A Dream Rides By by Tania Anne Crosse Page A

her head a second time, and so danced outside, dangling the headgear by its ribbons. She was surprised to see Mrs Warrington’s smart pony and governess cart there as the generous lady hadn’t come to the school, which was the usual object of her visits.
    Ling hurried home and, to her amazement, there was Rose sitting on the rustic settle, as elegant as ever in a sensible yet splendid day-dress and fashionable matching hat. And yet the poor woman looked ghastly.
    ‘Oh dear, is anything the matter?’ Ling burst out.
    Both Mary Southcott and Rose Warrington turned their surprised faces towards her. Ling’s mother glanced from her visitor to her daughter and back again, clearly not sure if she should speak before her distinguished guest did, but Rose’s lips stretched in a warm smile.
    ‘No, my dear. I simply came to wish you a happy birthday.’
    Ling’s forehead puckered. ‘Well, thank you, Mrs Warrington. But you look dreadful, if you don’t mind my saying so.’
    ‘Ah.’ There was a sparkle in Rose’s violet-blue eyes as she spoke and her pale cheeks coloured. ‘There’s a good reason for that. But ’tis happy news. After all this time, all these years, I’m . . .’ She drew in her lips, hunching her shoulders as if entering into some great conspiracy as she whispered, ‘I’m with child.’
    ‘Oh, how wonderful!’ Ling shrieked with glee, and, ignoring the restraint she should have shown given their differing stations in life, she hugged Rose tightly. ‘You must be delighted!’
    ‘We certainly are, even if I am feeling somewhat queasy.’ Rose’s face lengthened in a mock grimace, but then she took Ling’s hands earnestly. ‘Do sit down, Ling, as this has brought about something that concerns you. In fact, I’ve been thinking about it for some time, and this has given me a good excuse.’
    Ling blinked at her, tipping her head to one side, and saw her mother nod.
    ‘You sit down here, cheel,’ Mary said quietly, getting up from the chair she had pulled out from the table, ‘and I’ll make some tea.’
    Ling obediently sat down, perching on the edge as Rose’s words had sparked some flame inside her. Her heart had begun to trip nervously and her hazel eyes had opened wide as she concentrated on Rose’s face.
    ‘Well, as I said,’ Rose began afresh, ‘I’ve been thinking about it for some time. I’ve never had a lady’s maid and companion. But now, with the child on the way, ’twould be an ideal opportunity to engage such a person. Someone who could help to look after the baby as well when the time comes. And I can’t think of anyone I’d like better than yourself.’
    Ling’s jaw fell open in amazement. She was stunned, and a hundred thoughts chased each other round in her brain until she could make no sense of any of them.
    ‘Oh . . . er . . . But . . . I know so little about children.’
    ‘You teach them every day,’ Rose reasoned.
    ‘Children, not babies. I’d be no use as a nanny.’
    ‘Oh, Florrie will be our nanny, just as she was mine. You can learn from her. Only she’s not as young as she was, so she’ll need help. But as much as anything, I’d like you to keep me company when Seth’s away. He often has to go to London on business. I usually go with him, but I won’t be able to once the baby’s born. And I have to oversee the horses. You know we breed them, only in a small way, mind. So an extra pair of hands would really come in useful. Oh, do say yes, Ling!’
    Ling shook her head as the enormity of the proposition swamped her, but a bud of joy was unfolding in her heart. To live at Fencott Place, be part of the stunning Mrs Warrington’s daily round, and yet not be far from her family, why, such a dream had never conjured itself in her mind.
    ‘What about the school?’ she asked as she returned to her senses. ‘I can’t let Mr Norrish or the children down.’
    ‘All taken care of. I spoke to Mr Norrish last week. You know his daughter was walking out