A Question of Class Read Free

Morris’s business colleagues, or any of the people she’d met after arriving from France.
    “But you said we would go to town,” she said.
    “You’re mistaken. I said I’d take a look at your carriage, and that’s what I did.”
    “I’m afraid going north won’t do, not at all. You see, I’m expected in New York. If I don’t arrive...” She trailed off. What if she didn’t arrive? No one knew where she was. No one cared where she was. Her stomach tightened into a knot.
    “I’m expected to the north. And I’m late as it is. So you have two choices, it would appear,” he said. “You can walk south, or you can drive with me north.”
    Catherine put her hands on her hips and looked up at the stars. She couldn’t go back to the house like a runaway dog with its tail between its legs. Morris would laugh and call her stupid and incompetent, before sending her away for good to God knows where.
    “I’m sorry, I’m afraid I didn’t catch your name,” she said, stalling for time.
    “My name is Benjamin. Benjamin Thomas.” His voice resonated even when he spoke softly.
    “And where are you headed, Mr. Thomas?”
    “I’m traveling for business.”
    “That’s rather vague.”
    “Is this how you repay a good Samaritan?” Mr. Thomas leaned against the carriage and crossed his arms. “You’re lucky you were discovered by me and not someone else. I would think you’d be more grateful.”
    “A good Samaritan would take a lady where she wanted to go.”
    “Not tonight, I’m afraid.”
    He moved to the side of the carriage and held out his hand. Catherine reached out and was surprised at how it enveloped her own. She had always believed her hands and feet were far too large, but this man’s made her own feel quite dainty. Catherine gathered her skirts with her free hand and settled into the seat.
    Mr. Thomas picked up his saddle from the roadway. As he made his way around to the back of the carriage to store it on the rear rack, she gave the reins a sharp snap and the carriage heaved forward without him.
    Catherine urged the horse to canter on and focused on the road in front of her. She felt terrible leaving him stranded like that, particularly after he’d stopped to assist her, but returning to the Mount was not an option. He knew where it was, and could reach it on foot. The moon was shining brightly now, and she reassured herself with the thought that he’d have plenty of light as he made his way.
    Something thumped hard on the back of the carriage. Before she could turn around to see what was going on, a body hurtled into the seat next to her. She screamed and pulled the horse to a sharp halt, and Mr. Thomas crumpled to the floor of the carriage, his head by her feet and his legs landing hard in her lap.
    “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” He clutched at the dash and awkwardly righted himself.
    Catherine shoved his legs off and huddled as far in the corner of the seat as she could. In the small phaeton, they were already practically on top of each other. “What on earth? What do you think you’re doing?” she asked.
    “You could’ve killed me!”
    “I didn’t expect you to go leaping onto the back of the carriage like a madman.”
    “And I didn’t expect you to steal my horse.”
    “I wouldn’t have stolen it. I would’ve returned it to you somehow. I was only borrowing it.”
    “You’re quite mad.”
    “You have no idea.”
    They sat in silence for a moment. He rubbed his shoulder. “Are you quite finished? It’s been a rather long day and I’d like to get on my way.”
    “Are you hurt?”
    “Only my pride. Now give me the reins, and let’s have enough of this nonsense.”
    Reluctantly, Catherine handed over the reins and stared straight ahead while Mr. Thomas, with a quick flick of his wrist, turned the carriage north.
    * * * *
    On the ride back to the Mount, Mr. Thomas didn’t speak, and neither did Catherine. Once, when the carriage hit a particularly large