The petticoat brushing her legs wasn’t a new sensation – after all, she and Morgan had been dressed up for the promenade – but wearing stays and the contrivance of fabric, which stood in for underwear, was an entirely new sensation. Her feet felt pinched too, in the shoes lent to her by Cassandra, whose foot size was closer to Rose’s than Jane’s, but the cut of the leather was entirely more slender than she was used to.
She looked around. Jane and Cassandra had urged her to take some air whilst they dealt with a few household chores and, despite her implication Rose would be required in the bake-house later that morning, Mrs Austen had left them to their own devices and gone to lie on a chaise in the drawing room.
Anticipating Aiden’s arrival, Rose hugged her arms to herself as she walked on, making her way past a large water trough and on through the orchard. Far off to the right was a large patch of ground filled with wildflowers, a stile in the wall separating the cottage’s garden from a meadow. There was also another herb garden which sent out delicious smells as Rose passed, her hand trailing against the strands of basil and thyme, and she reached out and plucked an apple from an obliging branch, taking a grateful bite.
She looked around guiltily; was this acceptable behaviour? Despite her knowledge of the era, there were still many things she’d never even considered about the etiquette of this time. The apple tasted good, though, and she was starving!
Walking on, she could soon turn around and only see the cottage’s roof and chimneys above the trees. She could hear the clip clop of hooves again, and then the wheels of a cart on the dirt road running alongside this part of the garden, and as she neared the back wall, she heard a child’s voice singing.
Smiling, Rose leaned on the wall. The house beyond had a large garden, not dissimilar in its make-up, being largely vegetables, fruit canes, a few flower borders and a small cluster of trees. There were several small outbuildings, along with a large shed, which looked like it had been patched together several times over.
‘A bit like the Weasleys’ Burrow,’ Rose mused, her smile widening. It was as she was leaning on the wall, lost in thought, that the shed door opened and a man emerged. He was tall with an unruly head of hair, probably in his fifties, and he shaded his eyes as he scanned the garden.
‘Anne. Come along; it is time for your lesson.’
Looking over to where his gaze had fallen, Rose saw a young girl of about eight or nine rise from where she had been sitting beneath a tree near the wall.
‘Coming, Papa!’ She dusted down her apron, tucked her book under her arm and turned to join the path, taking her father’s hand as they met at the corner of the house and skipping along beside him.
‘Rose.’
Rose spun around. Aiden was walking towards her, wearing a different coat and waistcoat and a cautious expression on his face; Rose found him completely adorable.
Dropping a quick curtsey, a smile tugged at her lips. ‘Dr Trevellyan.’
Aiden’s mouth twitched, and he bowed slightly. ‘Miss Wallace.’
Rose’s smile widened, and she stepped forward but stopped abruptly a few feet from him and whispered, ‘How are you? How’s the house? Did you sleep?’ She drew in a short breath. ‘My bed felt really weird; the mattress was sort of lumpy.’
Aiden took a quick look behind him and responded in the same quiet tone: ‘Didn’t sleep a wink – too busy trying to commit every detail to memory. Can I take notes? You know, write something down to take back with me?’
‘If you use ink and paper from this time, it will travel forward. I’ve seen the proof of it.’
‘This is incredible!’ He took a step forward and grabbed both her hands. ‘Rose, the church – it’s the original structure, before the fire.’
Recalling her impromptu lunch with Aiden – was it only two days ago? – in Chawton churchyard brought Rose a pang of homesickness.
‘Of course!’ Rose smiled at his enthusiasm. ‘Your dig to try and locate the original footprint of the church.’
Aiden nodded. ‘The building’s not in great shape, to be honest.’ Then, he smiled widely. ‘I saw the outline when we arrived last night and went out as soon as I could this morning and just stared at it. It’s obvious why we couldn’t find that footprint at the dig – it looks almost the same as the rebuilt church. I want to make detailed sketches.’ He paused, a frown on his brow for a moment. ‘I don’t have a measuring tape but I suppose my feet haven’t changed dimension; it will have to do.’
