Josephine's Lists

Chapter 29- Carriage Convo

Three carriages ambled up the wide road leading away from London, traveling north toward the Yorke family home. The group's journey served a duel purpose. Josephine's father was finally home and had summoned his daughter's return. Aside from Mr. Yorke's request, there was to be a celebratory dinner in honor of Miss Whitmore and Sir Cartwright's upcoming nuptials. For those two reasons, Josephine found herself returning home after a minimal stay on High Street.

Taking lead of the procession were Grimsby and Cartwright occupying a single coach. Relishing the space, both men stretched out long legs, opting for comfort over class.

The second carried Miss Isabella Tennyson and a sleeping Miss Chilcott, snuggled beneath Josephine's hand-sewn blanket. How her Aunt could find restful slumber with all the jostling of a bumpy road was beyond Isabella's comprehension. She felt anything but restful. Isabella hadn't planned on traveling. She hated being trapped inside a carriage for any length of time. Although the trip was unexpected, she had been thrilled over the latest developments between Josephine and her ornery brother. He had been unbearable as of late, and Isabella had been biting her tongue until he came back to his senses. Back to Miss Yorke. Tennyson had stressed and fussed over telling his sister, knowing the effect his actions could have upon her future. She had promised complete comprehension of the repercussions to her situation, and yet had given joyful approval, helping to soothe her brother's guilt-ridden heart.

The rear coach, although the largest, was the most cramped. Miss Yorke and Lady Cavender sat across from Lord Cavender and Mr. Tennyson.

Tennyson could have ridden in his plush, well-sprung coach alongside his sister and Aunt, but his desire to be close to Josephine defeated his need for comfort. In fact, he savored the cramped quarters and each violent shake. Holding his breath for the next time her knee might brush against his.

Josephine spent most of the ride sharing secret smiles with the man across the seat. However, she couldn't help but peer beside her every now and again. Lady Cavender donned a distracting fox fur wrap. Head still intact. And not a demure sleeping fox. The creature was snarling. Frozen forever in a moment of rage. Clearly, Lady Cavender's idea of a joke. Several times Josephine had caught Tennyson eyeing the garment warily. Then they had shared a knowing grin. But eventually the fur wrap was too much. It had become the elephant in the room, or you could say the fox in the carriage. It needed to be addressed.

"Pardon my candor Lady Cavender, but your shawl is quite terrifying," Josephine had the decency to look remorseful. "Where on earth did you purchase such a thing? His expression is positively vicious."

Tennyson hid his smirk behind a propped up hand. He had wondered the very same thing, but hadn't the audacity to ask. He was, after all, a guest in The Cavender's coach. Obviously, Josephine had no such qualms.

"Is it not just the ghastliest thing?!" Lady Cavender enthused, pride shining. "I forced my husband to purchase it. We were perusing a little seaside village, and I took one look at that snarling face and fell in love! I plan to scare many a person."

Lord Cavender offered up his own morsel of information, "But it is not a he, Miss Yorke. If you notice the snout, it is quite shorter than a males of the species would be. This here is a vixen. Vixen being, of course, the name for a female fox."

"Of course it would be a girl," Tennyson chimed in, humor evident. "Only a female could look so ferocious." That sent everyone into laughter.

Talk of shawls aside, the carriages slowed signaling a brief respit. Lord and Lady Cavender quickly exited, anxious to stretch their aching limbs. Josephine moved to follow when a folded piece of parchment fell from its hiding place beneath her glove. She tried to recover the fallen piece, but was no match for Tennyson's stealth.