Northumbria by Karen Blayne

Oh bye the way, red tape first.

Copyrighted Karen Blayne 2014. All copies must be of the complete document.

Be warned these short stories contain mature content or naughty bits and as such may corrupt you if you’re under 12, 16, 18, 21 or 25 depending where you live thus if they are not suitable for you put them back on the shelf and let them age for a year or two.

They were sort of scribbled for fun. They were first posted on asstr.org and they may anything with it. If you’ve paid money for this book just be aware the author has not received any payment. In fact no one has permission to charge money for this book and copyright is retained by the author.

Luv Karen

The Earl of Northumbria sat patiently in his carriage on a cold winter’s day with a travelling rug wrapped round his legs. Outside his staff huddled up on the lee side of the coach against the wind. Sunrise and the ship had docked and soon his son and heir would be back on English soil though the reports he’d had from his servants as they had brought him back from the battlefield weren’t as good as he’d liked. Still with the family’s motto was ‘Avec un bras droit fort’ the family had never shirked a battle yet, so it was in the family tradition his son had gone off to war to deal with this upstart Bonaparte.

Six of them had brought their commissions together in London, Eric was the only one still alive and for that he must be thankful. His batman had fortunately managed to keep him out of the hospitals where two of his colleagues had caught fever and died after the battle. Eric was carried carefully into the well-sprung carriage. A doctor travelling with the wounded had dared to say he shouldn’t be moved. Well he was damned if Eric was going to die in some god forsaken port but it was certain that he wasn’t fit enough to make the week’s journey home to Northumbria. Ashbourne was it, he owned a small manor at Ashbourne they’d travel there immediately and he seemed to recall one of his father’s old flirts lived nearby. The carriage pulled away in the early morning and was soon travelling as smoothly and quickly as his half-frozen coachman wrapped in his waterproofed greatcoat lined with warm serge could manage.

They came slowly up the hill only to be met by a highwayman at the top, “Stand and..” The footman’s musket barked as he fired across the top of the carriage which continued through the cloud of black smoke without a pause. At the next inn they pulled into the yard to change the team. “Quick as you can lads, Northumbria is in a hurry this morning.” cried the coachman. The guard called down for the innkeeper who promptly appeared. “We fired on a highwayman about three miles back at the top of the hill. Send someone to sort out the mess will you and deal with the magistrate?” As the coach pulled away, the innkeeper shook his head and turned to one of the grooms “You’d best go and investigate though I pity the lad who tried to hold up Northumbria. Take the wagon in case there’s enough of a body to scrape up. I have a suspicion we won’t be seeing Jem in the bar anymore.”

At Ashbourne the footman swung down from his perch and hammered on the door. “Open up!” He cried and thrust open the door when it was answered. “Which is the Master’s room?” The maid gawped led the way to the master bedroom. Below Eric was carefully carried in by the Earl’s servants. “Just who do you think you are! And whoever you are you can’t just barge in here!” The housekeeper stepped forth from the rear of the house. “And you can take that wounded man straight out of here as well. This is a respectable house and I’m not looking after any old riff raff.” “Madam I’m Northumbria.” “I don’t care who you are.” Northumbria signalled to his men servants who were coming downstairs “Get this woman out of here I want her off the premises in twenty minutes.” “You can’t do that.” Northumbria nodded and the two hefty servants just picked her up and carried her off.

He entered the bedroom and looked down on his son. “How is he?” “Bad to be honest my lord. I’ve done the best I can but he needs better care than I can give.” His exhausted batman replied. “Give me two more hours and I’ll have someone here.” The batman nodded his agreement. The earl quickly strolled downstairs and back into the coach. “Marsden Hall as fast as you can.” The luxurious travelling coach sped off inside the Earl opened the hamper and had a bite to eat as they travelled across the country side. As the coach pulled up to Marsden Hall the front door swung open and a superior butler stepped down to welcome him. “You are expected my Lord.” He led the way to the formal drawing room and opened the door. “The Earl of Northumbria my lady.” “Bertie my boy how good to see you.” “It’s been some time I admit.” “I was sorry to hear your father died last year.” “Thank you for your condolences but it's to stop my son going the same way that I’m here.” “Eric went off to fight didn’t he?” “Well he’s back I’ve got him at Ashbourne but to tell the truth he looks very ill and he needs a miracle worker to nurse him back to health.” “Which doctor have you tried?” “The last one wanted to bleed him and thought he might last a week or two. I thought he’d lost enough blood already so told him to get out.” “Well Mrs. Hobson at Ashbourne won’t be much help.” “She left shortly after I arrived.” “Your father never had any time for fools either. Still Warin’s grandson deserves the best, now what options does that leave us with? Much as I’d like to I’m not up to caring for him here.” “I’d hoped.” “No you need someone like the vicar’s daughter who knows her way round the still room.” “I’ll be off to the vicarage then.” “No hold your horses, the vicar died and she ended up as governess to some upstarts or other. Southern’s the name.” “And their direction?” “She’ll refuse to leave without working her notice by which time your son will be dead. No leave this to me, go to Holly Farm and have Mabel watch out to pick her up at the gates with the farm wagon in an hour. Take one of the footmen with you to show your coach driver the way.”

