CHAPTER 7

The butterflies that danced in my stomach would not be ignored. Mother would be furious to know I'd not only left the manor on foot, but come in search of a man amongst the streets lined with terraced houses rather than stately manors.

"Miss Hannah," John said, removing his cap as he crossed the road.

I cast a glance at the house across the road. Millie drew back the curtain in one window for a moment and waved.

"I hope you don't mind. With the mills on strike I thought…What I mean to inquire is…" I breathed in slowly. Words Hannah, use your words to make a coherent sentence. "I could use your help…again."

The door opened, and Ma stood there with her shawl wrapped tight around her shoulders. She looked up at me and then at John.

"Johnny, what you keepin' a fine lady like that on the doorstep? Come in, come in. I'll go find some tea."

His mother shuffled back inside, and John raised his hand to usher me before him. It took my eyes a moment to adjust to the dim light inside. The wooden floorboards looked clean as I stepped forward. A rather threadbare rug covered the floor beneath a couple of mismatched wooden chairs.

The light dimmed again inside as the door closed.

"I'll get the kettle, Ma," John said.

I watched as he walked past me and his mother towards the small kitchen at the back of the room. The entire bottom floor appeared smaller than Kitty's servant room. A thin staircase sat against one wall, leading to another level. Everything in the room was made of wood. From the table, to the chairs, to the wooden shelves on the wall. I noticed there wasn't much on the shelves except for some dried flowers.

My shoes made far too much noise as I walked to the table. Placing the basket down on it, my arms were relieved to be rid of the weight. Nearby, John hooked a metal kettle over the small fire before grabbing the poker and adding another log from the pile of four.

"Good boy." His mother reached the closest chair and sat herself down. "My boy Johnny, he's a good one."

"Won't be long. Let me get a chair," John said.

As soon as he said that, I felt guilty. I could easily have gotten it myself. He brought the chair closer to where I stood and I sat down.

"Thank you."

"What brings a lady like you all the way down here?" his mother asked.

"Firstly, and I do hope it's not offensive, but I brought some things as a thank you. John helped retrieve something I'd lost, and I'm very grateful. I felt it deserved more than words."

"Very kind. Not offended at all."

"What did you need help with?" John asked. I turned my attention to him.

"I need to make a trip, but I don't want to go alone and neither do I wish to wait until Mother returns. I'll pay for your time and all expenses." I turned to his mother. "I promise, Mrs Ingham, I won't keep him away for more than a handful of days and I'll ensure that his job isn't at risk at the mill."

"Sounds like good work, John. Especially with the mills gone silent."

"I don't want to leave you on your own."

"If your husband needs the time away from work, I will arrange…"

"Oh child, he passed on five winters back."

I squirmed in the seat. "I'm so sorry."

"You didn't do it. He worked hard, got to a nice old age, really. Not many make it past sixty. John, the water's ready."

I waited for John to pour the hot water into mismatched cups. He placed them gently onto the table before he retrieved a tin: an almost empty tin. Next time, I'd have to include some tea in the basket.

"When did you want to go? To do what you need to?" John asked as he sat.

"I arranged a carriage to come this afternoon. I'm sorry, I know it isn't a lot of notice, but with Mother only in London for a short time, I felt it best to not waste time."

His mother turned to him, the cup in her hand. "Could ask Millie to come stay. We'd be good company for each other for a few days and her ma wouldn't say no."

"Ma, I don't—"

"It's settled then, dear. Johnny will go with you. Better be with the lady than standing outside those gates when no one who matters is paying any attention."

"Thank you, Mrs Ingham."

A smile spread over her face as she sipped on her tea.

****

In my mind, getting John to agree would be the most difficult aspect of my proposal. However, sneaking him into the manor without the housekeeper seeing proved to be another degree of problem solving altogether.

Four times I'd gone back and forth to the servant's door and heard the housekeeper berating Kitty—the young maid who looked after my room and did most of the cleaning of the first floor. All that time, John waited in the shadows of the oak tree just a stone's throw away from the maze.

"Miss?" Kitty's head appeared as the door opened. "Miss Hannah?"

"Is the housekeeper gone?" I asked.

"Yes, Miss. Just me here now. Why?"

"I need your help."

I waved for John to come forward. As he did, I heard the little gasp that escaped from her lips.

"Oh Miss, is that the young gentleman who you—"

"Hush, Kitty. A secret, remember? Besides, Mr Ingham is helping me with a…delivery this afternoon. We need to find some more appropriate clothes for him."

"Yes, Miss." Kitty's fingers played with her apron. "I don't know we have much to fit him. He's taller than your pa and not so round."

John came to a stop beside me.

"Are there any of my uncle's clothes packed somewhere other than in the room?"

"Oh yes, Miss. There be at least two trunks for both of them up in the attic."

"Lead the way before the other staff return."