an alone and destitute girl
the winds of misery victorian romance
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a family saga novel
dorothy green
Copyright
Copyright © 2020 by
Dorothy Green
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Table of Contents
Copyright
the orphan’s christmas eve
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epilogue
While waiting for the next book . . .
Order of Book List
Publisher Notes
chapter
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* * *
Cottered, England
May, 1860
Katrina Proctor did not have a care in the world. Indeed, she found herself very lucky to have such a life. Though she was a poor farm girl, her family was not destitute; not like other poor villagers nearby. Her family had a small tenant farm, and a few animals that provided them with dairy goods. Indeed these goods were an important part of the income they earned to continue their happy life.
Once a month the family would sell these dairy goods, as well as anything Katrina and her mother sewed, such as satchels, sacks, and scarves, in the market town of Buntingford. It lay a few miles away from their very own village of Cottered in Hertfordshire, England.
Katrina often accompanied her father to the market town to sell the goods. But on this particular Sunday, she had stayed behind. There was much to do and many chores to be done before nightfall. Therefore, her mother and father went to the market together.
Katrina stepped outside the small country cottage. English ivy grew alongside the wall surrounding the door, and a lizard rustled in those leaves. She looked out toward the road; the sun was beginning to set on the horizon.
Indeed, mother and father should be home by now. I do not know what could be keeping them? I hope they are back before dark. She squinted her eyes, searching in the distance for the movement of their horse-drawn cart.
Knowing that it would not be much longer before their return, she went inside to prepare dinner. After such a long day they would be very tired It would be a good way to welcome them home to have supper on the table even if it was a late one.
Katrina made a hearty stew of chicken and root vegetables and baked a fresh loaf of bread. However, after taking the time to do such a thing, they still had not returned.
Knock. Knock.
Katrina startled, she was home alone. Who could possibly be knocking at the door? Mother and father would not be knocking, unless they carried heavy goods and needed me to open the door. Deciding this must be the case, she happily opened the door.
“Katrina,” the Constable said.
“Constable James, what do you do here?” She asked confused.
He took off his hat and pressed it against his chest; there was a solemn look on his face. He looked over his shoulder at his daughter. Miss Margaret James stood behind him.
“Margaret, what is going on here?” Katrina asked her.
“May we enter, Katrina?” Margaret asked.
“Yes, of course, where are my manners? I have forgotten myself,” Katrina said.
“Katrina Proctor, I have news. I must apologize that it is dire news indeed, perhaps you should take a seat,” Constable James said.
In a quick gesture, Margaret was at Katrina’s side and guided her to a chair, sitting her down.
Katrina protested. “Why? Why must I sit? What is going on here? Constable, Margaret?”
Margaret's eyes glazed over as she looked to her father. She grabbed Katrina's hand, squeezing it. Katrina suddenly felt ill to her stomach. This could not be good news indeed. Somewhere deep in the pit of her stomach, she knew that it must be the reason that her mother and father were not home yet.
“Katrina, I am sorry to be the one to tell you this news. It is your mother and father,” Constable James said.
“Mother? Father? What do you mean? What has happened?” Katrina stood up quickly in hysterics.
“Katrina, there has been an accident on the old Roman Road.”
“Are they alright? Where are they? Is there a doctor at their side? I must go to them now,” Katrina flew to the door and grabbed her cloak, draping it on her shoulders. Margaret ran after her.
“Katrina, stop. It is of no use.” Margaret grabbed her shoulders.
“Katrina, your mother and father have both perished in the accident. I am very, very sorry. They were good people, both of them.”
Katrina stood there with her blue eyes wide as round marbles. Her mouth fell open in shock. She wanted to speak, she wanted to ask a hundred questions, but no sound came to her.
“Katrina? Katrina?” Margaret said.
“Oh Father, I believe she has gone into shock.” Margaret said.
“Katrina, take a seat,” Constable James said, putting his hands on her shoulders and leading her to the chair, applying pressure until she sat down.
But her blue eyes were still wide and her voice had altogether abandoned her. She could not say a word. Margaret and her father bustled about her, as Margaret poured some water and handed it to Katrina. But Katrina could not lift her arms, they were as heavy as stones. The only sound she could hear was her own heartbeat echoing in her ears. This could not be true. They must have made a mistake.
My parents could not have perished in an accident. I only saw them this morning, they must have got it wrong. My parents were returning at any moment, they will see... They will see.
“Father, perhaps you should fetch the doctor. I will stay here with her,” Margaret said.