“Pa there’s a travelling coach just arrived.” Mabel took off her apron and hung it on a peg behind the door before opening it wide. A footman stepped down “The Earl of Northumbria is looking for a young lady named Mabel.” “I’m Mabel now why don’t you step into the front parlour and you can explain what you’re after my lord.” She spoke directly to the Earl who had stepped out of the coach.

“I’d like you to deliver a Miss Charity Wren to the Ashbourne Manor House.” Mabel’s eyes opened wide “The vicar’s daughter my lord? Why could you not collect her yourself?” “My information is she’ll be at the Southern’s gates in under an hour and I’d like you to collect her.” “Why on earth should I my lord?” “It’s worth the farm’s rent for the year.” Pa had just stepped into the room behind Mabel and gave her a nod “I’ll just hitch up the wagon my lord.” Mabel was no fool and a year’s rent was a year’s rent after all.

At the Southern’s Mrs. Southern was thrown completely off balance when her butler brought her the news that the Dowager Lady Hayward had arrived at her at home. Only Mrs. Frobisher was present to witness her social triumph which was compounded by an invitation to dine the following evening. This was beyond her wildest dreams and her own plans for the evening were dashed to one side as she considered the advantages both to her family and more importantly to her two daughters for whom she had social ambitions. Mrs. Frobisher left reluctantly after her formal fifteen minutes for a visit was up and Lady Howard passed on several on dits to her avid hostess before briefly mentioning how charitable Mrs. Frobisher was employing Miss Wren after the scandal before mentioning “Oh and you must bring your eldest child with you tomorrow.” Within ten minutes after she left, Miss Wren had been ordered from the house immediately and let go without a reference. “I was never so taken in in all my life.” Mrs. Southern complained to her husband later. “But what did she do?” “It matters not, the merest hint of scandal might well affect my darling Emilia’s chances and the chance of a life time she has tomorrow evening.”

Charity was completely baffled never had she expected to be turned off without a reference. Getting another post would be extremely difficult, still first things first, finding a roof over her head tonight was the first thing she had to do as she struggled down the drive with her carpet bag. Once she reached the road she turned towards the village when luckily she espied Mabel driving the farm wagon, at least it was Mabel and not some unknown man. “Looks like you could do with a lift.” Mabel hazarded. Charity nodded, “On you get then.” Mabel thought it better not to say too much. “I’ve one delivery to make before heading home. If need be, we can find you a roof over your head tonight.” Charity smiled at her. “Thank you. I still don’t quite understand what happened.” “Well whatever it was I’m sure it will all turn out for the best.” Said Mabel in her cheerful optimistic voice.

The wagon pulled up at the front door of the manor which surprised Charity and a well dressed gentleman stepped down from the front door. “Miss Wren? I’m Northumbria. Welcome to Ashbourne Manor my son is upstairs and I’d like you to take a look at him.” Bemused she followed him upstairs whilst Mabel set her carpet bag down on the front steps and drove round to the stables. She cast a critical eye over Eric, “From the looks of him he’s been in the wars.” “Just back from the continent. I’d like you to undertake the nursing of him.” “Are you sure you wouldn’t prefer a London doctor?” “Quite sure thank you.” “Well I’ll be honest with you I think he’s going to die.” “That was my thought as well but see what you can do for him.” She turned and stared at him for a moment, “You were expecting me to be turned off weren’t you and you had something to do with it.” Northumbria shrugged his shoulders. “Give me one good reason why I should nurse your son after you’d had me discharged without a reference my lord.” “£100 for nursing him for a year or until he dies, £1,000 if he is still alive in a year’s time, £2,000 if he’s fit and well and smiling. Don’t forget a £1,000 is as much as you’d earn in 40 years of being a governess.” “I don’t have a lot of choice, do I my Lord?” “Right you’ll need money and staff so there’s three years rent roll in the safe, and the steward’s been told you’re in total charge whilst the lad lives. Do your best and I’ll be off. Oh I’ve left you a pair of messenger pigeons in case there is any news so don’t go making a pigeon pie of them.” With that Northumbria strolled out of the room, ten minutes later his carriage was speeding down the drive leaving Charity alone looking down at Eric. “Well my lad looks like the first thing to do is to get you cleaned up.” She walked down to the kitchen where Mabel and the only remaining maid had the kettle on. “Have they gone then?” “Looks like it.” “So what happens next?” “The son and heir is upstairs unconscious and feverish but if I can keep him alive for a year my fortune is made.” “What do we need to do?” “Oh twenty four hour nursing to start, dribble a bit of liquid food in him to stop him starving and dying of thirst. I need to change his dressings and inspect his wounds hopefully we won’t have to amputate anything to keep him alive, the shock would probably kill him anyway. I have the resources of the manor and a pot of money as well.” She looked at Mabel “I can offer you £30 for the year with another £70 bonus if he lives the year out.” Mabel blinked “You’ve just hired your first unqualified nurse.” Mags sat up straighter “Could I be a nurse too?” “Of course, same rate of pay.” “You’d better hire pretty nurses not just sensible ones if you want him to last the year. My uncle came back from the wars got depressed with what he’d seen and hung himself.” Charity and Mabel looked on Mags with respect that was one thing they hadn’t considered. “How many do we need?” “To do it properly two on duty at all times, three shifts a day, each nurse does four shifts a week, about a dozen.” They put their heads together and came up with ten additional names as Charity thought she’d just be on call if anything happened. “Since I’ve got the wagon hitched already I’ll go and collect as many as I can then.” Charity turned to Maggie “And we’d better clean him up and get started. Bring up a kettle of hot water.”

