Free Runaway by Marie-Louise Jensen Page A

fleeing from him, convinced he was someone trying to kill me. ‘I know nothing about you,’ I pointed out. ‘Except Mistress Martha told me you worked for some lord or other.’
    This drew an answering smile from him, and I thought once more how it suited him to smile. He was a quiet, serious man. I had the impression he was as reserved as I was, but his smile seemed to hint at another side of him.
    ‘I’m sorry. My name is Lawrence. I’m steward and cousin once removed to Lord Rutherford of Deerhurst Park. You’d be working in the main stables at the park.’
    I was actually being offered a job at Deerhurst Park! How could a more perfect opportunity possibly come my way? I instantly put my plans to find Henry on hold once more. I would be earning money and perhaps I could learn something about my parents.
    Lawrence smiled again and I found myself smiling back. I liked what I saw. This was a young man I could imagine working for happily. He would not bully or browbeat. I was amazed he would look twice at a scruffy lad like me.
    ‘Lord Rutherford was a keen horseman in his younger days and still keeps a large stable. He indulges my interest in gentling difficult horses. You’d have responsibility for some valuable beasts. I need someone with both courage and talent.’
    ‘And do you often take on new staff by interview in the middle of the street?’ I asked, amused.
    ‘Rarely,’ he said, ruefully rubbing the bruise I’d given him.
    ‘I accept,’ I told him.
    ‘There will be a trial period of a month,’ Lawrence told me. ‘You’ll be working under my groom and learning the ropes. Presumably you can start right away?’
    ‘I can.’
    ‘Come with me then, Charlie Weaver,’ said Lawrence. He turned and strode off back down the alley. I trotted after him in wonder. I had no idea what a household such as his would be like. It sounded very grand. I knew nothing of the British nobility, having spent my childhood in the Americas. Would I manage to fit in better than at the John of Gaunt? Mansions were even further outside my range of experience than packhorse trains or posting inns. I simply needed to be thankful, I told myself, that such secure, respectable work had come my way. The relief of not being adrift in the world again, with only the vague possibility of finding Henry, was intense.
    It was very strange to enter the yard of the John of Gaunt again. I attracted a few surprised glances from the other boys and a deeply disapproving one from Phillips. He drew Mr Lawrence aside and whispered in his ear, but I was relieved to see Lawrence shake him off in some irritation.
    ‘Fetch me my carriage and let my groom know I’m ready for my horses, if you please,’ he told him firmly but politely, ‘You can leave me to make my own choice of staff.’ He turned to me. ‘You can put your bag in the chaise. Then Bridges will no doubt be grateful for some help bringing out the horses.’
    I stowed my satchel and hurried into the stables. It took me only a second to spot the stallion and the gelding that had pulled the carriage the night before. Both had been groomed far more thoroughly than anyone employed at the John of Gaunt would have time for. I guessed that Bridges was responsible for this. It gave me a good opinion of him.
    I soon realized this good opinion wasn’t reciprocated. His expression, when his eyes fell on me, was disapproving. In fact, he looked as though he had smelled something distasteful.
    ‘Mr Lawrence sent me to help you,’ I said by way of explanation. ‘I’m Charlie.’
    ‘Hmm,’ was all the response I got as he took hold of the stallion’s lead rein and led him out of the stall. I hadn’t been told what to do, but decided I should lead the gelding out after him. However, before I reached the horse, I was intercepted by Phillips and the eldest stable boy, Matthew. They didn’t look as though they’d come to congratulate me on my new employment.
    ‘Sneaking off to ingratiate