Frederica in Fashion by MC Beaton Page B

said.
    ‘Nonsense,’ said the Duke of Pembury. ‘Stick your head out of the window.’
    ‘I can’t, ’ protested Frederica miserably. ‘It is too undignified.’
    ‘God grant me strength. Very well. Get down.’ He jerked the strap and opened the carriage door. A groom jumped from the backstrap and let down the steps.
    ‘This man will catch his death of cold!’ exclaimed Frederica, looking at the sodden groom.
    The duke gritted his teeth. ‘Are you going to stand there all day, Miss Armitage? Or are you doing to get down?’
    Drawing a carriage rug tightly about her shoulders , for she was only wearing a thin muslin gown and a pelisse made out of one of Lady Godolphin’s gowns by that lady’s excellent maid, Frederica launched out into the storm.
    If she went around the front of the coach, then she would make an exhibition of herself in front of the coachman. At either side, she might be seen bythe duke or Lady Godolphin; at the back, by the grooms.
    She headed for the side of the road and began to walk through a small wood until she was sure she was well out of sight of the carriage, although a few steps would have been enough to take her out of sight of any onlooker since the day was so black and the storm so wild.
    It was then she realized to her chagrin that she was not feeling in the slightest bit sick, although she was now soaked and shivering. Feeling very silly, she started to make her way towards the carriage.
    But where was the carriage?
    There was only the sound of the wind tearing through the trees above and the pounding of the rain. She could not see the carriage lights, nor could she hear any voices. She did not want to cause further trouble by calling out for help, thereby forcing one of those poor servants to come and look for her. It certainly changed one’s view of life, having been a servant oneself, even for such a short time.
    ‘I must not panic,’ thought Frederica. ‘I am not the same as I was. I am Courageous and Resolute. The carriage is surely over there.’
    Putting her head down, she ran off into the roaring blackness. She could vaguely make out that the trees were thinning. She must be near the road.
    And then, all of a sudden, her foot slipped and she plunged down and down, finally crashing into a bush. Winded and terrified, Frederica lay still. She was sure she had broken every bone in her body.After a few moments, she cautiously moved her arms and legs. She was frightened to get to her feet in case she might fall again.
    ‘Help!’ she called as loudly as she could, although the wind seemed to snatch up her voice and tear it to shreds.
    She peered upwards, narrowing her eyes against the rain, hoping to see the bobbing light of a lantern, for surely they must be searching for her by now. But the whole world had turned into a roaring blackness of rain and wind and there was no light in sight.
    Frederica cautiously got to her feet, wincing with pain as her wet clothes clung to her bruised and scraped legs and arms. She tried to struggle up the slope, missed her footing, and started to slither downwards, grabbing frantically at grass and roots to try to slow the increasing speed of her descent.
    At last she stopped as her feet struck against rock. Frederica no longer thought of trying to make her way back to the carriage. Her one thought was to find some sort of shelter, and try to stay alive.
    She twisted about and looked down. Through the dimness, she could make out a stream, tumbling along just below her feet. Frederica took a deep breath. The stream must lead somewhere, and somewhere might lead back to the road.
    Slowly and painfully, she began to pick her way along the tumbled rocks and grass beside the edge of the river. She began to talk aloud to keep her spirits up. ‘It is a miracle,’ said Frederica stoutly, ‘that Ihave not even twisted an ankle. I am very cold and wet and hungry, but I am sure I will find somewhere soon. I must have lost the carriage rug in my fall,