They’d just entered the hall when they heard the door knocker. Charity went to see who it was. Lady Rossington stood at the front door with her impeccably dressed fashionable daughter. “As soon as my Sophie heard about the poor boy she immediately said she must go and help in the sick room.” “Well come upstairs we’re just about to inspect his wounds.” Sophie looked a bit pale at these words but gamely she followed Charity up the stairs. Mags had put the kettle down in the hearth and Charity pulled the sheet down to expose Eric beneath. Then she started to undo the first grubby bandage round his shoulder. “Charity.” Mags warned then held up a bowl to Sophie as she was sick at the sight. “He looks so awful.” Charity guided her out and down the stairs to her mother. “Sophie’s just been sick perhaps you could take her home?” Suggested Charity. “Oh mama he was so pale, I’m sure he’s going to die and the blood was everywhere I may even have got some on my new dress.” Charity saw them out then returned upstairs to find Mags had taken a sponge and was gently washing the exposed flesh. “There some marks that are a bit stubborn.” She remarked. Charity told her not to worry for the moment and they continued their exploration. There was a nasty wound on his leg that didn’t look at all good and whilst Charity examined it carefully Mags slipped out of the room. When she came back, she had a cup full of whisky and she carefully poured some over the first wound. “There that’s better, see it cleans it up ever so nice. I use it sometimes if there’s a stubborn mark and you don’t have to dry it either, it sort of dries itself.” “That’s never the best whisky is it?” “Naw it’s the old stuff, says right on the bottle 20 years old I wouldn’t dare use the new stuff.” “Well whatever it is it seems to have done the trick though I fear old whisky is more valuable than new.” “What really? Smells a bit funny to me, still there’s nowt so queer as folk as they say. I’ll just do his other wounds as well, see brings them up a treat.” “I’ll have to see if I can find some maggots.” “What eat him alive?” “No they can be really good at cleaning up wounds.” Mags had her doubts but kept them to herself after all gentry had their own little ways of doing things.

Mabel had managed to bring back half a dozen would be nurses. Some of the other girls had indicated a willingness but needed a day or two to sort things out. She returned the farm wagon and mentioned to her parents she was needed up at the house for what might be as long as a year as she wolfed down her supper. “Oh and I’d like to borrow Sheba to guard the house.” As far as her father was concerned a year’s rent went a long way. When she returned to the manor, the girls were crowded in the kitchen. “If we can keep him alive for a year then we’ll all be rich.” “Hadn’t we better pray for him?” “We could do but I’d rather do something practical.” “Oh you mean God helps those who help themselves?” “Or cleanliness is next to godliness.” “We’ll keep him clean and nursed and go on from there. We can always include him in our nightly prayers.”

It was late in the evening when the Dowager Countess arrived. “How bad is Warin’s grandson?” Charity shrugged her shoulders “I don’t know if he’ll live or die at the moment, its in god’s hands.” “Yours as well, I’ve brought Ruth and Millicent to assist you. Ruth is a would be lady’s maid whose purpose is to look after you whilst you spend time looking after Eric. Millicent is my seamstress, I thought it might cheer him up to see a pretty girl in a nice dress so Millicent has brought some dress lengths with her. I must apologise for the deceit with Mrs. Southern and if need be I’ll find you a place when the dust has settled. Now is there anything else I can do for you?” “Bar the door against any more visitors?” Charity told her of the visit from Lady Rossington and her daughter. “That’s easy I’ll leave you one of my grooms for the moment but why don’t you write to the Earl and ask for some protection. I’m sure he’ll find you a trusted servant or two.” Charity wrote a request on a scrap of paper and attached it to the pigeon’s leg before launching it into the air and praying it would find its way home.

Emilia wasn’t looking forward to the dinner. She’d her father’s outlook on life and very much thought people should take her as they found her and she really wasn’t that interested in some titled lord who would only be after her money. The Dowager Countess greeted her at the door and quietly approved of her dress, she glanced to one of her other guests who promptly left the group she’d been chatting with and slipping her arm through Emilia’s spoke quietly with eyes twinkling. “I’m Prudence and I’ve been tasked to look after you this evening so first question is what are your tastes, what interests you? We have a variety of penniless aristocracy who are looking for a rich wife, just let me know what level of title you’d prefer and colour of their hair and I’ll arrange the rest, although one or two might not have much hair left. We have one or two officers from the local regiment, more brawn than anything else. We have the local vicar who is looking for a helpmate. I can offer my brother who is only here under duress he’d really much prefer to be dreaming about his canal. I don’t think he’d be an interesting dinner partner though.” “Yes but then I could be amused by quietly observing the rest of the table.” “On your head be it, I’ll just go and rearrange the place labels and collect him. Now I’ll leave you with Drucilla, just ask about her season and she’ll carry on for hours.”

