, and, well, she has no particular love for my family.”
