Lady Louisa wasn’t surprised when the following week she was once again asked to go to the market on foot. At least this time she was not alone, as Bess was at her side.
Lady Hendrickson insisted that Lady Louisa accompany the maid as she made her monthly walk to town to sell butter at the market.
Lady Louisa didn’t mind the task as she rather enjoyed the morning talks with her maid and expected her day trip to be no less enjoyable. Lady Louisa was also looking forward to the chance to have another look at all the stalls on Market Day.
As they walked, Lady Louisa learned how each morning and evening the milk was collected from three cows that permanently resided in the barn. Then Bess, as well as the other maids, would let the cream separate and then turn it into butter.
Each batch of butter was salted, and molded by decorative wooden molds with various flower motifs on top. Once prepared, they were then wrapped in cheesecloth and placed in the root cellar until their designated market day each month.
Mr. Johnson, who was normally somewhat disheveled from his hard labor around the estate, was dressed in his Sunday best that morning as he took the rest of the goods into town in a cart. The butter needed to wait until later in the day when the height of commerce began. In that way, it wouldn’t spoil or melt in the heat of the sun.
“People come from far off villages, m’lady, just for this butter here. In fact, I was even told that the Duke ‘imself has had it on his table since he arrived.”
“May I ask what makes yours unique?” Lady Louisa questioned as they made their slow stroll through the tree covered forest.
“Some say it’s just because it is pretty. Others will tell that it's on account of the feed the cows get. See, we don’t let them graze willy-nilly as most other folks do. The milk can change in taste by what she’s been eating. Our girls get only sweet barley from our very own fields.”
“How interesting,” Lady Louisa said.
She could tell by the way Bess had her chin held high and was also wearing her Sunday best, that this was a production of love and pride. She suspected that Bess was about Miss Mary’s age and showed the signs of her youthful vigor as they trudged along on the path. Even her brown hair seemed to gleam in the light breaking through the trees as if it had its own supply of energy.
Lady Louisa looked up at her own grey blonde hair that was placed so perfectly onto her head with delicate ringlets framing her face. How she wished her own hair glowed and emanated light as did Bess’s.
She couldn’t help but think at that moment, with Bess in her finest and her in a walking dress, it much rather looked like she was the Lady’s Maid and Bess was the Lady. She shook the thought out of her head. It was an awfully silly thing to think that clothes alone could determine one's status from the outside. Bess might be a commoner, but from her looks and high-held head that day, she could have been the Queen of England herself.
“I suspect I will have to sneak a small amount on a biscuit before the day is out to decide if the superior taste agrees with me,” Lady Louisa finally said in a joking manner.
“But, m’lady, you’ve had it all these days with meals. Tis’ the same we serve in the house.”
“I know, but I didn’t realize its importance then and took it for granted. I will have to try it again with this new knowledge, for certainly, that will make a difference.”
Both girls continued such conversation as they made their way through the forest and into the village. Lady Louisa found the trip to be most enjoyable and spent the whole of the day there with Bess.
Much to her surprise, people seemed to flock to their stall as soon as they arrived with their baskets of butter. Some had even been waiting the whole of the morning with one eye on the stall for Bess’ appearance.
It was strange for Lady Louisa to see that just about everyone knew each other by name. Indeed, in London there would be specific markets or even stalls and shops that might be favored, but rarely did a proprietor know the name of every single customer that walked through the door.
This seemed to be the case of this small village. With each client that came to the stall, either Mr. Johnson or Bess spoke a few words with them. Often inquiries were made about family members, and gossip was exchanged.
Lady Louisa enjoyed watching and taking in all the close familiarities. It was unquestionably much friendlier than things back home. She was surprised when the conversation turned to her.
“Lady Louisa?” A voice called and waved at her from the other end of the stall.
It quite startled her since she hadn’t expected to know anyone here.
“Yes, that is me,” she said a bit shyly.
“I thought I recognized you,” the portly older man said, coming to her side. “I dare say you don’t remember me.”
“I do apologize for that,” Lady Louisa said as she searched her memory for any past encounter with this man.
“I am Mr. Henderson, your brother’s solicitor.”
“Oh yes, of course,” Lady Louisa, now having put a name to the face, remembered him.
He had dined with her family on two separate occasions while her brother prepared for his journey to America.
“I never imagined meeting you here,” he said with a jolly laugh.
“Nor I you,” Lady Louisa agreed. “I am here visiting with my mother’s sister.”
“Ah yes, Lady Hendrickson. No relation to me I’m afraid,” he added with a wink and a twitch of his nose. “Though I did know her late husband well.”
“You did?” Lady Louisa said surprised.
“Ah, yes,” Mr. Henderson said, leaning back. “Come and let us have some luncheon together, and I will tell you all about it.”
Louisa had to agree she was beginning to feel quite hungry after the long walk and the days’ efforts. She couldn’t imagine a better companion than this jolly gentleman who might just shed a little more light on her aunt’s situation.
“I would appreciate that very much,” Lady Louisa agreed, coming from behind the stall and taking the solicitor’s arm.
