harm. You heard Charles. Run!’
They needed no
further urging and with skirts held high the girls raced after Edward, not
stopping until they emerged into the sunlight and could see the stile leading
into Frating Park. They scrambled over and Marianne heard her gown tear as she
caught it on a briar but she didn’t pause to examine the damage. She hurried on
following Edward until he stopped in sight of the Hall. They were exhausted and
gasping for breath after the long run. Edward stared anxiously down the path.
‘Where’s
Charles, Edward? Why didn’t he come with us?’ Marianne asked.
‘The dogs will
be a deterrent. Charles will keep them between the men and us as long as he
can. Don’t fret, he’ll follow soon enough, he’s not stupid. The odds are too
great to stay for a fight.’
Here in the
sunshine their flight began to seem an overreaction. Arabella and Emily had
sunk, worn out by their unaccustomed activity, to the grass and were comforting
each other with pats and kisses.
‘Who were those
men, Edward? Why would they wish to do us harm?’ Marianne got no reply.
Edward was
watching the path but he relaxed as the first of the dogs loped into sight. ‘I
beg your pardon, I wasn’t paying attention. What did you say, Marianne?’
‘I asked who
those men were and why they would wish to harm us. We were no threat to them,
surely?’
‘They were
smugglers, didn’t you see the donkey – the animal was loaded with contraband.’
‘Why were they
out in daylight? I thought such men worked at night.’
‘That wood’s not
used by the locals. It’s well known as a smuggler’s route to Thorrington Creek
and so they avoid it. I suppose those men didn’t expect to see us there.’
‘If that’s so
why did you take us there for a picnic?’
Edward flushed.
‘It’s part of Frating Hall. We can go where we please; it’s our land, after
all. And Charles couldn’t have anticipated meeting those villains. I daresay
they pass that way once a month. It was just bad luck all round.’
Before Marianne
could answer, Charles and the other dogs jogged towards them. He waved and
smiled no sign of his previous fear apparent. He joined them and dropped down
to the grass to speak to the girls who were sitting quietly on the grass.
‘That was
unfortunate. I hope those men didn’t scare you unduly. I thought it best to
run, although you were in no real danger. They were as surprised to see us as
we were them.’
‘My dress is
ruined and I’m quite worn out. Please don’t suggest a picnic to me again,
Charles, for I shall not come,’ Lady Arabella replied pettishly.
He smiled and
sprung up. He offered his hand and pulled first Lady Arabella and then Emily,
to their feet. He spoke to Marianne, his face serious.
‘Marianne, I
apologize for ruining your dress and your afternoon. I believe I may have
reacted excessively but it’s always better to err on the side of caution, is it
not?’
‘Yes, it is.’
She grinned. ‘Actually I quite enjoyed the experience. I realize I am not as
faint-hearted as I had supposed, exactly
the opposite, in fact.’
They returned
rather more subdued than when they had set out on the jaunt but they parted on
good terms. Tom had arranged for Lady Arabella’s carriage to be harnessed and this
was standing ready to return her to Bromley Hall. Charles handed her in and
Marianne saw him
speaking urgently to her, his brown
hair almost touching her black.
‘Marianne, I am
going in to change for dinner will be served in less than an hour and tonight
we are to dress.’ Emily giggled as she saw the parlous state of Marianne’s
gown. ‘You will not be able to wear that. I’ll send you something else. I
believe I have a plain, apple-green silk, dinner gown that will suit you. It
has an underskirt of darker stuff, long sleeves and no-frills or bows anywhere.
I never liked it overmuch’
‘It sounds
ideal, thank you Emily, you are too good to me.’ Impulsively Emily
They needed no
further urging and with skirts held high the girls raced after Edward, not
stopping until they emerged into the sunlight and could see the stile leading
into Frating Park. They scrambled over and Marianne heard her gown tear as she
caught it on a briar but she didn’t pause to examine the damage. She hurried on
following Edward until he stopped in sight of the Hall. They were exhausted and
gasping for breath after the long run. Edward stared anxiously down the path.
‘Where’s
Charles, Edward? Why didn’t he come with us?’ Marianne asked.
‘The dogs will
be a deterrent. Charles will keep them between the men and us as long as he
can. Don’t fret, he’ll follow soon enough, he’s not stupid. The odds are too
great to stay for a fight.’
Here in the
sunshine their flight began to seem an overreaction. Arabella and Emily had
sunk, worn out by their unaccustomed activity, to the grass and were comforting
each other with pats and kisses.
‘Who were those
men, Edward? Why would they wish to do us harm?’ Marianne got no reply.
Edward was
watching the path but he relaxed as the first of the dogs loped into sight. ‘I
beg your pardon, I wasn’t paying attention. What did you say, Marianne?’
‘I asked who
those men were and why they would wish to harm us. We were no threat to them,
surely?’
‘They were
smugglers, didn’t you see the donkey – the animal was loaded with contraband.’
‘Why were they
out in daylight? I thought such men worked at night.’
‘That wood’s not
used by the locals. It’s well known as a smuggler’s route to Thorrington Creek
and so they avoid it. I suppose those men didn’t expect to see us there.’
‘If that’s so
why did you take us there for a picnic?’
Edward flushed.
‘It’s part of Frating Hall. We can go where we please; it’s our land, after
all. And Charles couldn’t have anticipated meeting those villains. I daresay
they pass that way once a month. It was just bad luck all round.’
Before Marianne
could answer, Charles and the other dogs jogged towards them. He waved and
smiled no sign of his previous fear apparent. He joined them and dropped down
to the grass to speak to the girls who were sitting quietly on the grass.
‘That was
unfortunate. I hope those men didn’t scare you unduly. I thought it best to
run, although you were in no real danger. They were as surprised to see us as
we were them.’
‘My dress is
ruined and I’m quite worn out. Please don’t suggest a picnic to me again,
Charles, for I shall not come,’ Lady Arabella replied pettishly.
He smiled and
sprung up. He offered his hand and pulled first Lady Arabella and then Emily,
to their feet. He spoke to Marianne, his face serious.
‘Marianne, I
apologize for ruining your dress and your afternoon. I believe I may have
reacted excessively but it’s always better to err on the side of caution, is it
not?’
‘Yes, it is.’
She grinned. ‘Actually I quite enjoyed the experience. I realize I am not as
faint-hearted as I had supposed, exactly
the opposite, in fact.’
They returned
rather more subdued than when they had set out on the jaunt but they parted on
good terms. Tom had arranged for Lady Arabella’s carriage to be harnessed and this
was standing ready to return her to Bromley Hall. Charles handed her in and
Marianne saw him
speaking urgently to her, his brown
hair almost touching her black.
‘Marianne, I am
going in to change for dinner will be served in less than an hour and tonight
we are to dress.’ Emily giggled as she saw the parlous state of Marianne’s
gown. ‘You will not be able to wear that. I’ll send you something else. I
believe I have a plain, apple-green silk, dinner gown that will suit you. It
has an underskirt of darker stuff, long sleeves and no-frills or bows anywhere.
I never liked it overmuch’
‘It sounds
ideal, thank you Emily, you are too good to me.’ Impulsively Emily
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