The Fancy (30 page)

action from her to wake her from it. Sarah kept

thinking about her husband, the man he was,

certainly this could not be his doing? Had he left this

place, these people to travel about leaving them to

fend for themselves? Who was in charge? Who was

responsible in his absence? She began thinking

about al the things Lena had explained to her, about

being a Lord and Lady, and what made them strong,

their name, good, the acts and duties they had to

maintain to be worthy of such a prestigious position.

From what she could see from her coach, someone

had failed those people miserably – the various

cottages, with their thatched roofs, looked poorly

kept, tattered and filthy – she was horrified – what

she saw, was no different from the world she and her

she saw, was no different from the world she and her

mother had left on Clover Leaf plantation.

She turned to her mother, she too was gazing

out of her window, at the people, their homes; and

then turned to her daughter, the look that she gave

Sarah, made her burst into flames of shame. For the

first time, she was furious with her husband, he had

shamed her before her mother!

How could one claim to be a Lady, and yet,

have no pride about the very things that reflected

back on that position; that privilege? The longer she

sat, the angrier she became.

She wanted to strip the clothes from her back

that he’d provided for her, and stand as cold and

naked as the people she viewed in their arrival!

What right did she, he, they, have to don themselves

as they did when people within THEIR vil age, stood

dirty, cold and hungry – with their cottages in need a

severe repair.

Slaves!

Slaves no better off than she had been and she

would be damned to eternal hel before she would

al ow such a thing to exist while they KNEW that she

was the lady there now. She refused to be the owner

of slaves – she refused to step into this new world

and be just like those of the world she’d left – such

horror worked its way over her that she could easily

ignite into flames. They were midway into the vil age

when she suddenly threw the carriage door open

and jumped out.

“MILADY! LADY SARAH – WHAT ARE YOU

DOING?!” El en shouted, shocked by her actions.

The carriage suddenly came to a halt, Quinton

who had been riding up ahead, brought his own

horse to a halt, turning.

What Sarah did not see, was that he was just

as ashamed as she. He had no idea that his estates

were in such dismal condition. He looked at his

brother, whose face was red. Yes, Evan had told

him, when he returned there would be things he

should see about, but he’d never said that it had

gotten so bad.

Just as he fought to swal ow the lump of

embarrassment in his throat, he’d heard his wife’s

name shouted out and turned to see her out of the

coach, standing in the middle of the road, looking at

the people, vil age folk – who stood also shocked at

her actions.

“LADY CAINE!” Quinton’s strong voice shouted

her name in disbelief, yet, she would not turn to him,

would not look his way.

The second carriage that held the servants who

had already gotten to know her, stopped, al those

within, stood outside and on top in rapt awe of her, a

lump in many of their throats.

Her mind on nothing but the people she now

saw, she walked very slowly back the way they’d

come, eyes gazing at everyone as they looked at

her. She couldn’t help herself; tears wel ed up in her

eyes as she searched the bleak eyes of those

around her, looking as if their souls had left them.

One young woman stood, ragged, cold, shivering,

holding a young child of no more than two in her

arms; nothing on either of their heads in the dreary

grey mist. Sarah walked up to her, they were about

the same height, brown eyes looking into dul blue,

her blonde hair hanging lank, dirty and wet.

“LADY SARAH!!!” Her name was shouted from

behind, once from El en, again from her husband,

“SARAH!”

She ignored them, him - and introduced herself

to the speechless young woman as she began

untying the bonnet from her head, “I am, Lady Sarah

Abigail Caine, Countess of WhistHirst…” She lifted

the bonnet from her head and turned it around,

placing it on the young woman’s head, who gasped

in disbelief as Sarah tied it under her chin.

“I am from the new land – I was so afraid, to

come here – but …” She went on, this time, she

untied her cape, removed it with one flowing swirl

untied her cape, removed it with one flowing swirl

and draped it around her and the baby, “I am not,

afraid anymore.” She stroked the speechless

woman’s cheek and stepped back, looking at those

who had slowly started gathering around her. “Now I

see why it was right, that I come here.”

She sighed and began speaking to those that

came closer, “What is your name?” She asked a

woman, who stepped closer and humbly answered,

“Dinah, Milady.”

“From the bible, lovely name.”

“SARAH!” Quinton cal ed out to her once more;

and stil she ignored him walking further away from

him.

“And your name, what is yours?” She asked

from one person to another, walking among them,

asking for introductions, stroking them, smiling –

informing them, “I wil make many trips among you, I

must learn each of your names – and you al shal

remind me.” She smiled and sniffed. A little girl of 7

faced her, cold as wel ; without a thought Sarah

undid her overskirt and it too came off to wrap

around the child whose name was Sarah was too.

She walked among them, talked to them,

asked where they lived, and would they show her.

Her husband was the last person she wanted to see

at that moment. Yes, she knew that he was the head

of her; in fact, the head of them al – and she must

find it in her to forgive him this trespass, but for now,

these people were her first priority. Later, she would

fol ow his commands, but at that moment, she could

care if he never spoke with her again.

