Much to Lady Louisa’s dismay, luck didn’t seem to be on her side. Though she did wake to a steaming hot basin of water and a simple but filling breakfast tray, things only seemed to go downhill from there.
Bess, the maid who under normal circumstances resided in the room that was currently Lady Louisa’s, was kind and cheerful enough. She did her job efficiently and was quite skilled in dress and hair. Lady Louisa was sure Bess could best the skill of any lady’s maid in London.
Bess also informed her that any plans of seeing to the needs of the garden were unlikely. The plots of land were normally taken care of by Mr. Hendrickson. His illness had come on three years ago, and as a result, he was unable to keep up with the work. He had suffered three long years in bed before his body could no longer bear it.
Any supplies that Lady Louisa would need in recreating the gardens would first have to be procured in the village.
Lady Louisa, always the one to see the bright side of things, took it as an opportunity to cross off other things on her list as she would spend the morning in town and hopefully have the afternoon to garden.
Sadly, Bess then informed Lady Louisa that such a trip would most likely take the whole of the day. The village was a two-mile walk. Bess offered Lady Louisa to ride in the carriage instead.
Lady Louisa pondered on this for a moment. Her aunt certainly knew how long the distance was. No doubt her aunt and cousins never walked there but rather rode in the carriage. Perhaps this was yet another way for her aunt to single her out.
If Lady Louisa were to take the carriage as offered, then she was sure that night at dinner would be filled with talk on her overly delicate nature.
Unquestionably, the maids and male servants didn’t take a carriage or horse into town, though. If they could walk the distance, she was sure she could manage it too.
She had spent many a season walking the trails in Hyde Park. How much harder could it be to walk a level path to a village?
“Actually, if you would be so kind as to hand me my sunbonnet, I would rather enjoy the walk,” Lady Louisa replied determinedly.
Bess looked at her with surprise through the reflection of the looking glass. She was a sweet enough girl in a rather dull brown muslin dress. For the most part, her conversation had been steady without betraying any emotions - up until this moment.
“I’m afraid, m’lady, that I might not be able to find someone to accompany you to the village.”
“I assumed as much. I will go on my own. It is not dangerous here, is it?”
Bess gave a nervous laugh.
“Of course it isn’t dangerous. I, myself, make the walk on my day off to visit with my mother. I only meant that it might not be…well…”
Bess hesitated to finish her sentence. It was not her place to tell Lady Louisa what was and wasn’t proper to do. Bess seemed to feel her actions too impertinent already as it was.
“I appreciate your concern,” Lady Louisa responded with a sincere heart, “but I am sure I will be just fine on my journey.”
Bess hesitantly gave Lady Louisa easy directions to find her way to the village. Lady Louisa was sure of her own abilities and bravery, though up until this day bravery was not something she would have ever associated with her personality. Her confidence slowly faltered with each step she took on the path.
The country surrounding her aunt’s house and fields resembled more an enchanted forest filled with deep, dark secrets than the leisurely walk in the woods that Bess had described.
Even with the sky blue and clear of clouds when Lady Louisa had left the house, she was now enshrouded by the darkness of high overarching tree branches. She shivered and pulled her shawl closer to her as she trudged down the road.
She was sure these paths were the old bandit trails from the fairy tales she read as a child. At any moment, one would jump out and take all she had. Seriously reconsidering her determination, she was about to turn back when the sound of a horse echoed off the trees.
Lady Louisa moved to the side of the road and looked to the bend ahead, waiting for the rider to appear. From the sound, she was sure it was a single rider with no cart or carriage behind. Perhaps they would stop and inform her how much farther she had to go.
Lady Louisa was sure that if it was not much farther, she would be able to complete the rest of the journey. She was not surprised when a single rider came around the bend, but she was shocked to see his speed.
She took another step back to give the man the whole of the road as his heaving, frothing steed pushed with all its might to reach its maximum ability. In the process of stepping back without looking, however, Lady Louisa stepped on the back of her hem and stumbled to the ground.
Lady Louisa hadn’t expected the rider even to see her at his high speed, but apparently he did. What was worse, he saw her fall. He pulled on the reins, causing the horse to skid on the path and rear up in protest.
The rider must have been quite proficient, for he didn’t lose control, despite the animal’s protest. Instead, he turned the beast around, dismounted, and walked it over to where Lady Louisa had fallen.
“I’m terribly sorry for the fright, miss. I am not used to seeing others on this path.”
Lady Louisa looked up past her sunbonnet at the face of the man before her. He did seem sincere in his words, but the embarrassment was still fresh for her.
“I was under the impression that this was the path that leads to the village. One would think it would be used often enough to encourage caution from riders,” Lady Louisa said as she brushed the leaves and dirt off of her dress.