Rose couldn’t help but smile. His enthusiasm was infectious. ‘I hadn’t even considered the church – how exciting. The ladies are bound to have a tape measure.’
‘And you?’ Aiden sobered, squeezing her hands. ‘Any word yet on why Jane wanted you to come here? Not that I’m complaining.’
‘No, I’ve just had the most bitter hot chocolate of my life, and Jane is busy tidying away the breakfast things. Somehow, no matter how much I knew they didn’t have many servants here, I hadn’t imagined the chores the women might have to do as well. Which, by the way, I’m apparently expected to do too.’
‘Well, I’m here for you if there’s anything I can help with. I don’t know how much longer we’re going to be here, but I’d love a good hour or two down at the church before we leave.’
Rose smiled. ‘Understood, Doctor. Oh, would you be a doctor here? Or will that just encourage people to ask you about their physical ailments?’
‘Doesn’t bear thinking about. Perhaps we drop it for now. Hey.’ He stepped closer. ‘Are you okay? You look unsettled all of a sudden.’
Rose shook her head. ‘Not especially.’ Then, she laughed, and gestured around them with her hand. ‘Although there’s probably a lot I should be unsettled about. It’s just my instinct was to reach for my phone and jump on Google to find the answer.’
Aiden held her gaze, smiling faintly. Were they getting closer to each other? Rose could swear there was some leaning going on. His eyes dropped to her mouth, and she closed her eyes in anticipation, only for them to fly open at a loud crash behind them, and they both turned to see Jane bending down to pick up an empty water pail, its contents having trickled away into the border.
‘Did you just…?’ Rose gestured at the bucket, and Jane shook her head at them both.
‘You must heed my warning and exercise more caution.’ Jane’s voice was firm, but her eyes were sparkling. ‘Had I been Mama, you would have found the pail’s contents upon your heads.’
They obediently stepped back, and Aiden eyed Jane and her bucket with some amusement. ‘I don’t think I was ever so well chaperoned even as a child.’
Rose laughed. ‘Well, you just take note, Dr – I mean, Mr Trevellyan – I will not have my family’s honour brought into question.’
Aiden clipped his boots together. ‘Of course, Miss Wallace. I would not dream of it.’
Jane tsked. ‘’Tis an improvement, but you must comprehend how little I wish to draw undue attention to yourselves.’
Rose exchanged a small smile with Aiden. It was highly amusing to be chastised by a bristling Jane Austen.
‘Did my brother not accompany you, sir?’ Jane addressed Aiden as they all turned their steps back towards the house.
‘I left Captain Austen at the great house. Mr Knight expects a call from you this morning. He seemed keen for your arrival, so I offered to come and fetch you.’
Rose frowned. ‘Your brother, Edward, is here too?’
‘Yes.’ Jane waved a hand in the general direction of Chawton House. ‘There are extensive renovations taking place at Godmersham.’ She must have seen Aiden’s puzzled expression, for she added, ‘His Kent estate and main residence.’
Aiden nodded. ‘I must admit, I’m a bit vague on the Knight connection.’
‘I shall explain as we walk. Let us go directly, for the hour is convenient.’ Jane turned to Rose. ‘Cassandra has promised to sit with Mama for a time, thus we are at leisure.’
‘Is your mother well, Jane? She
went to lie down…’
Jane pursed her lips as she led the way back to the house. ‘We are familiar with her ailments; they never occur but for her own convenience.’
* * *
It took over half an hour to dress in the necessary garments for paying a call, and with Aiden paying his respects to Mrs Austen and Jane still upstairs, Rose stood by the door to the street – a door which she was told was in full use, even though it was never used in the present day – whilst fidgeting with the bonnet pressed upon her. It just didn’t feel right on top of her piled-up hair.
‘Come, Miss Wallace. Permit me to share a contrivance which may assist you.’
Cassandra had come into the room, and she removed the bonnet from Rose’s head and replaced it with a fine muslin cap, tucking Rose’s unruly curls neatly in.
‘There.’ She replaced the bonnet, fixing it with a pin, and turned Rose to look in the mirror.
