Read Online Petals in the Ashes by Mary Hooper - Free Book Online

so.
    As I thought on, my attention was caught by a movement further down the lane. There was a horseman riding towards our cottage, and I knew immediately that it was Giles Copperly, for he’d visited us the day before, and the day before that, each time to thank us for conveying him home. Three visits in a week!
    As I watched, he stopped where Sarah was sitting on the gate and jumped from his horse. Sarah took his outstretched hand but, instead of helping her from the gate, he put her hand to his lips and kissed it. They then gazed at each other so long, with the blossom falling all around them, that I was embarrassed and felt obliged to turn away.
    It was then that I realised. Of course!
That
was why she did not wish to return to London …
    The boys were in bed and the candles lit when, that evening, Sarah told Mother she would be staying inChertsey to help her through her lying-in.
    Mother was so content with this news that it made me feel guilty that I did not really wish to stay. Yet I could not resist a sly dig at Sarah, saying that I had noticed Giles Copperly had called a third time – surely he hadn’t wanted to thank us
again
for our trouble?
    â€˜No,’ she said, blushing. ‘No, he merely called to ask if I wished to see the extent of spices they have in their warehouse at Parkshot. I will be visiting there next week.’
    Mother, Anne and I looked at her. ‘Indeed?’ Mother said.
    Sarah rose and pretended to tend the fire. ‘Yes. They have vanilla, nutmeg, aniseed and a type of cinnamon I’ve never heard of. Mr Copperly feels we may wish to use some for our sweetmeats.’
    â€˜Giles Copperly!’ said Mother. That was all, but the way in which she spoke said much.
    â€˜He is very handsome. Is he your beau?’ Anne asked eagerly, but Sarah did not reply.
    â€˜So you two girls will be staying here and eating like horses for another two-month, will you?’ Father put in.
    I looked at Sarah. ‘We will be back in London by the middle of July for definite, won’t we?’ I asked.
    â€˜Of course,’ Sarah said. ‘Our new babe will be settled in and Mother will be recovered by that time.’
    â€˜And mayhap you will have seen enough cinnamon by then,’ I teased, and had the satisfaction of seeing her blush again. We sat gazing into the fire and the only sound was the crackle of wood and a
phut-phut
as Father pulled on his pipe of tobacco.
    â€˜Hannah,’ Anne suddenly piped up. ‘If you are soanxious to get back to London, why don’t you go ahead by yourself?’
    I looked at her, my heart giving a great leap. Never had Anne said anything so clever.
    â€˜You couldn’t do that,’ Mother said immediately.
    â€˜Of course you couldn’t,’ Sarah said. ‘And you couldn’t manage to make sweetmeats, run the shop and serve folk all on your own.’
    â€˜Well, then!’ Anne said. ‘What if I went with her? We could do these things between us.’ She looked around at everyone beseechingly. ‘If I was in London I would work very hard! You would be surprised at how hard I would work.’
    I gave a little gasp at this suggestion, but as it did not get shouted down straightaway, began to get fearful excited.
    â€˜What do you think, Father?’ Mother asked after a moment.
    â€˜I think it’s a sound idea,’ he replied. ‘Anne could learn a trade and we would have two less mouths to feed.’
    â€˜But do you think Anne could do such a job?’ Mother asked Sarah.
    â€˜Of course she could,’ I put in quickly. ‘She could do all the tasks that I used to do: shopping and fetching water from the conduit and grinding down the sugarloaf. She can serve in the shop while I do the skilled work,’ I added, for I had already learned much of the trade from Sarah.
    â€˜And what would Anne do when you returned to London, Sarah?’ Mother asked.
    â€˜Well,’