Twenty minutes later after hearing about Drucilla’s every ball in minute detail Emilia was delighted when Prudence returned with her brother. Still, at least someone had spoken to her other than her mother. “Here we are, Andrew had managed to lose himself in the library. Now don’t forget to take her in to dine, seat her comfortably and you are to converse with her during the meal.” Andrew wrinkled his nose, “Do you have an elder sister?” Emilia slipped her arm through his “No just a younger one and I assure you they are equally trying.” As she led him away from his sister. “What are we to talk about I’ve forgotten the list of safe topics my sister tried to drum into me?” “Well we could pretend you’ve offered for me, I’ve accepted and now we can plan how to spend my dowry on a canal?” Andrew looked upon her with respect. “We could couldn’t we and if my sister asks what we spoke of we can pull the wool over her eyes and say your dowry. I say Miss Southern you’re a right one.” “Now are you intending to build one that follows the contours, or simply dredge out an existing river and have you thought about what goods could be profitably carried?” Andrew warmed to his subject and it was only with great difficulty that Emilia managed to convince him to speak to the person on his other side during the meal from time to time. When the ladies withdrew Prudence was impatient to find out what they had been talking about during the meal. “Oh my dowry and other things, he seemed very interested.” Replied Emilia lightly, Prudence sat down in a state of shock. “But I’ve never known him to say more than two words to any girl before. I feel faint.”

Mabel drew the first night shift with Olive. She thought he looked pale and cold so shrugging off her dress she slipped in under the covers and snuggled up to him much at Olive’s embarrassment. “It’s only to keep him warm, he’s unconscious so he’s not likely to give me a slip on the shoulder.” When Charity looked in on them later that night, she was surprised to see Mabel in the bed but had to admit he did look a little more relaxed. It seemed to set the pattern for the rest of the girls. One would slide in besides him whilst the other would talk to him in an attempt to get him to respond.

“But what should I talk to him about?” Rosanna wailed “Well something to interest him to wake him up I suppose. Just talk, the first thing that comes into your head, something to get a response.” Rosanna looked at Eric “I never thought in a million years that I’d be in some earl’s son’s bedroom with him in the bed. I was brought up respectable I was, but if I’m respectable that won’t attract your attention now would it my lord? If I was really daring and wanted to attract your attention the first thing I’d do is lower my neck line like this so you could feast your eyes on my rosy nipples. Of course I’d tweak them first so they were hardened up nicely for you. Billy likes to suckle them and lick them with his tongue and when he does I get all flushed and warm between my legs. He kisses me first then I let him at my breasts. Mind you I don’t let on to Billy just how flustered he’s got me, I sneak off to my room and lie back on the bed and pretend its Billy’s hand on my thighs moving slowly up to my precious bit. I close my eyes and pretend its Billy’s fingers rubbing my nub. Of course it isn’t really. He never knows what to do with his fingers to get me really warmed up. But you’d know being quality an all. Laura told me all about quality, they have a way with words and their soft hands that really warms a girl up. They don’t rush you either, well at least the one who did for Laura didn’t rush her. Laura told me she’d never felt anything like it in her life before. Oh gosh just sitting here and daring to talk to you like this is making me really warm and glowy.” She hiked up her skirts “If you were awake you could see me hiking my skirts up like this and rubbing my nub I bet that would get a reaction.” Julia whispered from the bed “I think he can hear you his funny thing has gone all warm and hard.” Rosanna went a deep flush red and moaned in the chair, Charity dashed in from the next room as Rosanna quickly pulled her skirts down. “Every thing all right in here you two, do you need a hand?” Julia broke into giggles first quickly followed by Rosanna. “No its all right thank you. Rosanna was just trying to get a reaction from his lordship.” Charity gave them both a look and returned to her bed.

There was a knock at the door “Doctor Aveline to see the wounded man.” “He’s not having any visitors at the moment.” “I’m not a visitor I’m a doctor, Lady Rossington mentioned he had need of my services.” “Sorry I can’t admit you.” The Doctor pushed his way in past Mags. “Now then my girl no more of your nonsense.” Mabel came up from the kitchen with Sheba on a lead at her side and took in the scene at a glance. “Speak Sheba.” She whispered to the dog, Sheba barked loudly on command. The doctor looked worried, “I think you’d better leave Sir he’s a big dog and I’m not sure I can hold him back.” Sheba barked again this time straining the leash and the doctor turned and fled through the door. Charity put her head over the bannister. “Everything all right?” “Sheba just saw the doctor off.” “Good girl, an extra plate of stew for her tonight.”

