Read Online As Meat Loves Salt by Maria McCann - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Maria McCann
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point over the ring and other trash, and I knew that without these trumpery bits of ribbon her woman's soul would not be satisfied.
Caro squeezed my hand. 'We will look like gentry.'
'I am gentry.'My own words surprised me. Having been a servant so long, I had near forgotten.
'But not idle like some we know.'
'Let us hope,' I said, ‘ ’ that he will be away, or dead drunk in bed.'
My Lady was coming back up the stairs, grunting from a stiffness she had in the legs and hips.
'Madam, may we go down now?' I requested. 'Caro has not yet been seen by my mother.'
'What! Most certainly you must go. She is in the garden with your brothers, near the lavender bed.'
'You are all kindness.'
We bowed and curtseyed, then scampered downstairs like children.
Mother was just where the Mistress had said, standing between Zeb and Izzy.
'I always forget how pale your mother is,' said Caro as we crossed towards them. 'Where is her part in you, Black Jacob?'
'The eyes.'
'So much?'
'More than she has in the others. Zeb and Izzy have Father's complexion entirely. Yet folk say I am the most like him.'
Mother turned the grey eyes which were under discussion sharply upon her future daughter as soon as she perceived our approach. Caro curtseyed with a graceful sweep that not even Mervyn could have faulted, but to no purpose: there would never be liking between these two. My mother bristled like a dog's back. For Caro's part, as soon as she came out of her curtsey she drew herself up, Youth against Age.
'You have met Caro before, dear Mother,' I tried. 'Now you meet her as a dutiful daughter.'
Caro smiled.
Mother's glance raked her up and down as if seeking cracks in her skin, as she said, 'I will scarce know what to do with a daughter. My babes have all been boys.'
Izzy shot me a sympathetic glance.
'I had hoped we might put you to bed at home,' Mother said, turning on me. 'But you will not want that.'
"That was our first wish,' I assured her, Caro's head bobbing up and down in agreement. 'But the kindness shown, and such gifts - a servant is not a free man—'
My mother inclined her head so slightly that one might not say she nodded.
'The Mistress has given me a gown against the day,' put in Caro. 'And a pair of—'
'She has been most kind,' I hurried to conceal the last loan.
Mother pounced. 'A pair of what?'
'Earrings,'faltered Caro.
'Earrings for a serving maid.' My mother stared into the sky, her mouth sulky and closed like that of an old fish.
I was stung. 'Say rather for my wife.’
'Your mother thinks I intrude myself among my betters. Give you good day, Madam.' Caro turned and walked away.
Are you now content?' I burst out. 'I mean to espouse her, and you had best—'
'Mother, will you come and see my garden?' Izzy almost shouted. "The Mistress has given me a plot for myself, and I take cuttings of the rare plants.'
'Indeed, Isaiah, that will be very pleasant.' And off she went with Izzy; leaving me and my betrothal to come about as we would.
Zeb grinned. 'Caro is too pretty for her, and you too amorous. That sets her on edge.'
Amorous? I did but speak!'
'It shines out of you.' He gave a sly laugh. 'For all she says, me-thinks she would scarce welcome the bridebed at home. And then, she once hoped we would marry better.'
'Then you must look for trouble, when the time comes.' If Mother behaved thus with Caro, she would surely take a whip to Patience.
'I have ample trouble at present.'Zeb's eyes grew miserable.
'Be easy,' I said. 'Patience cannot be at Champains. She will be found in time.'
He glanced at me in surprise. 'I have been thinking. Perhaps you are right, and I drove her away—'
I shook my head. There followed a rare moment of peace between us.
Ah, well,' Zeb said at last, 'Mother will come round. Directly you and Caro quarrel, you'll be her own sweet boy.'
'We won't quarrel,' I replied. Zebedee clapped me on the shoulder and we began strolling back to the house.
'Have you seen the ceiling?'
Caro squeezed my hand. 'We will look like gentry.'
'I am gentry.'My own words surprised me. Having been a servant so long, I had near forgotten.
'But not idle like some we know.'
'Let us hope,' I said, ‘ ’ that he will be away, or dead drunk in bed.'
My Lady was coming back up the stairs, grunting from a stiffness she had in the legs and hips.
'Madam, may we go down now?' I requested. 'Caro has not yet been seen by my mother.'
'What! Most certainly you must go. She is in the garden with your brothers, near the lavender bed.'
'You are all kindness.'
We bowed and curtseyed, then scampered downstairs like children.
Mother was just where the Mistress had said, standing between Zeb and Izzy.
'I always forget how pale your mother is,' said Caro as we crossed towards them. 'Where is her part in you, Black Jacob?'
'The eyes.'
'So much?'
'More than she has in the others. Zeb and Izzy have Father's complexion entirely. Yet folk say I am the most like him.'
Mother turned the grey eyes which were under discussion sharply upon her future daughter as soon as she perceived our approach. Caro curtseyed with a graceful sweep that not even Mervyn could have faulted, but to no purpose: there would never be liking between these two. My mother bristled like a dog's back. For Caro's part, as soon as she came out of her curtsey she drew herself up, Youth against Age.
'You have met Caro before, dear Mother,' I tried. 'Now you meet her as a dutiful daughter.'
Caro smiled.
Mother's glance raked her up and down as if seeking cracks in her skin, as she said, 'I will scarce know what to do with a daughter. My babes have all been boys.'
Izzy shot me a sympathetic glance.
'I had hoped we might put you to bed at home,' Mother said, turning on me. 'But you will not want that.'
"That was our first wish,' I assured her, Caro's head bobbing up and down in agreement. 'But the kindness shown, and such gifts - a servant is not a free man—'
My mother inclined her head so slightly that one might not say she nodded.
'The Mistress has given me a gown against the day,' put in Caro. 'And a pair of—'
'She has been most kind,' I hurried to conceal the last loan.
Mother pounced. 'A pair of what?'
'Earrings,'faltered Caro.
'Earrings for a serving maid.' My mother stared into the sky, her mouth sulky and closed like that of an old fish.
I was stung. 'Say rather for my wife.’
'Your mother thinks I intrude myself among my betters. Give you good day, Madam.' Caro turned and walked away.
Are you now content?' I burst out. 'I mean to espouse her, and you had best—'
'Mother, will you come and see my garden?' Izzy almost shouted. "The Mistress has given me a plot for myself, and I take cuttings of the rare plants.'
'Indeed, Isaiah, that will be very pleasant.' And off she went with Izzy; leaving me and my betrothal to come about as we would.
Zeb grinned. 'Caro is too pretty for her, and you too amorous. That sets her on edge.'
Amorous? I did but speak!'
'It shines out of you.' He gave a sly laugh. 'For all she says, me-thinks she would scarce welcome the bridebed at home. And then, she once hoped we would marry better.'
'Then you must look for trouble, when the time comes.' If Mother behaved thus with Caro, she would surely take a whip to Patience.
'I have ample trouble at present.'Zeb's eyes grew miserable.
'Be easy,' I said. 'Patience cannot be at Champains. She will be found in time.'
He glanced at me in surprise. 'I have been thinking. Perhaps you are right, and I drove her away—'
I shook my head. There followed a rare moment of peace between us.
Ah, well,' Zeb said at last, 'Mother will come round. Directly you and Caro quarrel, you'll be her own sweet boy.'
'We won't quarrel,' I replied. Zebedee clapped me on the shoulder and we began strolling back to the house.
'Have you seen the ceiling?'
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