Brougham Park

Chapter 14

Mrs Dawson had brought along Samantha and Catherine to accompany her to visit Mrs Bell. Though Samantha and Kitty were initially hesitant to pay a visit to Mrs Bell, the prospect of meeting Richard had managed to outweigh their reluctance. Mrs Bell had lovingly baked a cake for Richard and arranged some freshly picked flowers from her garden for Maria.

Setting off a few hours after breakfast, the trio enjoyed a fine day with the sun casting a warm glow over the fields. Catherine's delight was evident as she listened to the cheerful chirping of birds perched on the trees along the lane that led to Lockwood Village. Mrs. Dawson shielded herself from the sun with her parasol, while Samantha welcomed the sun's gentle caress on her skin.

After walking for about a mile, the trio noticed a figure approaching on horseback from afar. Catherine's imagination quickly jumped to the possibility of the rider being Mr. Harris. However, Mrs Dawson then reminded her youngest daughter that the gentleman was away in London and was not to return until a fortnight. Despite Catherine's curiosity, Samantha seemed unaffected by the presence of an unknown gentleman.

As the horseman drew closer, his eyes were briefly captivated by Samantha's presence, filled with a sense of awe and admiration. However, the ladies, engrossed in their conversation, remained oblivious to this passing glance. He courteously tipped his hat and greeted them with a polite "Good day, ladies." Expressing his confusion about the route to Milton Manor, he inquired if they could guide him.

"Certainly, you're on the correct path. Just continue this way, and you'll soon spot the manor on your right," Mrs. Dawson kindly directed.

The gentleman thanked Mrs. Dawson with a slight bow of his head, and with a nod to the girls, he continued to trot down the road leading to Milton Manor. Mrs. Dawson and Kitty couldn't help but feel a tinge of disappointment that they were not able to inquire further about the intriguing stranger. However, their curiosity was piqued, and they resolved to find out more about him later. They decided to make a stop at Milton Manor after their visit to the Bells.

Samantha, meanwhile, tried to dissuade them from pursuing the matter, cautioning them that it might be intrusive or unnecessary to inquire about a stranger's identity. However, her pleas fell on deaf ears as her mother and sister were too captivated by the mystery of the horseman. Samantha, feeling a sense of discomfort about the whole situation, remained silent throughout their journey to Lockwood Village, walking behind her mother and sister, who were engrossed in a lively discussion about the enigmatic gentleman.

Aunt Penelope was pleased to see her sister and nieces and warmly welcomed them in. After they had settled in the drawing room with some hot chamomile tea, she began to relate the details of Richard's arrival.

Richard had arrived the day before, bringing along with him gifts for his dear family. He was warmly welcomed by his father, who was more than happy to see him again after such a long time. He had brought his sister some lovely fabrics for new gowns, a fine bonnet for his mother and some writing tools for his dear father.

On the day of his cousins' visit, Richard had gone to the village with his father to greet some acquaintances, which explained his absence when Samantha and Kitty arrived. Maria, always delighted to see her favourite cousins, eagerly pulled them into the garden to enjoy each other's company as their mothers continued with their tete-a-tete in the sitting room.

Kitty and Maria began to chat away about everything that had been happening in the village. Kitty eagerly recounted the encounter with the gentleman they had met on their way to the village, sparking Maria's interest. The news of a new face in their quiet corner of the county injected a fresh dose of excitement into her daily routine, breaking the monotony of familiar faces that had surrounded her.