After a week Charity was practically ready to give up. They’d kept him warm when he seemed to cool, opened the window when he seemed too hot. Although she couldn’t have handled him all by herself, she still found it necessary to pop in to his room every hour or two to see how he was. The dashing up and down the back stairs with hot kettles of water or a bowl of broth to be spoon fed practically a drip at a time was taking its toll. He seemed worse if anything, he was far too hot, Charity was afraid that they wouldn’t be able to dribble moisture into him as fast as he was sweating it out but the warmth gave her hope that he was fighting the sickness. Four agonising days later he seemed cooler to the touch, and he seemed to be simply sleeping. Charity collapsed on her bed and slept herself nearly the whole day after releasing another pigeon with news.

Later when she took herself down to the kitchen that she found four very large men. “We’re grooms sent down by his lordship.” Said one as he ate his way through a plate of stew. Another nodded in agreement and kept his head down. “Show her the letter Bert.” Bert went through his pockets and eventually found a sheet of paper folded over with Northumbria’s seal on the back which he handed over to Charity. “We haven’t any horses.” “That’s all right it’ll be a holiday for us.” Nodded a third. “Well since you’re here if you could move a bed down into the library it might save us a few trips upstairs.” “We’ll see to it after our snack. When’s supper?” “We left the pigeon basket outside.”

The next morning they managed to get Eric onto a chair which Bert and Alf carried without pausing down to the library. Still when they had visitors the following day in the shape of Lady Rossington escorted by the squire as justice of the peace, his wife, the Doctor and the village constable, they proved their worth. Bella answered the door to see who it was. “We’ve come to see that poor injured boy, and we’ve brought the doctor with us to administer to him.” “His lordship is not at home.” Bella replied in her best imitation of a superior butler she’d heard use the phrase once or twice. “Of course he is, constable force the door.” Alf and two of the grooms stepped up behind Bella and signalled her to step aside. Bert came round the side of the house with Sheba on a lead. “I wouldn’t even try lad. You'll only get hurt.” Alf spoke quietly but it was obvious to everyone this was no idle threat. Charity slipped round the side of the house and spoke quietly to the Squires’ wife from the side of the carriage away from the door. “The kettle’s on.” The squire’s wife nodded and stepped down from the carriage and together they entered the house via the kitchen door.

They could hear voices from the hall. “Step aside my good man you can’t impede the law.” “You haven’t given me a good reason why you wish to enter. This is the Earl of Northumbria’s property and we’re answerable only to him.” “Come through to the library.” Charity guided her into Eric’s presence. “Eric don’t you even think of raising.” Charity spoke sharply as she saw him put his hand down on the arm rest preparing to lift himself up. “You have a visitor who’ll forgive you for not rising for once, won’t you madam?” “Eric you certainly don’t look fit and well but you seem in a better shape than we were led to expect from Sophie.” “I’m told she threw up when she saw me.” Charity nodded in agreement and offered both a cup of tea and plate of small cakes. Eric managed to eat one cake but then Charity decided he was tiring. “Time for a nap I think, your visitor will forgive you.” As she lent across and rearranged the rug around him. “He tires quickly and recovering slowly but at least he is getting a little stronger all the time.” They left him with his eyes closed and slipped out through the kitchen door.

“Henry its time to leave, so bring your constable along with you.” His wife called from the coach in her wifey voice. Henry turned and stepped into the coach. “But we haven’t gained admittance.” “Well I slipped in the back way with Charity and had tea with Eric.” “He’s all right then?” “Well I wouldn’t go as far as that but he’s alive anyway and yes I do remember seeing him when he came down with his father ten years ago.” “Well why won’t they let the doctor in?” “If it was our son back from the wars who would you trust Charity or Doctor Aveline?” “Charity of course, ah I see nothing more to be said then.”

After his long illness Eric found the slightest exertion exhausted him but Charity knew he had to exercise in order to get back the use of his limbs. Two maids stood either side of him and eased him to his feet. “Just walk towards me.” Implored Charity, “The left foot first.” He shuffled forward leaning heavily on both maids “Now the other one.” He shuffled forward again to Charity’s open arms. “Well done.” She lent in and kissed on the lips as a reward. They forced him to work just a little harder for his reward each day.

Charity looked through her cupboards, they could do with one or two items from the shops and you never know there might be a letter at the receiving office. “Come along you two I’m off to the shops and you can help carry everything back.” “Shops? It’s an hour and a half walk.” “Nonsense two fit young men like you can do it in an hour and twenty minutes if we cut across the fields. It’s a nice fine day for a walk.” “Nice rest down south in the mild weather I was told, pleasant time in the country, nuffin about no shopping trips.” Alf took off his slippers and put on his boots before holding the door open for Charity. “Couldn’t we take a cart?” “Well yes but we only have oxen on the estate so by the time we’d hitched them up and they’d ambled down we’d be two and a half hours.” After a brisk walk following footpaths and sheep tracks they arrived a mere hour and twenty minutes after they had set out. “I’ll leave you pair at the inn shall I or would you prefer to look through the drapers and grocers with me?” “See I told you there would be good points about the countryside.” Bert chipped it brightly. “I’ll have to pay for my beer and it won’t be as good as we get at the Manor.” “Ignore him just collect us when you’re ready to return.” Charity pressed a coin in Bert’s hand “Don’t spend it all at once.” Bert slipped it in his pocket and brought out a few coppers as he ambled to the bar. “Two halves of ale my love if you will.” “Oh the last of the big spenders then.” The barmaid smiled sweetly at him as she passed over the glasses.