He had forced her to come back to this place

with him, and wel – there she was – and she wasn’t

leaving until she met as many of the people as she

could, to know them, touch them, reassure them, this

would not continue to be; and if it did not change,

then she could not remain in such a place – baring

such a name.

To her surprise, she reached the market area,

and Moose was at her hip, as if guarding her from so

many people trying to get close to her; to a few of the

men, he showed his teeth – it was clear to al , the

animal was very protective of her. She clicked her

tongue, with another sound and he began wagging

his tail. Even so, he would not leave her side and it

was because of him, people were no longer so close

right up on her.

There was an open space now, a barrier as it

were, but they stil surrounded her outside of it. They

were excited and eagerly spreading the word about

her, the things she had already done, the crowd was

growing, various ones cal ing out her name, tel ing

her their names, where they lived, what they needed,

how hungry they were – how cold they were. How

terrible things were – and then she met up with

Hayden, he stood next to an older man, who stood

among the others, introducing himself.

“Milady Caine, it is with the greatest honor to

meet you. I am Warner Heathcote, I was once,

steward at the great house, but long since, I’ve been

turned out by Lady Lilith.”

At the mention of her name, the crowd grew

loud and angry, cursing her very existence.

Fearing for his wife, Quinton had no choice but

to cut through the crowd, most al knew him and

slowed his progress to her because of tel ing him as

wel of the terrible things they’d suffered since his

leaving and his father’s death. It had been hard on

them back then, but now, it was ten times worse. He

promised that he would give them a day to come

forward, and most certainly, things would change, but

for now – he was abrupt because he needed to get

to his wife. By the time he reached her, she was

talking with Heathcote – he couldn’t believe his eyes,

“Heathcote? What? What in heaven’s name are you

doing here?”

“Milord Caine,” The old gentlemen nodded his

head to him, “I was just explaining to your Lady that I

was turned out, by your mother; since your leaving,

and-…”

“Turned out? Why? Replaced by whom?”

“She has taken over sir, nothing is as it was.

She now sees to the household I am told, and those

within are in a miserable state, sir.”

“Gather your things; I am hereby immediately

reinstating you to your rightful position, at once! You

wil return with us.”

“Yes, thank you Milord, thank you.”

Turning to Sarah, Quinton, with tight lips, spun

her to face him and noticed that she was

considerably shorter, looking down, she was without

her boots – obviously, some poor soul had been

given them as wel .

Too angry to speak, and as he noticed, she

was likewise; he grabbed her hand to lead her back

to the carriage. She stubbornly, quietly stood her

ground, refusing to budge even though her chin

trembled in fighting to keep her teeth from chattering.

“To the coach, now – Lady Caine.” He spoke

with low control.

“I would sooner walk. This day, has brought me

enough shame, I wil not travel in comfort while al

around me,
your
people, now mine - suffer from

neglect.” She bit out from clenched teeth, just as low.

She then turned from him and made her way

through the crowd, promising those she passed, that

she would return. Quinton marched up behind her,

scooped her high in his arms and growled, daring

her to fight him or speak against him again before

the witnesses.

“It is damp and cold, you’ve shed al that kept

you warm and now, wil fight me - with chattering

teeth and al , where have I seen you last this way?

Hmmm, I would rather that one back than this new

one.”

“That day has ended, this is a new day, you

wanted Lady Sarah Caine? You have her – and you

shal see to the needs of these people or I shal swim

al the way back from whence I came, and be proud

once more to be a common fancy!” She sassed

back, looking him right in the eyes.

“Em, yes… you have changed, indeed you

have, t’would have been nice if-.”

“I can walk!”

“In soaked stockings? Shut up! At once, do you

hear?”

“You have disgraced me!”

“I – disgraced you?”

“How could you leave these people in such an

abysmal state and yet, do what you have for me?

How could you leave them at al , knowing their

needs?”

They were cutting back through the crowds, al

who could hear didn’t mind eaves dropping on the

young couple’s argument, her words bringing a smile

and chuckle here and there. Vonn had Quinton’s

horse and was meeting him with it, “Milord’s horse.”

He stated, standing proud to have known her first.

“Thank you.” Quinton returned with a nod, Sarah

smiled doing the same, however was stil put off by

her husband who unceremoniously sat her up on the

saddle sideways. He removed his cape, wrapping it

around her legs and dirty cold feet, she was freezing;

he removed his coat handing it to her, “Put it on - at

once!”

The people were watching them, and for once

in a long time, felt uplifted and without a doubt, on

her side.

She took it and put it on, it was warm and

wonderful; he pul ed himself on behind her, reaching

forward for his reigns, “We shal finish this

discussion at home, in the warmth and privacy of our

rooms, do you hear?”

“I – want the needs of these people seen to at

once, immediately, or I shal walk al the way back,

bare foot, as you once found me.” She threatened.

He sighed and knew that she meant it. He looked to