a farm girl’s despair
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
prologue
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epilogue
While waiting for the next book . . .
Order of Book List
Publisher Notes
prologue
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Hampshire, England
Late Summer, 1868
Hilda found it to be quite the perfect day in the English countryside. Her off-white apron pockets were filled with the cornflowers of the field that she lay in.
She loved the feeling of the summer as the sun brushed her skin, while the grass tickled her arms and legs. Looking up into the blue sky, a falcon soared overhead, riding the gentle breeze.
Hilda lived for these lazy moments of summer when she could spend a few hours doing nothing, instead of the farm work needed to keep her and her father fed. It wasn’t that she did not find pride in the work, but that she had recently been lured by the pages of books.
For some time a young woman named Adeline stayed with them and had taught Hilda to read and write. She had also taught her to do things that a lady did, such as how to curtsy, how to do some of the refined dances, and how to set the table.
But Adeline had disappeared under the most unusual circumstances earlier that spring, never to be heard from again. She hoped that she would show up once more, or at the very least send word of her whereabouts.
Still, having been taught to read and write, Hilda was now able to read any book she could get hold of, and the ones that caught her fancy were the ones about grand adventures like Robinson Crusoe. How she loved that book, reading it over and over, hoping that one day she could have an adventure such as that.
Hilda rolled over onto her stomach and began to run her fingers through the tall grass around her with a sigh, quite content.
Boom!
The ground shook underneath her.
“Lord! What is that?” she jumped to her feet.
She scanned the distance. A dark plume shot into the sky, billowing with smoke. Hilda’s heart fell to her stomach for she knew exactly where the smoke was coming from.
“No! Papa!” she shouted and darted toward her home, and to the blacksmith shop her father owned, which was situated directly next to the small farm cottage they lived in.
“No, please,” she cried, as the tall grass now caught on her long skirt and apron, snagging the fabric.
Commotions of shouting reached her ears as the neighbouring people ran toward the black smith shop just as she had. Some were shouting for help, while others shouted for buckets of water to quench any flames that could light the entire field and their own homes.
“No! Papa! Help! Someone help!” she shouted as she grew nearer.
“Hilda! Wait, it is not safe child!” Mr Goby, her neighbour held her back. She struggled to get loose, but she could see the entire blacksmith shop in flames.
Hilda fell to her knees in grief as tears poured down her face, her red tendrils sticking to her skin. “No. Papa. No.”
Mrs Goby came to her side, consoling her, attempting to calm her. Now a large crowd had gathered and all were helping where they could.
Hilda’s eyes were on Mr Goby as he moved toward the blacksmith shop, where the fire was being put out. His hand moved over his face in shock. Then he turned and made eye contact with Mrs Goby and shook his head – no.
“No!” Hilda cried, for she knew it meant her father was dead.
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chapter
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Four Years Earlier
Hampshire, England
Late Summer, 1864
Hilda had a very pleasant life indeed in the rural countryside. There was always some small adventure to occupy or distract her. The first of those happened when she was very young and in her own backyard, and little did she know then that it would be the first of many adventures and hardships to come.
Indeed, Hilda's father would be quite angry if she knew that she had a young boy hiding in her barn. She knew very little of him, except that he was from a village over. She found him lying on the trail just near her farm, with a sprained ankle. She urged him, “Please, allow me to fetch for help.”
“No, that will not do. Please, I beg you. I stole some bread and the authorities are after me. Therefore I must lay low for a while. Please, if you will help me, if you will help me hide, I shall be forever grateful.”
There was such a look of sorrow in his eyes, and Hilda knew that he was approximately the same age as she, three and ten years of age. She was very sad for him that he had to steal bread, obviously he must have been very hungry. She could not turn away such a person.
“Very well, I will see what I can do for you. But you must remain very quiet. I live on a tenant farm not far from here with my father. He is a blacksmith, but he rarely goes into the barn, I tend to the animals mostly. I can hide you there in one of the pens for a few days while you mend. But you must be very quiet.”
She helped him to his feet, and he leaned the side of his body with his wounded leg on her. She helped him walk all the way back to her farm, and she could see that her father was at work in the blacksmith shop with his back to them. They quickly and quietly made their way into the barn.
