The following morning, Abigail did take Colton’s advice and asked Mildred to accompany her to the local village. Mildred had suggested they take the carriage for her ladyship’s comfort, but it was still a warm summer day, and Abigail rather liked the prospect of walking.
As they took the pebble road that leads to the small fishing town, Mildred filled Abigail with information on the inhabitants. Other than the fishing along the bay, and the few that were employed as part of the wool trade, there was also a large copper mine a few miles to the north of town that supplied most of the livings for the villagers.
It hadn’t been there in the past, but with the late Earl of Gilchrist, two generations ago, deciding to remove all tenant farms, a wealthy man, Sir Edward Blanchard, had come and provided the jobs necessary. Although Mildred spoke of gratitude for the mine, her own father worked in it; it didn’t seem to Abigail that the conditions were much desirable by her lady’s maid tone of words.
Abigail had seen her fair share of country villages both small and large over the course of her life. She couldn’t help but gasp when she finally found this one coming around the bend. It was nothing more than a few little shacks all stacked near each other.
The fields surrounding the small town on its three sides were said to be communal by Mildred. The barley growing there was the main source of sustenance for the residence outside of what was caught in the bay. Abigail knew little about farming but she could easily see by the sickly looking crops that this land was in fact very poor for growing.
In a way, Abigail understood why Colton’s grandfather had removed the farmland and gave it to pasture. It was certainly a better use for it. She couldn’t, however, understand how he could have left these people so destitute.
“I know there is not much here, m’lady,” Mildred said seeing Abigail’s crestfallen face. “But we do have a small general store that has some supplies that might interest your fancy. And the big village is only a half day's walk away. I suspect, in m'lady's carriage, it would take not but a half hour. We could inquire of a cart here and continue on if this doesn’t suit you, ma'am?”
“I think this will do for now,” Abigail said doing her best to hide her shock for the sad state of the town.
She wondered if Colton had any idea. She was sure he didn’t. He may have been shut up into himself, but that didn’t affect his charity. Her thoughts were confirmed when Mildred continued her chatter as they walked.
“You wouldn’t believe how grateful we all were to have his lordship return to the big house. You wouldn’t believe how much things have already improved in the short time your ladyship has been here.”
“What of the local parish. It seems that there is much work that needed to be done here. Perhaps I should contact him to help.”
“Unfortunately, the nearest parish is in the other village I spoke of. In times past, I've been told; the Earl would have patronage at the estate parish and allow all the townspeople to attend it. I believe it was one of the things done away with when the Earl’s grandfather made his changes.”
Abigail felt bitter about her house and comforts. It seemed that it had all been bought at the expense of these people here. She would bring this first to Colton’s attention and make sure that patronage was found again.
They made their way into the small shop that was connected to what seemed to be the only tavern. They both sat on the main strip of road that ran straight through the town. It appeared any and all other shacks and homes stemmed from this main road.
There was already a small crowd of people standing in front of their houses to watch them come into town. The children looked overly thin and sickly though their eyes were lit with excitement.
Abigail replaced the sunbonnet that she had been holding in her hand as they walked. She detested wearing such a thing when the warm sun could shine freely on her skin, but she knew for the next several hours she was really the Countess of Gilchrist and would have to present herself as such.
A small blonde girl ran up to her with a small handful of forget-me-nots in her hand. She handed them up to Abigail with a scared smile.
“For you, your ladyship,” the little girl said.
Abigail knelt down to the girl’s level, not caring if the hem of her dress was ruined in the dust and dirt. She took the small token out of the child's hand.
“Thank you,” Abigail said. “What is your name?”
“This is Ester, my little sister, m’lady,” Mildred responded for her.
“Well, it is very nice to make your acquaintance Ester,” Abigail said to the little girl who looked away shyly.
They made their way into the small general store. For the most part, the humble shelves were neatly stacked with the necessities of life. Abigail's eyes, however, fell immediately on the jar of peppermint sticks at the front table. She would make sure to buy them all with the small bag of coins in her gown pockets. The children would be so thrilled for the treat.
She walked the shelves as Mr. Smith, the proprietor introduced to her upon entrance, stood tall and proud. She found a few things here and there like some small sewing notions, that she thought she might start right away to make some simple items for those most in need.
She suddenly wished the ladies of her small charity group from London were here with her. They would certainly do a much better job at the work. She was determined to take whatever time was needed to see that the needs in this little fishing town were quickly met. She certainly had no shortage of time to give.
“What is this,” Abigail asked the proprietor.
She was pointing to a shelf of some small miss matched items in jars. They seemed to be all sorts of concoctions.
“Why that is the small medicine cabinet, m’lady,” Mr. Smith responded. “It is just some cough drams, for a cough is very prevalent from the miners, and some various salves.”
“Perhaps do you have anything for pain from an injury,” Abigail asked thinking of Colton.
He had not used his cane for some time, but she could still see the injury to his left leg hurt him. Perhaps he didn’t know that she noticed in the few moments they were together, but he would seem to massage it more in the evening and even begin to walk with a limp as the day wore on.
The merchant looked over his shelf before settling on a small round shaped jar that seemed to be filled with thickened cream. The paper that sealed the top crinkled when he removed it from its place.
“You're in luck, your ladyship. This is Mrs. Smith's own making. Scares can keep it in stock. Many of the menfolk use it to massage out the pain in their muscles after a hard day’s work. I’m afraid it is the only type of pain treatment I have. I don’t know if it will work well on any other ailment other than stiffness and sore muscles.”
He looked her over not ever imagining that a lady such as herself would have need of a salve made for hard-working men.
“That is actually exactly what I am looking for. You say that Mrs. Smith makes it? Your wife I would assume."
"Yes your ladyship," he responded with a proud nod.
"How regularly do you get the product? I would love to buy more. It is for his lordship you see,” Abigail finished by way of explanation.
She wondered if he would, in fact, know her meaning. Certainly, Mr. Smith had never met or even laid eyes on Colton. Perhaps it was just as curious to him that a gentleman of the peerage would need a working man’s treatment.
He nodded his head in understanding, however. Perhaps the talk of Colton’s injury had already traveled to town.
“I will speak to Mrs. Smith today. I can ensure that she will deliver regular amounts as needed if it would suit you.”
“Yes, that would be very fine,” she said taking the precious jar presented to her.
She was excited to have found something to bring back to Colton other than the news of the sad state of living here.
Before leaving the shop with her parcels in hand, she made sure to buy the gentleman out of peppermint sticks to hand out to all the children before returning home.
As she passed out the candy to the happy and grateful children, she replayed over and over in her head the list of things that would need to be done first to see these people settled right. Of utmost importance would be to discuss matters with Colton tonight over dinner and ensure that a vicar was procured for the estate parish.
When she had woke that morning, she had felt the same despair and loneliness that had prevailed in her heart since arriving. Now she seemed to have found her purpose here at Cumberton Park.