Looking down, she could see the hem of her rose-colored dress was not only smirched with dirt, but also torn from her misstep on it.
“The village is just down that way and around the bend, however not much else is in that direction,” he said, pointing his leather-gloved hand to the path she had already trodden on.
“Well, my aunt’s house is in fact in that direction,” Lady Louisa said with a small hint of irritation.
“Oh, how wonderful. You must be a neighbor of mine. I’ve only taken residence a month ago at Bassen Park and have yet to meet all those around me. Are you familiar with the estate?”
“I am afraid not,” Lady Louisa said, truly having very little knowledge of anything past the road she now walked on. “I have only arrived myself just a day ago. I was on my way to the village to procure the necessities for a summer garden.”
“How splendid,” he remarked, seeming relieved that she was physically intact as she stood before him and readjusted her bonnet. “So your aunt must work at one of the small houses along the path before Bassen Park. I believe there are only three,” he said, more to himself. “Which one can I send a note to inquire about your health, Miss…”
It wasn’t the first time that Lady Louisa had been assumed to be a commoner. More often than not, it was due to her very plain looks, for surely a member of the ton could not look as uninviting as she did. She also suspected that her being covered in dirt and walking alone further encouraged his first assumption.
Perhaps it was the way that her aunt had spoken to her the night before. It may have been because Lady Louisa felt shame in announcing that she was, in fact, a lady and should have been escorted, but more than likely she was just too embarrassed by her looks to correct the man.
“Bess, it is just Bess. I am staying at Mentheith House, but I pray you don’t inquire. I assure you I am quite well,” Lady Louisa said.
“Well, just Bess,” the gentleman said with a tip of his hat and a twinkle in his clear emerald green eyes, “I am the Duke of Rowland. Please do come and inquire at my estate if you are in any need. I would be happy to oblige.”
Lady Louisa’s mouth opened for just a moment in shock, but she quickly regained her composure. She bowed to the Duke and kept her eyes on the ground. Finally, seeing there was nothing more he could do for the maiden, the Duke of Rowland mounted his stead and returned to his way down the path at a much slower pace.
Lady Louisa, on the other hand, stood there for some time, stunned by her action. Not only had she made a fool of herself, she had also lied to the face of a Duke. What if he sent someone to inquire about her at Lady Hendrickson’s house? How would she explain herself to both the man and her aunt?
Lady Louisa was so lost in her thoughts about those last few moments, and what consequences might result from them, that she hadn’t even realized that she had turned the bend and was now following the path out of the forest and into the open air of the village.
With the return of the sunshine warming her skin, Lady Louisa let her worries melt away. She couldn’t help but feel accomplished as she made her way over the final hills and into the cobbled streets of the village.
Here people were busy with their own lives and didn’t have time to notice or question her. For someone who consistently remained unnoticed most of her life, she rather found it refreshing.
Though it was a country village, it was still much more significant than Lady Louisa had expected. She easily found the central market from the calls of people and animals. Lady Louisa was overjoyed that she had arrived on what seemed to be Market Day.
Lady Louisa spent the late morning and early afternoon slowly perusing the various vendors and wares. As she came to the end of the market, she found a vendor of gardening wares. Mostly it was annual bulbs for ladies to decorate their gardens with, but she did find some good kitchen garden seeds.
The vendor was also kind enough to point her in the direction of an apothecary where she might find her other items. As Lady Louisa made her way in that direction, she thought that she had already learned the basic layout of the village.
She took note of the fabric and notions store just outside the main market. It was here that Lady Louisa was to pick up the parcels for her aunt. Lady Louisa stopped for a moment to examine the fine dresses and hats that adorned the windows.
She decided it must have been quite a skilled seamstress that resided there to make such perfect pleats in the window’s dress. It was undoubtedly something that might rival a store in London.
Though she didn’t want to admit it, a part of her had expected that this county, so far removed from what she had known, would be behind in times and fashion. She was pleasantly surprised to see that up until this moment it was proving to be just as enjoyable as her hometown.
Lady Louisa thought back to the letters that she and the Duchess of Wintercrest had exchanged. Though Lady Louisa had done her best to stay positive for her friend, she was sure that her departure would end in a substandard living. Lady Louisa smiled to herself as she thought of those first few letters she had received. The Duchess hadn’t been too happy with her distant and lonely situation.
Now it had all worked out for her dear friend, and the Duchess rather enjoyed her time in the country surrounded by her family. Lady Louisa had also visited Isabella from time to time. Never having left Wintercrest Manor, Lady Louisa had only assumed that the surrounding towns weren’t adequately modern and that the Duchess had merely made do with her surroundings.
One day in this small country village had already vastly changed her outlook on life outside of London. Up until this time she had never dreamed of living somewhere else and being as happy as she was at home. This country village seemed to present her with many new possibilities.