Isabella supervised the stowing of the final bag that was full of ginger root, tea leaves, a few other miscellaneous herbs and dried flower petals in the carriage that contained their garments and several small gifts for Julia and her family. They were ready to leave for the Forster estate at last. She shivered and worriedly studied the gray skies above her. It was brutally cold. Hopefully the weather would cooperate and they would arrive at their destination safely, without mishap.
“Come inside, Isabella. The bricks are quite warm. They won’t stay that way forever.”
Isabella turned and hurriedly walked toward the traveling coach as she heard Miss Hatch’s querulous voice. “I’m coming!”
The groom helped his mistress up the steps. He shut the door behind her as Isabella sat down, back against the seat next to her companion with a sigh.
“It seems as if we are going to be away for a month instead of just a few days. You’ve been packing for ages.”
“This cold weather requires more layers of clothing, as you well know. And there were the presents to bring as well as my herbal supplies.”
“Yes, you can’t go anywhere without your remedies.” Miss Hatch snorted indelicately.
“They might come in handy. It brings me a sense of comfort to know I have them with me when I travel.”
“I suppose one of us might eat something that could disagree with us. You never quite know the quality of the food when you dine in someone else’s home.”
Isabella raised her eyebrows in surprise as she studied Miss Hatch’s sour expression. “Why the disgruntled attitude? You have stayed at the Forster estate before. Their cook, Mrs. Jasper is excellent.”
Miss Hatch pulled her gloved hand out from under the blanket and patted Isabella’s arm. “I’m sorry, my dear. You know how cold weather affects my joints, especially my knuckles and my ankles. It makes me quite grumpy.”
Isabella looked at her companion with a worried expression on her face. “You should have said something earlier, Augusta. Thank goodness I brought some of the dried Arnica flowers with me. I can make up a salve for you once we arrive at our destination. You will feel better in no time.”
Miss Hatch sighed. “That would be wonderful, Isabella. I admit I’m very glad you know so much about herbs and their benefits.”
Jane spoke up from her position on the opposite seat. “Many a time my mistress has helped me feel better, that’s for certain.”
Isabella smiled gratefully at Jane. “I’m glad to hear I have your vote of confidence.”
The three ladies settled back against their seats and became silent as they prepared for the long journey ahead. It would take most of the day to travel to the Forster estate from London with one stop along the way for a quick bite to eat and a chance to refresh themselves.
Isabella must have dozed off after their hasty tea at a roadside inn just outside Gravesend. She was startled to hear Miss Hatch suddenly speak out in a fretful manner.
“The fog is quite thick. I can’t see a thing. We are barely moving, Isabella.”
Isabella roused herself and stared out of the window. A milky-white haze was all that could be seen. Just at that moment, the carriage rolled to a stop. She reached up to rap on the communicating panel overhead. It was quickly pulled open to reveal her coachman, whose bushy eyebrows and long lashes were covered in an icy film.
“John, what is happening?”
“We’re almost there, my lady. There is a large branch lying across the road that George has gone to remove. We should arrive shortly, my lady.”
“Are you quite able to discern the road?” Isabella inquired with concern. “Is the carriage containing our luggage still behind us?”
“I can barely see, my lady, but you’re not to worry. I grew up near here. I know the area well. And yes, Edward is just in back of us.”
“Well that is a relief.” Isabella turned back to the other occupants of the vehicle as the panel above them closed once more. “We are in good hands, ladies. I’m sure we will arrive soon.”
A few minutes later the coach began its slow forward progress once more. Isabella noted nervously that the fog appeared to be getting denser and darkness seemed to be descending upon them.
A loud bumping noise made all three ladies tense up in their seats. Jane gasped. “My lady, whatever has happened?”
Just at that moment, the panel overhead opened once again. “I’ve hit a rock with the right front wheel, my lady. I didn’t see it in this mire.” Mr. Rivers peered down at her, frosty white moisture swirling around him when he spoke. “The entrance to the house is not far. George can accompany you ladies to the door while Edward and I check on the damage.”
