Despite her father’s threat, by the time the carriage pulled away from the town house, night had passed into the early morning hours. Exhausted by the feverish packing on top of an emotional day, both Sarah and Barbara soon nodded off.
“We’re here, my lady.”
The coachman’s warning call woke Barbara from a deep sleep. She blinked to clear her vision, giving Sarah a wan smile as the smooth rhythm of movement ended when the horses pulled up to a sizable farmhouse.
“Oh, but no one shall be awake,” Barbara said as she realized the sun had yet to reach its full height.
“Not to worry, my lady. This here’s a working farm. There’ll be many about for the midday meal. Their day began long ago.” The footman lowered the step and put out a hand to help her and a drowsy Sarah down.
Though it had been a handful of years since she’d had the chance to visit, Barbara now remembered they did keep country hours, and that meant up with the sun to make the most of the natural light. Balls and theatrical events running almost until the first rays of sunlight streaked the sky would be unheard of here.
Sure enough, not just her uncle but all four of her cousins came pouring out of the house, her father having sent a rider ahead the previous day.
“Barbara, welcome to my home,” her uncle said, his somber expression giving evidence of more in the message than a simple announcement of intent.
Still, the girls showed no such restraint as they rushed forward to hug and greet both her and Sarah.
“Cousin Barbara, it’s been too long.”
“Much too long. And Sarah, we’d hoped you would accompany our cousin.”
“We’ve been awaiting your arrival since yesterday.”
“Come on in out of the sun. It must have been a tiring ride.”
They spoke all at once, leaving Barbara no time to comprehend Charlotte’s command until her oldest cousin finished by taking her arm and pulling her forward. She had a vague impression of Marian, the next oldest, catching Sarah, with Jane and Georgiana left to trail after.
Soon, all six of them were settled at the wood block table in the warm kitchen as Charlotte directed their cook to make tea and bring over the rolls left from the morning meal. Uncle Ferrier had taken himself off to do whatever it was he had to, freeing Barbara of his censure so she could enjoy her cousins wholeheartedly.
“You must tell us of London,” Marian said, kneeling on the bench across from Barbara and leaning forward to rest her chin on crossed arms. “Charlotte never speaks of her season, and we have no other to plague. If only the Pendletons were blessed with daughters, we might have been invited up to the manor, but with a son, there were no balls, and Father didn’t let us go to the other activities.”
The long trip was enough to slow her mind, but Barbara came fully awake at the name. “The Pendletons have an estate nearby?”
“Oh yes,” her cousin continued, unaware of the tension her comment had provoked. “Lord Pendleton took up residence with his new bride just last year, though the family visited rarely before then.”
“Now, Marian, what have I told you about gossip,” Charlotte said, putting an end to the font of information with Barbara in possession of only enough to vex.
She had been sent from London and thought herself finally free of reminders only to find this the very home of Aubrey’s best friend.
“They’ve been all but hermits there, though much doings at the estate beforehand and after. And the new minister and his wife are said to be related,” Jane took up where her older sister had left off.
Charlotte sent a measured gaze at the girl, and she also quieted, but Barbara took some relief in this extra bit of knowledge. If they’d been secluded, there was no reason to expect that to change now. Nor had she any reason to think Aubrey would quit London during the season either, not with his own interests and those of his sister.
The questions continued, and though Charlotte added none to the pile, neither did she categorize the doings of London folk as gossip to be quashed. Barbara told them what she could and left some questions to Sarah to answer. When she was allowed to pause, she savored the fresh baked bread and a strong cup of tea.
A smile curled her lips unbidden as the open honesty of her cousins worked its way beneath her constraints. Her attempt to keep up both the rules of convention and then the appearance of frivolity when in London had exhausted her. Not that Lord Aubrey had seemed to notice.
She pushed her renewed irritation aside.
Here, she had no need to pretend to be anything other than she was, and Uncle had been known to look the other way should she need to stretch her legs, something unheard of in London.