‘Thank you.’ Rose smiled at Cassandra’s reflection. ‘Much better.’ She turned her head from side to side. ‘Jane says you are not coming with us?’
‘It is best you have some time with my sister. There is a conversation to be had…’ Her voice tailed away, and Rose turned around to face her with a smile.
‘Should I be worried?’
To Rose’s consternation, Cassandra didn’t return the smile, her face becoming wary. ‘It is not for me to speak of it. Jane will enlighten you in due course.’
Feeling a return of her earlier trepidation, Rose nodded, and Cassandra opened the door.
‘It is a fine day; I will hurry the others to join you.’
Sensing herself dismissed, Rose stepped out into the street outside the cottage, noting the open porch, then stopping short with a gasp as two men on horseback galloped past, dust rising in their wake. The road was much closer than she was used to seeing, with no swathe of grass separating it from the cottage, and she waited for a farmhand to pass with his horse and cart before stepping cautiously down onto the road and crossing over.
Rose walked into the orchard where the car park used to be – where in more than 200 years’ time, Aiden’s car would be parked – and, skirting the area containing bee hives, strolled under the trees for a while. Her confusion over why Jane had brought her back was intensifying with the length of her avoidance of the subject. It was obvious she didn’t find it an easy matter to raise, but what on earth could have arisen for her to take such drastic action and then be reluctant to tell Rose why?
She was pulled from the repetitive circle of her thoughts by a sudden cry, and following the sound, she came to a stile over into a neighbouring field.
Chapter 3
‘Ow! Fiendish beast!’
Turning to her left, Rose noticed the young girl she had seen earlier. She appeared to have fallen and was extricating herself from a bed of nettles beside a small stream.
‘Oh, let me help you!’ Rose clambered over the stile as best her skirts would allow, and the girl looked up, startled, then smiled.
‘I am quite well, ma’am. I chased the ball, but found myself unable to cease my pursuit before taking a tumble.’ She got to her feet, pushing her blond curls over her shoulder as she rubbed the skin on her arm, exposed by her having only short sleeves to her cotton dress.
‘We need some dock leaves.’ Rose turned to look around, but the girl shook her head.
‘There are none hereabouts. Papa has an elderberry tincture that will suffice.’
‘You have been stung before then?’
The girl eyed Rose with curiosity. ‘I do not know you. You are not from the village.’ She performed an awkward curtsey. ‘My name is Anne.’
Unsure of the etiquette, and not sure if she ought to say anything about who she was, Rose returned the curtsey, adding, ‘And mine is Rose.’
‘Rose – ’tis a pretty name.’
Not wishing to elaborate, Rose looked around, spotting the ball nestled in amongst the nettles. For the first time she was able to appreciate the benefit of wearing leather gloves when it wasn’t remotely cold. She stepped forward and leaned in to retrieve it, handing it back to the young girl, who thanked her prettily.
‘Anne! What are you doing?’
They both glanced across the field. A tall, slender girl with flowing auburn hair was standing some paces away, frowning from Rose to Anne.
‘I took a tumble, Olivia. This lady helped me.’
The frown disappeared, and the older girl smiled. ‘How fortuitous you were there to assist, ma’am. Come, Anne. We are to walk to Farringdon.’ She held out a hand and, with a quick smile towards Rose, Anne tucked the ball under her arm and skipped across a small wooden bridge to take the hand of the other girl – her sister, perhaps?
Rose turned back, taking the stile with a little more elegance the second time, and walked through the orchard just in time to see Aiden and Jane emerge from the house. She paused on the side of the road, shaking her head in bemusement. It was all so very different. Not just the cottage’s appearance, but the proximity to the road as it swept around the corner on its way to Winchester, the duck pond opposite – so much larger than she’d imagined – and the building that housed the future cafe not even in existence.
Rose glanced at Aiden as they joined her and turned their steps towards Chawton House. His expression was inscrutable and she bit her lip. He must be rueing the day he’d ever met Rose, and—
‘We are fortuitous in having the use of this land.’ Jane waved her hand at the future car park as they walked on. ‘We are most fortunate in our home, for we are kept admirably supplied with fruit and vegetables, and eggs, of course, from the chickens, and also have access to the kitchen gardens at the great house.’