The two took their places at the table at the back of the room where a game of dominos was in progress. “New around here then?” “Naw just visiting for me health.” The game continued “Don’t suppose you’d be interested in a pair of farm horses for a guinea would you?” “A bob’s more like it.” Well that’s all he’d get from the hunt’s hounds man plus he’d have to walk them over there. “Done.” “He’s not still trying to get rid of those horses is he?” “Anything wrong with them?” “Nowt wrong with them, his uncle died and left them to him but he’s out of feed to keep them going over winter.” Bert handed over the shilling coin Charity had handed him earlier. “Did someone say something about winter feed?” The landlord queried from behind the counter. “Well we didn’t but I think there we might have a bit of spare hay and such on the estate. Charity would know.”

Charity entered the male dominated bar and the room fell silent. “Ready to walk back you two?” “The landlord was asking if we had any hay or feed?” “There’s a hay rick down by the river but it would be an effort to get it up to the road and through the muddy lane.” “Hay isn’t that heavy if you’ve enough to make it worth my while I could bring the barge upstream with a light load it should clear with the swollen river we’re having at the moment.” “Oh and Bert spent your money all at once, so we can ride home since we now own a pair of farm horses.” “We’ll ride back along the river and I could show you the hay rick. It should fill your barge a time or two.” Charity rode pillion on the back of a very high farm horse behind Bert.

They pushed a way through along the river bank with the barge tagging along behind. “So is your barge profitable?” “In the summer with the harvest there’s lots of traffic but in the winter it’s a bit quieter. What I’m really after is a sand pit I can carry sand and gravel from, there’s lots of demand but not a lot of supply and its steady.” “We have a sand pit for the estate but it’s a bit far from the river.” “I’ll take a look when we arrive.”

The bargee looked at the distance, it wasn’t completely flat and the sand pit was higher than the river. “There’s what they call a wagonway, cheaper than building a road you just lay planks down and run special wagons over them. If you spent the money from the hay on two wagons and some track that would get you started. I can pick some up for you and bring them back as a return load when I came back for the next load of hay?” Charity looked at Bert and Alf, “Do we trust him?” “Well he’s not going anywhere we can’t find him with that barge of his now is he?” “We trust you. I’ll get some estate workers to load up the barge for you.” “If you have any spare feed and perhaps a few rabbits they’ll sell well.” “Good job you brought your pet ferret with you Alf, I spotted some nets in the barn.” That night when Charity looked out over the garden in the moonlight she glanced down and caught a glimpse of what looked like one of the new grooms taking a stealthy walk through the shadows round the gardens.

Charity worried about Eric not having enough to keep busy so falling in a depression. The smartly dressed young ladies helped but even they only distracted him some of the time. He needed an interest, something to occupy his mind. “Now since Eric seems to be recovering slowly, I supposed we’d better fill the stables with a some riding and carriage horses. Perhaps you grooms could go and pick some out at market?” The large men looked at each other in consternation. “Well to tell the truth we’re more of apprentice grooms than anything else.” “Alf here is the most knowledgeable about them.” Alf turned round “Wot me, all I knows is the hay goes in the end that bites you and the” “Yes well we needn’t go into that.” Mabel took pity on them “Well if they don’t mind escorting me round the market I might help them pick out a horse or two. I take it you’re all coming?” Alf shuffled his feet “Well I didn’t sleep too well last night so I’ll let the others go without me today.” “Oh did you enjoy your walk in the gardens last night?” Alf went bright red. “Rumbled were you, see I told you the countryside’s different to the town, no smog to hide in.”

Riding horses would give him something to take an interest in. Then she had a thought. She'd kill two birds with one stone. She had control of the estate and she knew the effects of enclosure had had on the workers. She read about newer methods of farming that increased yields, well if there was more to go round perhaps the worker's lot would improve. She asked the steward to come up to the house at ten the next morning and she had Mabel ask her father to come at the same time as well. She looked through the catalogues she had of farm implements and picked out one or two before the meeting.

“I was admiring some garden ornaments the other day and I found some I liked. I thought if they were painted a pastel colour and had plants arranged on them they’d look quite pretty. Which do you think would look prettiest?” The steward took hold of the catalogues, “These are farm implements not garden ornaments.” “I saw them sitting by the side of the road with plants growing through and thought they looked rather pretty so I determined to have some to brighten the garden up and aid Eric’s recovery. I’m sure Northumbria left me in charge of the estate.” She added innocently. The steward sank his head in his hands. “Well if you’re set on getting some this new plough looks interesting, I won’t mind borrowing it for my fields.” The steward looked up “That one’s designed to be pulled by horses and we only have oxen on the estate. We use oxen not horses at least you can eat them, horses take up too much fodder over winter.” “Well that’s as maybe but there were two farm horses in the stables last time I looked.” Added Mabel brightly. The steward sank his head in his hands once more. “What’s the difference between oxen and horses then?” asked Eric. “You need more oxen for a team and they work more slowly but its only one animal to feed over winter as you can eat them.” Mabel’s dad and Eric between them settled on which farm implements would be most useful since Charity was determined to buy some anyway.

