CHAPTER 2

I hadn't expected my night walk to include a swim, but my conscience wouldn't allow her to drown. I'd been lucky enough to be given a second chance and helping others was my way of thanking whoever that was.

She didn't say much as she walked beside me, water dripping from the bottom of her skirt leaving a watery trail behind us. At least it wasn't Lady Catherine otherwise I'd be paying for straying onto the manor's land. The manor belonged to her, and she owned the mill where I worked. She didn't come there often and didn't mingle with us common folk that made her live in such comfort.

Ma would have rebuked me for thinking that, but I couldn't help how I felt. Watching those with money do precious little labour to keep their big homes and servants, while us workers toiled away with long hours, swallowing more cotton than we'd care to admit. Still, at least the mill hadn't suffered the fate of the one owned by Forrester over in Keighley that burnt to the ground, leaving a hundred out of work. A little money could buy a lot more than nothing.

"You won't tell anyone, will you?" she asked. The crickets around us fell silent for a moment before continuing their chorus.

"About the ball?" I asked. Such a thing would be worth a bit, but if she made good on the reward, I'd be grateful for that.

"Not the ball. Yes, the ball." She paused for a moment and took in a deep breath. Her face turned up to the moon long enough for me to see her properly. Her wavy brown hair hung loosely over her shoulders, except for what remained awkwardly captured by the bun. She turned to look at me and I glanced at my feet. "The ball yes, however I was concerned maybe you would tell how you rescued a foolish lady from a pond."

"Would it matter if I did? I don't even know your name."

"And if you knew it, then you would not share?" she asked quietly.

"If you asked me not to. Besides, if I am to fish that ball from the bottom of the lake, knowing who I'm to return it to is something I would need to know."

"Miss Hannah Sheppard."

"Lady Catherine's daughter?" I failed to hide my surprise.

"A burden I bear." She looked at the manor house. Even from that distance, the music reached us. The rich could afford to enjoy their balls. "How much farther is the bridge?"

"Not far."

I started walking again, and she fell into step beside me. At the dance halls in the town, I could hold a conversation with any girl, but one like Miss Hannah left my tongue dry and words few.

"Do you come to the lake often?"

"Not much, sometimes when it's been a long day and I need to clear my head."

"And no one would be worrying for you?"

"My ma keeps an eye on me, but I'm grown. She's hardly going to tell me what time to be home. I know what time I need to rise and what time I need to get to sleep by."

"Do you have any brothers or sisters? I don't. Always wanted some though, but my father passed away the week after I was born and Mother never remarried."

"Guess she wanted to focus on you then," I suggested.

"Perhaps."

The bridge came into view. In truth, calling it a bridge might be a stretch. A couple of fallen branches tied together and secured with rocks on either side. As long as they weren't too wet, it shouldn't be too difficult for her to get over.

"It's over there."

"Oh, it's not quite what I imagined." I expected her to start crossing right away, but instead she turned to me. The way the light fell across her face caused my heart to beat faster. "Do you mind seeing me across? I promise this is the very last thing I'll ask for your help with tonight."

A few more minutes would hardly make a difference to me. I nodded, and I saw a smile form on her lips.

I stepped on to the wood. My own shoes were filled with water and probably would still be damp come morning. Sliding them across the trunk, I steadied myself. I held my hand out for her. Is that allowed? Can I do that? I wasn't sure what was proper.

While my mind debated it, I felt her soft hand in mine and I closed my fingers around it. She stepped up onto the wood and together we took small steps until we reached the other side. I took a long stride off the wood to avoid the rocks near the edge. My hand held hers tightly as I reached to lift her over the rocks. Her feet were at last on the ground.

"Thank you. I'm not sure I would have made it across without stopping for another swim." She glanced towards the manor; the view partly blocked by the high hedge that grew nearby. "I should try to sneak back in before I'm missed."

"I'll look tomorrow, promise," I said. If I managed to find the ball, at least I would have a chance to see her again.

"Thank you." She smiled and nodded. Maybe she felt as strange as I did at that moment. "Best go."

She made it off the bank and to the top of the hill before she turned back.

"You never told me your name."

"John, John Ingham."

"Thank you, John."

She'd turned and ran before I thought of anything to say back. I watched her until she disappeared into the shadows of the manor's walls.

"Time to get home." A frog croaked. Glancing down, I saw the critter sitting on a rock watching me. "Way too many frogs in this lake."

****

As I opened the door, I noticed a candle sitting on the little table with a tinderbox beside it. Ma always left one there when I didn't return by dark. She never lit it, though. Best keep it for when it was needed most. That's what Ma always said, even when I was little . Enough light made it through the windows to see. I knew my way around the small house like the back of my hand. I'd spent most of my childhood with the bruises to prove that walking around in the dark taught lessons.

I stepped past the chairs in the sitting rooms and into the kitchen. A plate of food sat on the table, covered with a cloth. I didn't particularly enjoy cold food, but wasting it wasn't an option either. With the food eaten, I washed the plate in the bucket and left it on the cloth to dry.

Yawning, I made my way upstairs. Tomorrow would be a long day.