‘Are the beehives yours as well?’ Rose pointed towards the wooden structures nestled beneath one of the trees.
‘Indeed; Cass tends them. She makes the most delicious honey. You must sample some when we break our fast on the morrow, Rose.’
Rose’s step faltered, and the others slowed to keep pace with her. ‘But Jane, won’t we have gone home before then?’
‘It depends.’
‘On what?’
‘One moment.’ Jane crossed the road and addressed a man busy repairing a wooden gate at one of the cottages – cottages that still stood in the present day – and Rose turned urgently to Aiden.
‘You look…’ She hesitated as he turned to face her. ‘Preoccupied? Was it Mrs Austen?’
Aiden let out a huff of breath; then, he smiled reluctantly. ‘She is quite the interrogator. I think I acquitted myself well enough – being a history nerd has its uses – but I was thankful the meeting was short.’ He held Rose’s gaze for a moment. ‘Is it me, or is your friend avoiding telling you why you are here?’
Jane re-joined them then. ‘Mr Gold has done much to our cottage to improve it. You may see him later as he is to—’
‘Miss Austen.’
Jane glanced at Aiden, a brow raised.
‘It depends, I believe you said?’
She sighed, then motioned for them to resume their walk. ‘You must have many questions.’
Rose’s heart stepped up its pace. At last there might be some answers! But then she and Aiden both spoke together.
‘Yes! Why did you bring—?’
‘A few, yes. How—?’
Jane glanced at Rose. ‘Perhaps if we start with Dr Trevellyan’s question? I fear my answer to you will be more complex.’
Unsure if she was relieved or frustrated by the reprieve, Rose nodded. ‘Go ahead.’
‘Thank you.’ Jane looked to Aiden as they continued along the road. ‘What is it you would know, sir?’
‘I have a myriad of questions, mainly centred around how any of this,’ he gestured with his arm at their surroundings, ‘can be happening. The necklace you used to bring us here…’ His voice tailed away and he met Rose’s gaze. ‘I’ve seen it before.’
Jane smirked. ‘You think you have.’
‘No – I’m n
ot mistaking it for the ones alleged to belong to you and your sister, Miss Austen.’
It was Jane’s turn to stop walking, and they were obliged to do the same. She turned slowly to face them. ‘Might I enquire as to how you feel qualified to make such a statement?’
Aiden raised a brow, and Rose bit her lip, unsure where the conversation was going. ‘I thought you had given me leave to ask the questions?’
Jane’s taut expression eased as she smiled. ‘Touché, sir.’
‘I found a topaz cross and gold chain and, if I’m not mistaken, it was closer in age and style to the one you used last night.’
Jane bore his scrutiny steadily. ‘How can that be?’
Rose frowned as something teased the edges of her memory, conscious Aiden had sent her a lightning glance again.
‘I can’t explain why, but I can tell you where. It was in the cathedral, near your…’ He hesitated. ‘Your er… grave?’
Rose’s eyes widened as she recalled her walk with Aiden on the previous evening and his tale of finding a cross and chain at Winchester during some repair work – the walk that had culminated in Jane’s sudden appearance.
‘How… intriguing.’ Jane set off walking once more and they fell into pace beside her. ‘I shall satisfy your curiosity as best I can, sir, but though I can tell you how I slip through time, I am not sure any of us comprehends the why of it.’
‘Any of us, Jane?’ Rose frowned. ‘Who else knows?’
‘My family.’ She glanced at Rose as she led them off the road into a gravel lane to the left. ‘You recall, I am certain, the anxiety caused to my parents and sister when last we met. Nothing but the truth would satisfy my mother and father, and the latter’s wrath fell in particular upon Charles.’ Jane turned to Aiden. ‘You are aware my youngest brother is a naval man, Dr Trevellyan?’
The Unexpected Past of Miss Jane Austen Page 3
