Read Online An Impetuous Miss by Mary Chase Comstock - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Mary Chase Comstock
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could hope for. The journey to London would take most of two days, barring accident, even in this fine weather. So it was that the sky was still changing from the pinkish lavender of sunrise to the unclouded azure of the day to come as the two heavily laden carriages pulled away from Sparrowell Hall.
The first party consisted of Cat, Eveline, and Feli cia, packed in among an enormous number of pillows to cushion them against the bone-wrenching ride. Caesar and Brutus jumped blithely from lap to lap, and pressed their wet noses on the windows, clearly beside themselves with joy at the prospect of this rare outing. The second carriage held four servants: two parlor maids, a footman, and a boy of all work, in somewhat less comfort, but equal excitement.
The first several miles of their route were fairly fa miliar, and because the weather was so agreeable, the party was able to picnic along their route at midday, rather than trust their luck (and stomachs) to the dubious hospitality of inn fare. The servants spread blankets on the grass in a little glen and unpacked the baskets. Soon, they were all munching companionably on glazed pheasant, Stilton cheese, hothouse grapes, and herbed bread, glad of the warm sunshine and the stillness of the day. Martin, the boy of all work, tossed scraps to the two terriers, keeping them at bay while the others ate.
Watching these antics , Cat wondered how long it would be before she would again be able to spend time so enjoyably and with such ease. She had known these servants from childhood, had even played with some of them under her grandmother's lenient care. Tonight at the inn, the servants' quarters would be cramped and probably dirty, their fare less agreeable than hers, and such democratic behavior as at this idyllic picnic would be absolutely out of the question. She and Eveline would be housed upstairs and the servants very definitely downstairs, with the exception of Felicia who would haunt the limbo in between. Cat was not at all content with this arrangement, but the inn, at which they would stop tonight, the Ivy Tree, was situated prominently on the main road; word of any untoward deportment would undoubtedly cause talk, and word of it would rapidly spread through that remarkable grapevine—serving hall gossip.
As Cat and her party continued on their journey through the warm afternoon countryside, Eveline read aloud to those passengers in the first carriage, while in the second carriage, the ser vants excitedly exchanged tales they had heard of the various wonders of London life.
“ I shouldn't wonder we'll see the Prince Regent himself while we're there,” Betsy, one of the parlor maids, was saying in respectful tones. “I'd dearly love to have a look at a royal, I would.”
“ Well, that one would dearly love to have a look at you, my dear, and the closer the better,” Tom, the footman, returned with a knowing smirk. “You'd turn the head of the Regent quick enough and no mistake.”
“ Well, I've heard that's no trick,” Audrey, the second parlor maid, sniffed dismissively. “I've heard not even an aged grandmother's safe around that one, so I guess even our Betsy might do well to watch her backside. Unless, of course, she wants to see His Highness up close!”
“ You're just a jealous cat,” Betsy huffed,” 'cause you haven't got my looks. I'm sure I don't know what you'll do in London on your half-day, but if I'm in a very good mood I might let you keep watch for my followers.”
“ Oh, I know what I'll do in London and no mistake. But it's none of your business, so I'll thank you not to ask,” Audrey sneered, her bad temper doing little for her unremarkable looks.
“ Ho-hum, well I'm so interested, aren't I? Don't forget to let me know when you're ready to tell us all the details so I can be sure to take my nap. What'll you do in London, Tom?” Betsy asked, turning her smiling attention to the footman.
“ Oh, I expect to see the sights,” Tom
The first party consisted of Cat, Eveline, and Feli cia, packed in among an enormous number of pillows to cushion them against the bone-wrenching ride. Caesar and Brutus jumped blithely from lap to lap, and pressed their wet noses on the windows, clearly beside themselves with joy at the prospect of this rare outing. The second carriage held four servants: two parlor maids, a footman, and a boy of all work, in somewhat less comfort, but equal excitement.
The first several miles of their route were fairly fa miliar, and because the weather was so agreeable, the party was able to picnic along their route at midday, rather than trust their luck (and stomachs) to the dubious hospitality of inn fare. The servants spread blankets on the grass in a little glen and unpacked the baskets. Soon, they were all munching companionably on glazed pheasant, Stilton cheese, hothouse grapes, and herbed bread, glad of the warm sunshine and the stillness of the day. Martin, the boy of all work, tossed scraps to the two terriers, keeping them at bay while the others ate.
Watching these antics , Cat wondered how long it would be before she would again be able to spend time so enjoyably and with such ease. She had known these servants from childhood, had even played with some of them under her grandmother's lenient care. Tonight at the inn, the servants' quarters would be cramped and probably dirty, their fare less agreeable than hers, and such democratic behavior as at this idyllic picnic would be absolutely out of the question. She and Eveline would be housed upstairs and the servants very definitely downstairs, with the exception of Felicia who would haunt the limbo in between. Cat was not at all content with this arrangement, but the inn, at which they would stop tonight, the Ivy Tree, was situated prominently on the main road; word of any untoward deportment would undoubtedly cause talk, and word of it would rapidly spread through that remarkable grapevine—serving hall gossip.
As Cat and her party continued on their journey through the warm afternoon countryside, Eveline read aloud to those passengers in the first carriage, while in the second carriage, the ser vants excitedly exchanged tales they had heard of the various wonders of London life.
“ I shouldn't wonder we'll see the Prince Regent himself while we're there,” Betsy, one of the parlor maids, was saying in respectful tones. “I'd dearly love to have a look at a royal, I would.”
“ Well, that one would dearly love to have a look at you, my dear, and the closer the better,” Tom, the footman, returned with a knowing smirk. “You'd turn the head of the Regent quick enough and no mistake.”
“ Well, I've heard that's no trick,” Audrey, the second parlor maid, sniffed dismissively. “I've heard not even an aged grandmother's safe around that one, so I guess even our Betsy might do well to watch her backside. Unless, of course, she wants to see His Highness up close!”
“ You're just a jealous cat,” Betsy huffed,” 'cause you haven't got my looks. I'm sure I don't know what you'll do in London on your half-day, but if I'm in a very good mood I might let you keep watch for my followers.”
“ Oh, I know what I'll do in London and no mistake. But it's none of your business, so I'll thank you not to ask,” Audrey sneered, her bad temper doing little for her unremarkable looks.
“ Ho-hum, well I'm so interested, aren't I? Don't forget to let me know when you're ready to tell us all the details so I can be sure to take my nap. What'll you do in London, Tom?” Betsy asked, turning her smiling attention to the footman.
“ Oh, I expect to see the sights,” Tom
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