“Yes, that is a good idea, daughter. I will return as soon as may be.”
“Katrina, Katrina, can you hear me?” Margaret said.
But Katrina could not hear her. The only thing she could hear was her father saying good-bye that very morning, and her mother's voice saying
she loved her, and would return. The voices played out over and over in her mind. She could see the carts jostling away down the road away from the cottage. It was a beautiful bright blue sunny day in spring. They had plenty of goods to sell, and they would have possibly stayed late. But that was just it, wasn't it? They stayed late after the sun had gone down, and chose to drive the cart back under the cloak of darkness, when all kinds of things could happen. The horses could get spooked by any manner of creature, and the cart could overturn. Or bandits could come upon them and rob them for the money they made at the market. Which was it? Katrina needed to know and she needed to know now.
“Margaret...” Katrina finally said.
“Oh, Katrina. There you are I thought that we had lost you. Here you must take water. I am so truly sorry Katrina,” Margaret kneeled down beside her.
“How did happened Margaret? Are you sure? Are you sure it is my parents?”
“My father went to the scene of the accident earlier he identified them as your parents. He knows them well, as we all do. He is certain it is them.”
“I want to see them. Take me there. Take me to the scene of an accident,” Katrina stood up.
“That is not possible Katrina. Nor is it a good idea. Your parents have already been taken to the caretaker. You may see them then, but the accident has been cleared.”
Katrina started to shake. It was all starting to become real. The shock was leaving her and extreme grief took over.
“What happened? Tell me what happened?” Her voice shook violently, almost uncontrollably.
“Oh Katrina, it is something horrible. I do not know the particulars, but my father will tell you. But I do know your parents were both on the cart, the horses must have jolted for some reason or another. The cart drove out of control, and toppled over. Both of your parents were thrown from the cart, and did not survive.”
Margaret embraced her, holding her tightly. “I am so very sorry Katrina. I do not want to be the one to tell you these things, it is very hard indeed.”
“It cannot be true, it just cannot,” Katrina shook as she embraced Margaret for support.
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chapter
0 2
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June, 1860
It had been one month complete since Katrina had lost her parents. She could hardly tolerate life without them. At her eight and ten years of age, she felt lost. It was true that her family had treated her so well that she was naive for her age, and had not spent much time making adult decisions, even though she was one. Katrina had always supposed she would have her pick of eligible men of her liking when she was good and ready to settle down, for she quite enjoyed flirting with men both in her own village and the market town of Buntingford. But now all of that was gone, now she must consider finding a husband so that she could be taken care of. For this was the way of life for women, and she had wished that she had chosen a husband months before. At least there would be someone beside her to hold her hand through this tragedy.
Katrina did have an elder brother, but he was somewhere in America and had not been in England for almost four years. The last she heard, he was heading out to the Old West, and that was the last that her family had heard. Therefore he would not be much help in the situation, especially if she could not find him.
But what was causing her the most distress, was the fact that rent was already due past one month. Her parents had been in the market to sell goods in order to pay the rent, and the landlord had been kind in allowing her to have more time to come up with the money. But now, that time was up and rent was due again, making it two months of rent that she owed. With everything that had happened, she had not been able to work the farm the way her father had. The grief had taken hold of her and she was not able to leave her bed for weeks, in complete despair. This meant that she was not able to make dairy goods such as cheese, or harvest the vegetable gardens. For a while, she cared nothing of such things, as she felt weak and tired from crying and grief over losing her parents.
But a new strength had arrived in Katrina that morning. She was determined to keep the family farm and to make something of herself. Therefore she dressed in her Sunday finest, and found herself walking the path to the Lord of The Manor, Lord Gavin. She planned to ask for an extension on rent. Surely he was a kind man and he would grant such a wish.
“I am here to see the Lord of The Manor, my name is Katrina Proctor, I am a tenant of his,” Katrina said to the servant that opened the door.
The servant looked at her up and down, not sure what to make of the young girl. Katrina knew that farmers and tenants were not one to come knocking at the door. This servant was probably more used to opening the door to find ladies and gentlemen in equal standing of the lord of the manor.
“Wait here,” The servant said, closing the door in Katrina's face.
“Well, that was quite rude,” Katrina said. She turned her back to the door and surveyed her surroundings. The sky was a brilliant blue, it was a lovely summer day. The birds were chirping, the flowers were blooming, but instead of making her happy, this made her sad. Indeed, nature had such a joyous occasion of making life look so easy and happy, but in truth it was not. Tragedy happened, and it had happened to her.