They walked a short distance down the lane and arrived at a rather quaint-looking tavern. Inside, it was just as simple and small as it looked from the outside. Mr. Henderson explained that it was the only establishment without a bar present, thereby making it the only appropriate one. He assured her the tea was always fresh and the biscuits and iced rolls that accompanied it came from the fine bakery next door.
“Have you known my aunt and her family long?” Lady Louisa asked after they were both comfortably seated at a wooden table next to the still cool hearth. Their seats did, however, have the only view out the sole window. Lady Louisa was thankful for the rays of light it allowed in and warmed her with.
“I grew up here, same as Billy,” Mr. Henderson said.
“Billy?”
“Oh, Mr. Hendrickson. In fact, I knew your mother and aunt as well, since they didn’t live too far from this place. In fact, both regularly came to the village on Market Day to see the wares. I think it was also to do a little socializing with us regular folk as well.”
“I had no idea,” Lady Louisa said, leaning forward enthralled with his tale. “I knew my father’s county seat is not far away, but since I myself never spent much time in the country, I had no knowledge of my mother’s childhood in this area.”
“Oh yes. She was a wonderful lady. My parents own some fields on her father’s land. When I showed great marks in school, your grandfather paid for my further education. He was a wonderful man.”
“I unfortunately never met my grandfather, though my mother spoke of him often.”
“Yes, he was a good man. Though,” he added with a shadow coming over his face, “I suspect Lady Hendrickson doesn’t share that sentiment.”
“Yes,” Lady Louisa said, a little embarrassed for her aunt that this man seemed to know her business. “I know she didn’t feel she was justly treated upon his death.”
The man shrugged as if this were common knowledge. Lady Louisa thought back to her morning in the market and then suspected it, in fact, was common knowledge.
“But she married for love, and there must be solace in that happiness,” Lady Louisa said, always looking for the silver lining.
“Perhaps,” Mr. Henderson said, and Lady Louisa guessed he knew how unhappy the relationship had become over time.
“If you wouldn’t mind,” Lady Louisa shifted the topic, “I wonder if you could provide me with some information about my late uncle. I never had a chance to meet him myself, you see. Miss Mary has shared some things, but I fear it is still fresh and painful for the whole household.”
“He was a good friend of mine growing up,” Mr. Henderson said, happy to talk about past memories. “We went to grammar school together. I can’t say he was as good as me,” he added with another teasing wink.
“He was, however, a dashingly handsome man,” the solicitor continued. “All the girls had their eyes on him. It was no surprise that your aunt gravitated to him time and time again. Not only when their father would allow them to the market, but also every Sunday after the parish service.”
“I honestly can’t say I was surprised to hear they eloped. Everyone knew she was promised to the Earl and that she had eyes for Billy,” he continued as he thought back on the memories.
“I suppose we all thought it a win for love and all that.”
“But it wasn’t?” Lady Louisa asked.
“Well, I think at first they were very happy. Even when your mother and father married, it made no matter to your aunt for she had her own happiness. I think over time, however, the magic of new love wears off and your aunt missed the life she had once been accustomed to.”
“I only knew about your grandfather’s decision to remove her from his will because your mother had been kind enough to recommend me as solicitor to your father. It was a very ironic situation.”
“In what way?” Lady Louisa asked.
“Well your aunt married for love and happiness, and in the end, I dare say she didn’t have much of either. Your parents on the other hand, from the outside at least, married for family connections. I don’t know that I ever saw a couple more in love or happier with each other all the way to the end.”
Lady Louisa smiled with glistening tears as she too thought of the happy memories she shared with her parents. They had loved each other dearly. Her father had been such a happy man and always seemed to light every room he entered with his teasing mannerisms.
“There is no use dwelling on the past, though,” he said, wiping his noise with a handkerchief. “Tell me how your brother is finding America.”
Lady Louisa quickly brushed her own tears away and relaxed into a smile at the change of conversation.
“As well as can be. We have only received three letters from him so far. Perhaps Mother has received another since my departure from London. They are both doing very well. The baby is a healthy boy. They only wait now for the child to grow a bit more before they can bring him across the sea.”
“How wonderful,” Mr. Henderson agreed. “I had heard some news in a letter from the Earl that they planned to extend their stay due to his wife’s condition. I am glad it worked out well. I won't be surprised if they decide to stay there forever. Virginia is a beautiful country.”
“You really think they might?” Lady Louisa said, shocked as the idea came to her for the first time since their departure.
It was true that when Colton had first told her of his plans to journey to the property in the Americas, Lady Louisa thought her brother might leave and never return this time. After he acquired his beautiful bride before he left however, Lady Louisa did not doubt that at least Abigail would have the desire to return.
But now that she thought the matter over truly, she considered Abigail’s own free spirit. Perhaps the two of them would love the new land so much they would have no desire to leave. Would she never set eyes on her dear brother or his family again?
“I don’t see why they wouldn’t,” Mr. Henderson said. “It is a fine estate. You must go and visit them some time. Had I not gotten so old so quickly, I would have tried to make a last go at it and stay there permanently myself.”
“What an interesting idea,” Lady Louisa said politely while she inwardly felt herself twist in turmoil.