“Eric know anything about wagonways?” “I’ve seen one or two.” “Oh good then you know more than I do. We had one delivered this morning.” Eric blinked “I didn’t know we had a coal mine.” “Oh it's only a little one to carry sand from the sand pit to the canal.” His face lit up like a small boy’s would with a new toy to play with. “We ought to go and inspect it.” They rode the two farm horses to the river where the bargee was unloading several wooden tubs on wheels. “They run on these wooden tracks so are easier to pull.” “And the advantage of the canal?” “One horse can tow a wagon carrying maybe two or three tons but thirty tons on the canal.” “But what happens when the river falls back in summer?” “Well to do the job properly you’d need a weir to control the river level and a lock to let the barges run through.” “How far could you navigate with a weir then?” “Maybe ten miles upriver?” “We’ll do it.” “There’s an old quarry about two miles upriver that’s a half mile from the river you might like to buy before doing anything since it's only been accessible by pack horses up until now.” “You mean before the price goes up.” Charity smiled sweetly at him. “If I was to order the steward to buy it we’d probably get a better price since the steward would think it's just a female whim.” “When we get back I’ll let you talk to him.”

“Dobson, I do so fancy a rockery in the garden so could you buy me Sanderson’s old quarry so we have a suitable supply of rocks. Perhaps you could you offer them forty pounds?” She smiled sweetly at him and went off to plant a few more seedlings. Dobsons scratched his head then shrugged his shoulders and went off to see the owner. “What, she wants to buy the full quarry?” “Wants some rocks for the garden.” “Has she seen it or knows how inaccessible it is?” “Well she’s lived round here all her life so yes she’ll know what’s she’s buying but there again do women know anything about business or anything?” “Perhaps you misunderstood her and she just wants a few rocks?” “Well thirty pounds in hard cash I’m authorised to pay for it.” “That’s a lot of money. Still, make it thirty-five and you’ve a deal.”

In the autumn Northumbria returned but wanting to know more of how the land lay he called upon the Dowager first. “Well the entire county has been fascinated by all manner of things. Fertilizers, new ploughs, seed drills, the ploughing up of good winter pasture land and the sowing of wheat, barley in place of rye and of course the canal. Different crops such as clover, and turnips and the money that’s been wasted on tenants cottages and such. Still you’ll see for yourself no doubt when you get there.” “What manner of staff has been hired?” “Well she did a good job there, pretty girls with sense to nurse your son. Expensive mind you the on dit is she promised them a hundred pounds each if he lasted the year. That’s had the county talking as well, a dozen pretty girls not available to be courted has meant some of the plainer girls have seized their chance and of course a dozen pretty girls with a dowry isn’t to be sniffed at either. I blame a lot of the estate changes on Hesper. She’s also the second of four sisters so there will be pressure on her to marry quickly. In general the harvest was down this year so the county is waiting to see how the manor got on.”

The next morning he journeyed over to the manor and sat down with his steward in the estate office to find out what had been happening. “I told her you wouldn’t like it my lord but you did say she had full control of the manor.” He sat there ringing his hands. “Tell me the worse.” “Well we’ve ploughed up much of the pasture we normally use to get the cattle and sheep over winter. We’ve brought a pair of horses so they’ll need fodder over winter. Rents are down this year, she threw the Wattersons off their farm when they were a bit slow paying their rent. There weren’t any interested tenants immediately so she ran the farm herself. So no rent there this year, and of course you let the Wingraves off as well and the money we’ve spent on the farm equipment and the cottages, glass in the windows if you please and two new stoves. Not to mention the wagons she’s brought and the quarry for the garden. None of the seeds we collected last year were good enough so she spent God knows what at the seed merchants.” Quarry? Why on earth would she want to buy a quarry, still she’d managed to help Eric survive so he’d wait and see. “Let’s see the books then.”