Despite her best efforts, a yawn broke across her face, soon mirrored by Sarah.
“Would you look at the two of you? I’m guessing you haven’t seen this side of noon in an age. London hours are all about the night, are they not?” Jane gave them a wink with her question, and Barbara saw no need to take offense at the teasing.
Charlotte stood up and swept their plates away. “More likely they have been traveling all night to get here even if they made good time with the roads free of farm traffic in the late hours. Used to London hours or not, it’s wearing on a body. “Marian, Georgie, finish clearing up here so Cook can ready luncheon for Father and the farm hands. Jane, let’s show our dear friends to the guestroom. You’ll both feel so much better after a nap. We’ll have time to visit later.”
Everyone, Sarah and Barbara included, recognized a command when they heard one.
BARBARA WOKE UP STARVING TO discover she’d slept the day through from the sunrise painting the sky.
“The sleepy one has woken,” a voice called from the doorway, revealed to be Marian when she stepped inside. “Your season must have been exhausting from how soundly you’ve slept. You didn’t even wake up for dinner.”
“I surely feel the lack now.” Her stomach rumbled as though in agreement, and she glanced around for Sarah.
“Can you not dress yourself?”
Marian’s tone held a mix of wonder and contempt that sat unhappily in Barbara’s ears, but she dismissed it, determined not to let her visit become corrupted as her season had. “You’d have a time of it too with fashions as they are and so many layers, but no. I just wondered where she was. She’s always been the one to wake me.”
Her cousin gave a pitying look. “We don’t stand on such ceremony here, as you should remember. Sarah’s like a member of the family. She’s played with all of us a time or two, and we’ll not have her thrust in a servant’s role when it’s not necessary.”
“She’ll enjoy that. In London she had duties that extended beyond my care despite being more of a friend than solely my maid.”
Jane poked her head around the doorframe just in time to hear the last comment. She burst into a fit of laughter and took a moment to get under control, at which point she gasped out, “You think friends and family free from duties? It’s no wonder your father thought you needed a clearer understanding of how most live. We all have chores. And you will be helping us with them.”
Barbara colored at the knowledge that more than just her uncle knew why she’d been sent down from London, but as to the rest, she gave a shrug. “I don’t know how much use I’ll be around the farm, but I’m happy to do my share.”
“That’s the attitude,” Charlotte said, joining them, “But words are easy, and you’re still abed. I brought you an older dress of mine.” She lifted one arm to indicate the clothing thrown over it. “From what Sarah has been telling us, none of what you packed will suit. I suppose you have little need for rough clothes as you sweep from ball to ball, but it would be a pity to have them spoiled.”
Not wanting to appear resistant, Barbara stepped free of her covers to take the simple dress and hold it against her light nightgown. She’d grown accustomed to just Sarah attending her in the mornings, and she had no brothers or sisters to crowd in before she’d risen.
Ever vigilant, Charlotte recognized the problem before Barbara said a word. She ushered the others out. “Just because we have visitors doesn’t mean the cows are to be neglected. Barbara will join us as soon as she’s ready. You can find us in the kitchen,” she called over her shoulder.
Barbara took a deep breath, happy to be on her own at last, though she missed Sarah’s company in the morning. It seemed her friend had taken the previous day to find her footing in this busy household while Barbara had wasted the time asleep.
Her stomach rumbled again, speeding her through the process of divesting herself of the nightgown and pulling the dress over her shoulders. The top had no corset to bind, and simple laces held it closed without the restraint of the posture board she normally suffered.
She spun in a circle, letting the soft, un-embroidered cloth swirl around her until it settled against her legs. Her cousins might be more used to this life than she was, but they most likely were unaware of the benefits to it despite chores she felt sure would stretch both her energy and her talents. Perhaps it was the deep sleep, or maybe the country air, but Barbara felt more refreshed than she’d been for a long while. She intended to enjoy every moment of the feeling.