Page 58 of Daisy and the Duke
Daisy slept fitfully, expecting to hear fists hammering at the door and the local magistrate yelling for her to come out. But Tabitha’s cottage was tucked deep in the woods, and the night was dark, and no one would have reason to think that Daisy chose to flee here.
In the morning, she got up, feeling as if she’d not slept a wink. Outside, the sun shone brightly, but Daisy felt none of the warmth.
“What will I do?” Daisy moaned in despair. “Oh I wish I’d never left my school all those years ago! It’s never been the same here since Papa died!”
Then Daisy blinked, the tears clearing from her eyes. School! She remembered Mrs. Bloomfield’s offer, made weeks ago (though it seemed like years). She could go to Wildwood Hall!
“But how would I get there?” Daisy asked out loud.
“Get where?” Tabitha asked, looking interested.
“Wildwood Hall, where I was at school. Mrs. Bloomfield once told me she’d offer me a position as a teacher if I wanted to try it. Now I can’t do that, obviously. But she’d employ me as maid…”
Tabitha snorted. “Don’t fetch your bucket and mop yet, girl. First we’ve got to get you there. Now give me a moment to think.”
“The law will be watching for me,” Daisy said, sure she’d be seized the moment she showed her face on the road or in the village. No, she could never go into the village again! How was she to get a ride on the coach? And she had no money!
She touched her mother’s necklace. Well, she could sell that, and she’d have a respectable sum. Enough for travel and room and board…
Tabitha told Daisy to stay at the cottage while Tabitha went out to the village and made a few inquiries. She also promised to alert Jacob and Elaine of Daisy’s whereabouts, since Daisy hated to worry them.
Later that day, Tabitha returned, flush with news, and more importantly, plans for Daisy’s escape.
For someone living in near total isolation, Tabitha had incredible reach when it came to finding little tidbits of information. That plus the servants’ network of gossip allowed the old woman to call in a few favors and arrange for Daisy’s departure.
The first part was easy. Jacob really did have to deliver the cartload of pumpkins to the village, a task that had been delayed by the widespread hunt for Daisy.
So the next morning, he was eager to complete his journey to the village. And he just so happened to stop at a quiet, concealed spot on the road while Daisy crawled in and hid herself among the mound of squashes.
At the village, Jacob drove the cart into a barn, where Daisy was unloaded along with the pumpkins.
“You take care, miss,” he whispered, looking as if he might cry.
As instructed, she hid herself in an empty horse stall until about noon, when another vehicle rode up and stopped. Horses whinnied outside, and a slim woman dressed as a lady’s maid entered the barn.
“Last call for London!” the maid announced, a conspiratorial smile on her face.
Daisy peeked out. “You’re going to London?”
“Yes and you are to join us. But hurry, please!”
Daisy grabbed her case and came out to the main area of the barn. Thanks to a carefully packed bundle from Elaine delivered the night before, Daisy now wore her most drab clothing—a grey dress and brown cape.
The maid eyed her curiously, then said, “That will do. You look like any other woman in those clothes. Call me Lucy, miss. Now let’s get you away from here.”
Lucy hustled Daisy into the coach, which had all the curtains pulled to conceal the inside. No markings on the other part indicated who the coach might belong to.
The interior was plush and comfortable. As the driver coaxed the horses to move again, Daisy realized that she was the only passenger besides the maid.
“Who are you?” she asked, perplexed.
“I told you! Lucy. The driver is named Jem. This coach belongs to our mistress, but it needed repairs, so she took another to London and we’re following now. Beats riding the mail coach!”
Daisy agreed wholeheartedly, having experienced the cramped, bumpy, and bone-jarring ride in the mail coaches. But she said, “Your mistress won’t be upset with you for taking me along?”
“Certainly not! My lady would insist, if she knew. And of course we’ll tell her when we do get to London. You may stay at the house should you not find a connection to your final destination.”
“Oh, I couldn’t possibly impose further.”