“I am very grateful to you, miss. You will not regret this. I will stay very quiet and not need much. I only need for my leg to heal and I will be on the way.”
“As you have said. You can hide in the barn for now. I will be the only one coming in here, but do not speak until I call out your name in case it might be my father, is that understood?”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Good. I am to go inside and fetch water, food, and the blanket for you. I will also get a cloth that you may dip in the water for your ankle, help it to heal with cold water.”
“Thank you very much.” He said.
“My name is Hilda.”
“My name is Lance, ma’am,” he said.
“Well Lance, I shall return. But I must say that you are dressed quite fine for a village boy,” She said.
He looked down at his clothes, a look came across his face that she could not understand. Then he said, “I stole them from a clothes line. They are not my clothes.”
“I understand.” Hilda closed the doors and rushed across the field to her family's cottage, and tried not to smile and laugh the entire way. What a ridiculous amusement to have a boy hiding in the barn; but she was always up for some adventure, even one in her own back yard. She rushed around the kitchen and grabbed items, bread, some cheese, and some dried herbs. She grabbed the cloth that she spoke of, and would fetch him water later.
She returned to the barn, and opened the door. “Lance, it is I, Hilda.”
“I am here, you remembered my name,” He said with a brilliant smile.
“How could I forget, twas only minutes ago,” She teased.
She laid the bounty of food in front of him, as well as the clock.
“Thank you very much, I shall not forget this kindness,” He said.
“I will fetch you some water, wait here.”
She moved back inside and grabbed a cup, and then moved outside to the pump and pumped some water into a bucket. Then she returned with these items to the barn.
“Here you are, now I shall leave you.”
“Must you? I enjoy your company. Will you please have this picnic in the hay with me?” He said.
“If that is what you wish,” She said as she sat down next to him and tore off a piece of bread and cheese.
“That is what I wish.”
They sat together, enjoying the food, but the boy was not very apt to answering her questions, in fact, he seemed to divert the conversation anytime she asked of who he was and where he came from. He only wanted to know about her, which was fine and did not give her any suspicion. For she was but a child, as was he. Spending time talking of silly things was what they were happy and content to do.
Then when they were finished eating, Hilda stood up and did some quick work around the barn. He watched her and smiled.
“I am afraid that you will be very bored out here once I return to the house. I shall check on you after dinner, but I cannot continue to come out here; my father will think it's suspicious.”
“I understand. I can divert myself quite easily, I just need a place to lay and sleep so that I may mend.”
“Very well. I should get back to the house before my father comes to look for me. Is there anything I can get you before I leave, or anything you want?”
“I think that I am good for now, thank you very much Hilda.” He said, laying back in the hay putting his hands behind his head. He chewed on a strand of hay.
Hilda closed the barn doors, walking back across to the cottage. She walked around the front to check on her father, who was still hard at work in the shop and did not take any notice of what she had been doing, which she was grateful for.
After dinner, she gave her father an excuse, that she forgot to lock a pen in the barn, and would go do it quickly. She had spent dinner secretly wrapping a meat pie and stuffing it in her apron, and took it with her to the barn.
“Lance, it is Hilda.”
“I am here. I am awake,” He said.
She moved over to him and found him in the exact place that she had left him. Indeed he did seem quite content to do nothing but rest.
“I cannot stay but a minute. I brought you a meat pie for dinner.”
“Thank you, it smells delicious. Did you bake it yourself?”
“Indeed I did sir.”
“Then I am all the more grateful to eat it.”
“Is there anything else I may do for you, as I will not be able to come back out here till morning?”
“Thank you, I am quite settled. I do not need anything, you are very kind.”
“Then good night, Lance.”
“Goodnight, Hilda. Wait, Hilda, what is your last name?”
“Carson. I am Hilda Carson.”
“A pleasure, Hilda Carson.”
Hilda returned to the cottage, and before long her father had drunk a few glasses of Scotch, which was customary for him in the evening, and then went to bed directly for a sound sleep. But Hilda could not sleep, for how could she when she had a stowaway in the barn? It was just too exciting. She pulled the blanket tight around her, and realized that perhaps the boy would like another blanket? It would be very cold in the barn, even during the English summer.
She went to the cupboard and grab another folded blanket, and quietly picked up her boots and tiptoed out of her room with her own blanket around her shoulders. She did not put her boots on until she was at the door, she quietly opened and closed the door and then made her way across the field to the barn.