The door opened once more. “The Lord of The Manor has granted you permission to speak with him. Follow me.”
Katrina felt relieved as she followed the servant into the grand home. She had never actually been inside such a dwelling. There were rich tapestries adorning the walls. I’d wager one tapestry could cover the entire rent of the farm for years.
Lavish mahogany furniture sat in the hallway, and her boots clicked on marbled flooring. A rich man indeed, of course he would grant her an extension. He had more than enough.
“Katrina Proctor,” The servant walked into a library announcing her. Katrina followed.
The Lord of The Manor, Lord Gavin, sat behind his desk scrolling on paper. He did not look up to give her his full attention. “Yes, yes come in.”
Katrina entered and the servant closed the door behind her.
“What can I do for you child?” He said without looking up from his work.
“Sir, I must apologize for disturbing you, as I can see that you were quite busy. I have only come to discuss the matter of rent on my family's farm.”
This made Gavin drop his work and give her his full attention.
“You have the rent then, you are two months behind I believe.”
Katrina turned red in the face. The fact that the amount due was so fresh in his mind was not a good sign.
“Sir, that is correct. After my family's death it has been very hard indeed for me trying to figure out what to do. It has now been 2 months that rent is due. As you know the circumstances my family had...”
“So, have you come to tell me that you have the coin or not?” He said.
Katrina was shocked. When the events of her parents death first happened, he was quite kind about it. He had granted her that extension, and there were those that witnessed it. The constable, and his daughter Margaret, as well as the clergyman. They had all praised him for being so kind. It was then that Katrina wondered if he had only done such a thing because he was in the company of his peers. Now that he was alone with her, he was showing his true disposition. This only made her more anxious than before.
“Sir, I must apologize. I do not have the rent, I have come to enquire about an extension. Or perhaps more of a barter than what you had with my father. Perhaps I can double the dairy goods and vegetables that he would bring to your manor on a monthly basis, in exchange for lower rent cost. Perhaps I can make up the entire two months of rent in such a barter.”
The Lord looked at Katrina up and down, and she knew that look very well. Men and young boys of her age had often given her that same look. She knew quite well that others thought that she was something to look at with her blonde hair, blue eyes, and brilliant smile, though she did not often see it in herself. But she did enjoy
being a woman, and some said that it was obvious on her that she did. It was still something that she was learning about herself and she thought that she had plenty of time to figure that out, but time had suddenly become shorter and tragic.
Gavin stood up from his desk, with his eyes still on her. Katrina felt her entire body turn warm and nervous as she took a step backward. What have I put myself into this time?
“A barter, you say?”
“Yes, for goods from my family's farm. It will take me a while to do the work that my father and I did together with my mother; it is now solely on me one person to take up the work of three people. But I know that I can do it, I just need an extension of time so that I may catch up to what I owe you, for the rent of the farm. I intend to pay with time.”
She stood up taller. She was quite proud of the words that were coming out of her mouth. Indeed, she sounded like an actual business partner. Her father would be very proud of her. She had watched him barter and negotiate at the market since she was very little indeed, and had picked up his savviness for showing an associate that there lay value in his work. She was now attempting to do the same, and value the farm goods to rent, that she would deliver to the Lord with time.
“A barter , hmmm... You might be able to interest me in just such a thing, Katrina Proctor. You have grown into a fine woman indeed,” He took a step closer to her, his eyes were taking the liberty of looking at her figure, a plump bosom underneath her fitted coat.
Katrina's eyes widened, this could not be good.
“A barter of farm goods sir,” She said once more, being adamant.
“Oh, indeed. What I have in mind is goods from a farm, the goods of a farm girl. If you want to keep your farm, if you want me to overlook the rent that is due, I believe that we could come to some arrangement,” He said. This time his hand reached out and his plump fingers fingered her blond locks underneath her bonnet.
“Lord Gavin,” Katrina gasped and shrunk backwards. “What are you implying, sir?”
“I am implying that you allow me to visit you at the farm, tonight to begin with, and then any time after that for as long as I shall wish. That is a very generous agreement. You get to keep your family's farm, without any rent due, and I get to sample the goods of a good clean and beautiful farm girl such as yourself. You do know that you drive men crazy, do you not Katrina? Yes, of course you do.”
An Alone and Destitute Girl (#3, the Winds of Misery Victorian Romance) (A Family Saga Novel) Page 1