He sat down and read through them, yes they had spent money on new ploughs and drill seeds etc. but that could be written off over time. “I see here we’ve sold a lot of our crops this year.” “Well we didn’t have anywhere to store it.” “What about the barns?” “They’re full and there just wasn’t any room left.” “We sold fewer cattle but we seem to have got a good price.” “They were heavier, some new breed or other she brought in.” Well on paper they seemed to have had a better harvest than he’d expected, you could almost say a record one. He stepped out of the estate office. He'd talk to someone else first before seeing his son. “Find me Hesper.” A tall girl came forward and gave him a curtsey. “Come with me for a walk outside.” Once they were outside, he asked “How do you intend to keep the cattle over winter with the winter pasture reduced?” “Turnips and clover my Lord.” “Turnips?” “They’re a root crop that cattle like and can be used for winter feed my lord.” He led the way to the stables and had a gig brought out. He had Hesper show him over the estate and point out the changes. She admitted some crops had done better than they thought they might do and some not quite as well. He was intrigued by a canal barge that was moored by the river and by the block and tackle on the river bank. “We’ve been selling off your estate my lord.” Hesper grinned. “Charity had them dredge out the river so the barges could get up this far. Then with the cheaper transport costs we sold our produce for a better price to the nearby towns. The bargee mentioned they were after sand and such for building so we have wagon way that comes from the sand pit and the block and tackle is used to tip the wagons onto the barge. We sell the sand all the year round so it’s a steady stream of income for the estate besides Eric took an interest in the mechanical side of things, he designed the block and tackle I think its called and insisted on filling the ditches under the wagonway and levelling off the tops of some of the small hillocks. Charity thought it was a better idea than reflecting on the war.” “And the quarry was nothing to do with the garden was it?” “No in order to keep the water level up in summer so the barges can get upriver, we’re building a weir and a lock is it, something to lift the barges up from one level to another? Anyway it needed lots of stone so we brought the quarry. It has its own wagonway to carry rocks to the river but it’s a bit inaccessible unless you are on foot or horse back. They used to use pack horses to carry the stone away.” He shook his head in amazement then turned his attention to the fences which were in better repair than the last visit he’d made. He’d sleep on what he’d seen.

He dined with his son in the formal dining room that evening. He was pleased to see his son looking physically recovered but he felt there was something was troubling him. Northumbria was a man of few words and he knew one of his strengths wasn’t drawing people out so he said little and ate the well-cooked meal in front of him. Afterwards he read a little in the drawing room and enjoyed the comfortable way the room was arranged then thought of his rather Spartan existence at his main estate. His son retired early and after drinking the last of his port he stood up and walked to the stairs. “Hesper my dear I forgot to bring my book with me could you bring it up for me.” She came up the stairs and entered his room. “If you could just put it on the bed side table.” Hesper did as she was bid, he wondered how much he could tease her. “Now take your dress off and warm my bed.” Hesper’s eyes opened wide and she hesitated for barely a moment before her training cut in and she found she had already slipped out of her dress in response to his command. Northumbria stepped into his dressing room and changed into his night shirt before returning to the bed and pulling back the cover slid into bed. He turned and kissed Hesper lightly on the lips intending to shoo her out of his warmed bed but Hesper had other ideas and opened her lips wider and slipped her hand round the back of his neck pulling him down to prolong the kiss. He was glad it was all over and his son had recovered. To hell with it, it was time to relax and it had been a long long time since he’d had a woman. This girl thought she’d show him how to kiss, he’d show her how her body worked.

Next morning with a gasp at the time Hesper blurted out “I’m supposed to be on duty in the breakfast room my lord.” As she scrambled into her dress and scurried out the door.

Northumbria entered the breakfast room to find both Eric and Charity present. He addressed Charity “Please take seat and have some breakfast my dear.” He ate his breakfast and sipped his coffee. “Well son what are you going to do about Miss Wren? I think you’ve compromised her throughly don’t you?” “I’d offer to marry her but I thought you wanted me to do the season and choose a heiress with a good dowry.” “To gain you an extra income of £20,000 a year she’d need to have £500,000 in the funds, now from what I’ve seen if Miss Wren here was to transform the other estates as she has this one that would give you a £20,000 a year. Times are changing no longer will it be enough to rule with a strong right hand. Your son will need brains as well so a brainless heiress will do him no favours. Besides which Miss Wren comes with a dowry of £2,000 which is quite respectable.” “I’d better get down to the vicar and get him to read the banns.” “I think you’ve made a small mistake about my dowry my lord, I suspect it will only be a mere £100 not £2,000.” Eric looked up “Am I missing something?” “No I don’t think so, you have to live for a year before I receive my £2,000.” Eric looked even more puzzled. “We never did have talk about young ladies and their expectations did we?” Eric looked even more puzzled. “You’re assuming she’ll want to be married to you.” “I’m sure she does.” “Have you asked her? She might not kill you then.” A gleam of understanding entered Eric’s eye and he grinned “Oh is that what all the fuss is about. Well I’ve been carrying a ring around in my pocket for heaven knows how long I just couldn’t quite find the courage to ask in case she refused and then where would we be. So will you marry me my love?”

Charity cocked her head to one side and grinned “I suppose with my reputation ruined it’s the best offer I’ll get.” “But will you have him?” “I suppose so.” She lent in to give him a kiss on the lips. “Whilst you’re down at the vicarage get him to call the banns for me and Hesper.” Hesper looked up surprised at this. “But dad aren’t you suppose to ask the lady first?” Northumbria lent across and gathered Hesper in his arm. “Just get the banns read and I’ll persuade Hesper in my own way to marry me.” “He’s not teasing or bullying you is he Hesper?” Asked Charity. Hesper wrinkled her nose “Well at my great age you have to take what’s offered.” Moving rapidly away from his lordship, Northumbria scooted after her and catching her tapped her lightly on the bottom before kissing her on the lips. “Do you mind sharing your wedding day Charity? I might be able to put him off a little but at his age its probably as well to get it done quickly.”