“It is me, Hilda,” She said.
“I am awake. How glad I am that you came to visit in the night?”
She moved to him, and joined him sitting beside him in the hay.
“I brought you another blanket, for I thought that you might be very cold. Indeed it is very cold out here. The animals have fur to keep them warm, and you only have this one blanket and the hay. I must apologise.”
“No need to apologise, you have already done so much for me. I thank you for your kindness.”
“How is your leg?”
“It is swollen, my ankle is swollen.”
“I will bring you herb compresses in the morning to help with the swelling. I must get back in before father wakes. Have a good sleep,” She said standing up and leaving his side. Quietly she left the barn and entered the house, removing her boots at the door. She tip toed back to her room and back to bed. Somewhere in the night the excitement finally left her and she was able to sleep.
The next morning she worked in the kitchen, making herb compresses to bring down the swelling as she promised. She boiled some eggs and baked fresh bread for breakfast. Then, her father burst in, having come from the market.
“I have heard the most interesting news.”
“You have? Tell me, Father.”
“I have heard that a young Duke is missing.”
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Hilda dropped the spoon onto the floor, as the news hit her. It couldn't be, could it? Was the boy hiding in the barn a Duke? He was very well dressed and had very kind manners. But why would he do such a thing?”
“It slipped. I am sorry, I will wash it,” She said about the spoon. “That is strange news indeed. What do you mean he has gone missing?
“It is said that he left the estate yesterday some miles from here, and did not return. It is unknown whether he left by his own will or perhaps he was set upon by highwaymen. He is said to be very young, and it is a mystery to his family, who are offering a reward for any information of his whereabouts. I assume a very substantial reward.”
Hilda was filled with anxiety. Could hiding the young boy get her into any sort of trouble? Her heartbeat was very fast, and she did not know what to do with herself.
“That is very unusual news for these parts. I am sure that all will be well and that he will be home safe.” Hilda said to her father.
“I am sure that you are right. Come, let's eat breakfast, because I have much work to do in the shop and then must head to the tavern to speak with your uncle.”
“Yes, Father”, she said, setting the food down on the table and together they sat and ate. But she was nervous the entire time.
One hour later, her father was hard at work in the blacksmith shop. Hilda took the opportunity to take food to the young man. She would tell him of the news that her father tol
d her, just to see how he reacted. Would he leave because of it? Would he not trust her and think that she would betray him for a reward?
She slowly walked across the field and took a deep breath making herself ready to see the young boy, who was possibly a grand Duke.
“Good morning, sir,” She said, walking into the barn feeling very nervous. She had not decided yet if she would tell him the news or not, perhaps he would tell her. Or perhaps she would keep it a secret so that she could toy with him slightly.
“Good morning, my fair lady,” He said playfully.
It was then that she realized just how good his speech was.
“Did you sleep well, sir?”
“Yes, I slept very well indeed.”
“That is good to hear. I have brought you some breakfast, it is two boiled eggs, and some bread and cheese. I have also made these compresses of herbs that will help with the swelling of your ankle. Just put them on your ankle before they dry,” She said.
“I will do that now,” He said; moving his bare foot and leg, he had rolled up his trousers to the calf. He placed the compresses on his ankle and smiled at her. “Thank you again.”
“Lance, there is something that I must tell you. There is news from the village as my father has just told me”
“Alright my lady, and what news is that?” He said, eating some of the food.
“There is news that a young duke has gone missing. His family has set a reward for any information.” She arched her brow at him.
He froze and stopped eating. Then he erupted into laughter. “That is just like my family, completely dramatic and full of unnecessary drama; completely absurd.”
“So you are the Duke?”
“At your service,” He rolled out his hand.
“Then what are you doing? What game is this that you play? You have all the money and all the servants, someone could come fetch you and see to your leg and your needs. I do not understand you at all! Why would you prefer to sleep in a barn with the animals?”
“I like being here. I am not like any in my family. I simply wanted to get away for a while, and not to be the duke. It is a lot of pressure, I went off on my own exploring, and injured my leg, that is all. I would much prefer to stay here.”
A Farm Girl's Despair (#5, the Winds of Misery Victorian Romance) (A Family Saga Novel) Page 1
