“I know. It’s a lot fresher up here, isn’t it? Better than the smell of the factory that drifts in our direction from over a mile away.” Frederica sat forward and took a deep sniff. Then she made a face. “Although maybe not right now. We must be passing a farm.”
“It’s not as bad as the factory fumes.” Dorothy paused. “Or the tannery.”
“Oh, God, that thing!” Frederica shuddered. “That is probably the most disgusting thing I’ve ever had go up my nose! Who thought it was a good idea to heat up dog dung and chicken dung to soften cow hides?”
“It makes really good leather, so it must be effective.”
“It’s still disgusting! If those men are married, I’m surprised the wives are still around.”
Dorothy chuckled.
“I’m sure they’re used to it by now.”
“They’re stronger than I am, then.” Frederica sat back. “I wonder how long it’ll be until we get there. Mother did say it would take a few hours to get there, and the hills weren’t going to be letting us off lightly.”
“I saw a sign for Wirksworth a short while ago. We must be nearly there.”
“I hope so. My rear end is getting really sore.”
“We only stopped half an hour ago,” Dorothy reminded her.
“And? I don’t like long journeys.”
Dorothy knew about that. Frederica had been complaining since they had reached Leicester. They had stopped quite a few times as part of the journey, but it didn’t seem to stop the whining. Dorothy loved her friend, but this was beginning to get on her nerves.
At least it would stop when they finally got there.
The sun was a little lower in the sky, indicating that it was later in the afternoon by the time they turned through the gate and went up a sweeping drive. Dorothy stuck her head out the window, and her mouth dropped at the house.
It was beautiful, a huge structure that looked like it had been perfectly carved. She couldn’t see the garden behind it properly because it had sloped down out of sight, almost like it was on the edge of a sheer cliff in the middle of the valley.
This looked like a stunning place to live. Dorothy could only hope she had something like it when she got married.
If she ever got married, that was.
“Here we are!” Frederica squealed and started jumping up and down again. This time she fell over and landed on Dorothy. Dorothy cried out as elbows dug into her stomach.
“Frederica, calm down! We’re here now!”
“I know! I just can’t wait to get out.” Frederica scrambled for the door handle. “I’m going to get out now. I don’t want to wait any longer.”
“Frederica …”
But her friend was already out, jumping onto the gravel drive and running up towards the house. Dorothy grabbed the door as it swung back again, pulling it closed. Then she leaned out and watched as her friend rushed past the carriage and up towards the front terrace, her long dark hair flowing out behind her.
They had both unpinned their hair during the journey, the long travelling and the heat hurting their heads. Both of them looked a little unkempt, but it didn’t seem to matter much, seeing as it was just the two of them.
Dorothy couldn’t help smiling at Frederica’s excitement. She was like a little girl at times. It was somewhat adorable, although seeing it up close and personal was sometimes frightening.
She watched as a tall, statuesque woman with dark hair and a red dress came out onto the terrace. She stood there and waited for Frederica to join her. Even at a distance, Dorothy could see her smile. Then Frederica had thrown herself on the other woman, both of them embracing. She could feel the warmth even where she was.
Finally, the carriage pulled up outside the house, and Dorothy waited for a servant to open the door for her. She got up and walked over to where Frederica and her aunt were talking. Her aunt turned to Dorothy with a big smile.
“Dorothy, darling.”
“Aunt Annabelle.” Dorothy then remembered and dropped into a curtsy. “I mean, Lady Derbyshire.”
Lady Derbyshire laughed.