Page 34 of A Governess' Unbridled Passion
“Your horse is tired, Miss Alice. You’ve driven her hard to get here; even I can see that,” he told her, opening his stable doors. “Now come along, let’s not waste time debating; go and get my horse while I pull the carriage outside.”
It didn’t take long, but it felt like forever to Alice. Between them, the horse was soon strapped up to the carriage.
“Jump in, girl!” he yelled at Alice.
“No, you must hurry,” Alice called back. “I will take the mare at a slower pace. You are right. I’ve ridden her too hard to get here in a hurry.”
“Fear not, Miss Alice. I will soon be there and caring for the little Lady Beatrice,” Mr Lewis called over to her before he set off in his small, hooded gig. “My carriage and I can fly at speed wherever we go!” she heard him shout back as the carriage moved off.
Alice felt relieved that the physician was on his way to rescue Lady Beatrice. But the hard ride and the uncomfortable night spent on a chair were starting to catch up with her body. Her back ached, and her legs felt cramped.
The mare looked tired, too, so she would need to return at a much slower pace. She noticed dark clouds gathering for the first time and prayed Mr Lewis would get to Haroth Hall before the storm hit.
Taking the mare to drink from a trough, she took a little water in her hands to cool her brow. That’s when it hit her that she was still wearing the same clothes she had worn yesterday and slept in. Usually, she’d at least put on a clean chemise when she awoke, but now she felt sweaty and hot.
“Come on then, Princess. Let’s be getting back,” she said to the horse as she mounted, her legs astride.
This was no time to be behaving in a lady-like manner; she didn’t want to be too far behind the physician. They set off in a gentle canter just as the heavens opened and rain fell upon them. Putting up the hood of her overcoat, she knew the dirt track would soon become a muddy mire. Her only concern was for Lady Beatrice; she needed to be by her side for every crucial moment of her illness.
Chapter 18
“It has been a good day for fishing, Eli,” Phillip said to his friend as he carried a few large fish on a rope. “The larger one must weigh at least fifteen pounds; it is a real beast. I had no idea what my brother had stocked in the lake, but it’s been a rewarding day. I’ll get William to drop them off into the kitchen, and we shall enjoy trout for supper tomorrow.”
“I’ve never fished in freshwater before,” Mr Eli said. “But spending a day laying down in a boat on a lake is something not to be missed.”
“I am not sure if you jest, my friend.” Phillip chuckled. “It is hard to compare a chilly day in England with the warm seas of the West Indies.”
“You can say that again. I miss the sun’s warmth on my back,” Mr Eli agreed. “But it was a morning of relaxation, so I thank you for that.”
“We would have stayed all day if not for the changing weather,” Phillip said. “I am disappointed the rain brought an early end to our fishing trip, but one can never predict the English weather.”
“At least we had a good catch between us,” Mr Eli said, grinning at his success. “I’ve never tasted freshwater trout, so I look forward to it. You must invite Miss Alice to dinner, so you can show off your prowess for fishing. She will be mighty impressed.”
“I do not need to show off to Miss Alice, Eli,” Phillip answered. “We are in love with one another, and I do not need to boast that I am a better fisherman than you.”
Mr Eli laughed, “Hahaha … But can you dance better than me?”
“I do believe that I can. Though none have your voice when it comes to a spiritual song from the soul.” He chuckled. “The next we fish, I shall take you on the river to fish for salmon, and …”
Philip stopped mid-sentence, glancing over at the manor house. He saw a small carriage pulling up at the main door.
“My goodness, is Mr Lewis still alive? And what can he be doing visiting my door?” Phillip asked himself. “Here, Eli,” he said, turning to his friend. “Can you take the fish to the kitchen? I must rush on without you and see why the local physician is visiting us.”
Phillip had always been a healthy build due to working every day on the plantation. There, he performed labour-intensive tasks, building up his muscles. Since coming to England, though, he’d become idle, and his legs wouldn’t move as fast as he’d like them to. Luckily, the old physician was slow at dismounting from his carriage, and Phillip called out to stop him before he went to the front door.
“Mr Lewis!” He called from afar, and the old man stopped to look his way.
As Phillip dashed forward, worrying over who had called for a physician to attend Haroth Hall, Mr Lewis waited. The physician started to walk towards him, and as they met, Phillip was panting.
“Good day to you, Mr Lewis,” he said, watching as the old man tipped his hat at him. “What … are you … doing here, sir?”
“My goodness, is that the young Lord Phillip? Or rather, Your Grace these days, eh?” Mr Lewis asked, reaching out to shake his hand.
“I had no idea you were returned, my boy. I recall treating your many cuts and bruises and your brother’s too. But you wouldn’t stop climbing those damn trees, would you? It was a miracle you didn’t break your neck, young man.”
Phillip nodded in agreement because he knew he was the bane of the family with his younger antics. “You are quite right, sir. I was a defiant young man. But do tell me ... why are visiting the hall today?”
As they stood conversing, a loud clap of thunder could be heard in the distance, soon followed by a bright flash of lightning. Without any warning, the black clouds opened up, flooding them with an outpour of cold, wet rain.
