The maid busied herself with the unpacking, while Anna went to the window and looked out over a series of rolling hills in the distance. Directly below the window a rather straggly garden presented itself. It was clear the family did not find a pleasure garden to be important, for there were a number of farm machines lying about and a large part of the old formal garden had been converted into a thriving vegetable garden.
Anna turned to examine the room. It had not been painted in quite some time and the room looked a little shabby, but clean.
“Is there anything else I can do for you, Miss?” the maid asked when she had finished her task.
“No. Thank you,” she said, and the maid left.
Anna sighed. These seemed like nice people. They were not of the nobility and kept a much more casual house than she was accustomed to. She wondered how Dorothy would react to her fiancé’s family.
Now that she was unpacked, she went to a table where there was a basin and a pitcher of water which she poured, and wetting a cloth, washed the dirt of the road off her hands and face. She felt a great deal better and was ready to rejoin the family.
* * *
Louisa skipped ahead of Christopher and Dorothy as they walked arm in arm along the stone wall where a wild abundance of field flowers and tall grasses grew.
“This is our largest field and here we keep the sheep and some cattle,” Christopher said pointing.
Dorothy was not that interested in the details of the farm and she diverted the conversation by saying, “Your parents are very pleasant—and your brother and sisters. I like them very much. Do you think they like me?”
“How could they not—a lovely lady as charming as you?” He leaned toward her and gave her a quick kiss on her cheek.
She smiled at him but broke free from his arm and ran ahead, turning several times with her arms outstretched, in her happiness at finally being with Christopher again.
“When are we going to set a date?” he asked as he loped after her and finally caught up.
“I think we will need to discuss that with your parents and Anna. She has set herself up as the authority on the required period of mourning. I would marry you this very minute if I could… but…”
“I know. My parents have questions too. We will sit down together quite soon, but for now I just want to enjoy seeing you again.” He took hold of her shoulders and kissed her on the lips.
“Oh, Christopher, I want us to be married right now,” she said petulantly.
“But as that is not possible, let us enjoy the anticipation.”
They had come to the end of the wall and field. “Shall we head back? I think it is almost tea time.” He turned to look for Louisa. She was examining a fallen bird’s nest.
“Chris, can you help me put this back in the tree?” Christopher went over to her. “Look there are three unbroken eggs in it.” She handed the nest to him.
“I do not know. It is my understanding that if the nest falls, it is abandoned by the parents.”
“That is harsh,” Louisa said. “But let us put it back anyway. Perhaps the parents will not have noticed.”
Christopher reached as high as he could and placed the nest in the safest and most secure spot.
“There.”
“I will come back tomorrow,” Louisa said, “And see if it is still there.”
They started back. From this distance the house could clearly be seen as a whole and Dorothy studied it.
“Perhaps I should not say this, but your house looks like it needs a lot of repairs.”
Christopher was a little embarrassed. “Yes, I am afraid it does.” He hesitated a moment but added. “I was hoping that once we are married we might be able to start repairs and improvements.”
“But why wait until we are married? Why not do it now?” Dorothy asked. “It would certainly be better for us to come, as a married couple, to a nicely refurbished house.”
“Well…” He could not meet her eyes. “We do not have the money at the moment. And to be honest… father is not the best steward of the house. He puts his whole attention on the farm.”
“Then how will you have the money after we marry?”