Isabella visualized the cozy drawing room inside the Forster estate with the large fireplace blazing brightly. She wanted nothing more at that moment than to be out of her cold, cramped carriage. She briefly glanced at Miss Hatch, who was sitting ramrod straight, clutching her reticule on her lap, and then at Jane, who appeared poised for flight as she sat on the edge of her seat. “Let’s follow George and waste no time announcing ourselves to our hosts.”
The ladies exited the vehicle as swiftly as possible considering the precariously tight positioning of the carriage just above a ditch at the side of the road. The trench was barely visible through the mist but George carefully guided the three women down the side of the carriage to the open road and then to the main driveway leading up to the house. They arrived at the front door of the estate without mishap moments later.
Isabella rapped on the front knocker.
There was no answer.
“It’s Lady Isabella Porter. I’m with my maid and my companion Miss Augusta Hatch. Let us in please,” she called out and tapped against the door once more.
“There must be a misunderstanding,” Miss Hatch commented in a worried tone when the portal remained closed. “They were expecting us, surely?”
“Perhaps they are out collecting the Yule Log and no one is here to answer?” Jane whispered as she pulled her cloak closer to her body.
George shifted back and forth in a nervous manner. “The butler should remain at his post if they be expectin’ Lady Isabella.”
Isabella knocked once again. “Please open the door.”
Suddenly, the sound of the bolt being lifted from the inside reverberated to where they were standing.
“At last!” Miss Hatch gasped, sounding as if she had been holding her breath.
The heavy wooden door slowly opened. A short balding man stood on the threshold. He peered out at them in the darkening gloom. “Who are you?”
“Lady Isabella Porter and my companion Miss Augusta Hatch. My groom and my coachmen will be bringing our carriages to the stables and our bags to the house shortly.” She paused for breath. “We encountered a large rock just before arriving. My coachman is checking the damage. Can you show me to my room?”
“We weren’t expectin’ no company. The family has gone to London.”
“What? I don’t understand. There must be some mistake. I was invited here by Lady Clayton to spend the Christmas holidays with her and her family.”
The man frowned at Isabella. “Lord and Lady Forster left yesterday morning. The birth of Lady Clayton’s baby was expected within hours of their departure. You should have received a note informing you of the change of plans.”
Miss Hatch shivered at Isabella’s side, prompting her to take sudden action. “Can we continue this discussion inside? We need to warm ourselves, my good man. I will decide what is to be done.”
The man reluctantly moved backward and opened the door wider. “There be no regular servants. The butler, Jasper and Mrs. Jasper, the cook, are not here. Lord Forster let all those with family in the area go away for the holidays.”
Isabella strode into the hall, quickly followed by Miss Hatch and Jane. She looked around and noted a single candle lit on a nearby sideboard. The room was quite drafty as well. The situation they found themselves in was very awkward. It appeared Christmas would be celebrated in quite an unusual fashion this year. She turned to her groom, who was standing outside waiting for her instructions. “George, if the carriage can be moved, have John take it to the stables in back. Edward can drop our bags here on the front porch. Rub the horses down and feed them. We must rest before beginning any journey back home.”
“Yes, my lady.” He turned and walked away to be quickly swallowed by the heavy mist.
The man shut the door and turned to face Isabella. “My lady, I’m simply the caretaker. The only other servants here are my wife and one groom to see to the horses.”
Isabella frowned as she realized the true extent of their predicament. “What is your name, man?”
“Joshua Quentin, my lady.”
“Mr. Quentin, you must have observed the worsening weather outside. We cannot travel any farther today. We will need to spend the night here and will also require a light supper. I assume your wife is cooking for the three of you?”
Mr. Quentin looked uncomfortable and shuffled his feet before answering. “My wife came down with a bad cough yesterday evening. She be too sick to leave her bed today.”
Isabella studied the caretaker intently. His eyes appeared very bloodshot and he swayed on his feet as he stood waiting for her instructions.
“Have you been drinking, sir?” Miss Hatch’s outraged voice broke the silence in the entryway.
“No, no ma’am. It’s…it’s just my wife kept me awake all night with her coughing.” Mr. Quentin rushed to answer.
Isabella took off her pelisse and hat and then hastily pulled off her gloves and dropped all the items on a nearby table. “It appears there is no time to stand on ceremony. We are all tired, cold and hungry. Mr. Quentin’s wife is ill. Augusta, I want you to go to the drawing room and sit down. I will have a fire built there and bring some tea to you as soon as possible. Jane, when our bags arrive, please bring my herbal case to me.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“Mr. Quentin, please show me to the kitchen.”
“This…this is highly irregular, my lady,” he said with hesitation.
“I’m aware of that, sir. But I can cook and I have something that will help your wife’s cough. To have those two things taken care of would substantially improve the situation we find ourselves in, would it not?”
“Yes, it certainly would, Lady Isabella.” The man suddenly looked more awake, as if Isabella’s words had energized him. “Please follow me.”
Isabella entered the large kitchen at the back of the house moments later. She studied the vast countertops providing plenty of space to work and a sizable sink, which at this moment was filled with dirty dishes. In the far corner, she was gratified to see a Rumford range very similar to the one Isabella had in her own home. She saw a clean apron hanging on a hook by the window and quickly put it on.
“How much food do we have on hand? I will be cooking for several people tonight.” Isabella walked to an inset in the wall that she assumed led to the larder. She stepped inside the large cool space and was gratified to see several pieces of beef and three chickens as well as what appeared to be a large goose hanging on hooks from the ceiling. Other baskets on the shelves were amply full of potatoes, carrots, onions and turnips. Several loaves of bread were also nearby.
“We have plenty to eat, even a Christmas goose, my lady, seeing as how Lord and Lady Forster were expecting to entertain everyone here this Christmas. Sorry about the mess, my lady.” He pointed to the sink. “Me wife was took sick right after we finished the evening meal. I haven’t had a chance to clean up.”
“I will see to everything.” Isabella turned to the little man who was standing close by, rubbing his chin with his hand in a nervous manner. “You said you are the caretaker. Do you and your wife live in a house on the property close by?”
“Normally we do, my lady. But the housekeeper, Mrs. Bask, went to visit her daughter. She offered her rooms for us to stay in in the meantime.” He looked a little uncomfortable as he stared across the room at the kitchen door. “She thought it would be more convenient for us to watch the house by living inside it. Lord and Lady Forster agreed. Now, with my wife so ill, I’m sure she’ll regret her kind offer.”
“Allow me to check on your wife. Are the rooms across the hall?”
He hesitated. “Yes, my lady, but I wouldn’t want you to catch her sickness.”
“You’re not to worry, Mr. Quentin. I have an extremely strong constitution. I’m often in contact with people who are ill when I administer my herbal remedies. Except for a bout of sickness when I was a child, I’ve always had exceptionally good health.”
“As you say, my lady. This way, please.”
Isabella followed Mr. Quentin out of the kitchen and down the hallway to a doorway at the back of the house. The caretaker stopped to knock on the door before opening it.
“Dear, I have someone here to see about your cough.”
“Oh…oh, won…wonderful!” The feeble voice called out before the sound of harsh coughing rang out from inside the room.
Isabella strode through the open door. She observed a tiny frail lady lying in bed against the pillows with a lace cap slightly askew on top of her head. “Mrs. Quentin, I’m Lady Isabella Porter, a close friend of the family. I am quite familiar with all sorts of herbal remedies. I know of just the thing that will ease your cough.”
“I…I’d be very grate…grateful, my lady,” the woman struggled to answer between coughs.
“As soon as my bag can be located, I will fix you a ginger tea amply laced with lemon. In the meantime, try to rest.”
“Thank…thank you, my lady.”
Isabella strode out of the room with Mr. Quentin at her heels. “I must see if my maid has located my herbs. Could you build a fire in the drawing room for Miss Hatch and perhaps in our rooms as well?”
“Yes, my lady. Right away.”
As the little man hurried away, Isabella turned toward the front entry and walked quickly to the front door. She would check to see if the bags had been brought inside. Just as she was about to put her hand on the knob, someone jiggled it from the outside.