Chapter 2

The carriage ride to Albany was rough. The roads were tight and uneven. Every few minutes, the wheel would run over something hard and Mr Brown who was constantly nursing a canteen filled with brandy would cough and splutter everywhere much to Marie's disgust.

"Mr Brown, please" Marie's voice had taken on the edge of what Lara referred as 'airs and graces', the voice she adopted when she was in the company of proper ladies. Gone was the care-free flirtatious Aberdeen-shire girl from the Mills Inn. Marie was now the upstanding ladies maid. It amazed Lara how well she turned it on.

"Mr Brown please" the Cook mimicked in a high pitched voice. He was in his late fifties and was a widower with two grown sons. There were no pretenses with Mr Brown but he did know his way around a five plate oven. He had been given the charge as acting as Lara and Marie's chaperone but half of the time, he had been passed out in his room from the drink.

"Looks as though we are here" Lara pointed through the glass as the carriage trundled over a bridge towards a large stone house and she could see a band of soldiers kitted out in their red uniforms sitting on the low wall outside, some having smokes. What she wouldn't give for a smoke.

"Good, once we are washed and unpacked, you can begin preparations for Miss Alice's arrival."

"But I always tend to Cora - Miss Cora" Lara corrected herself, her eyes narrowed wondering what Marie's game was as the carriage pulled up outside the gatehouse.

"I will see to Miss Cora, I know about certain - " Marie said simply as she climbed out. " - certain things to come."

"What do you mean by that?" Lara pushed as she followed Marie, the air warm and stuffy as her boots crunched under the gravel path but Marie ignored her question as she gathered up her skirts with one hand, cupping her hat to her head with the other and ran off towards the main door.

Lara poured some warm water into the basin and took a wash cloth, wiping away the sweat and grime from the long trip to Albany. As she washed, she heard the sound of horses pulling up outside and Lara carefully peered out of the small window so she wouldn't be easily seen. A carriage door opened and a soldier carrying a fresh bouquet of lilies stepped out. Just as her curiosity peaked, there was a knock at her door and a males voice spoke from the corridor outside.

"Miss Munro's trunk has arrived. Shall I leave it here?"

"Yes, yes if you can. I will check everything" Lara called back and she listened until she was certain he was gone before pulling on her shift and wrapping her overcoat around herself. Opening the door ajar, she peeked outside and saw the leather trunk with Cora's name woven on the front decorated with embroidered flowers. Her first thought was to fetch Marie but she quickly reminded herself by rights she was Cora's ladies maid and she wouldn't let Marie bully her out of her position. With two hands, she heaved the trunk into her room and closed the door over. As Lara carefully took out Cora's garments examining the condition of each one, she felt a pang in her chest. Everything was always so lovely compared to her own attire which paled in comparison. It was the utmost sin for a ladies maid to try on her mistress' attire but the Munro sisters would not be arriving until the late afternoon. Throwing caution to the wind, Lara dressed herself in one of Cora's gowns and stood in-front of the half mirror admiring the beautiful sunflower fabric, running her fingers over the soft material compared to her own which were stiff and itchy.

"Lady Donaghue" she smiled as she curtsied to her reflection. If only Peter could see her like this. Oh how he would laugh.

"Cora... " an English male voice said softly followed by a timid knock. "...are you there?"

Lara panicked and as she tried to quickly undo the laces on the bodice, her elbow collided with the empty jug on the vanity sending it to the floor with a thud.

"Cora, are you alright?"

Lara eyed the broken pieces of china and took a deep breath as she hurried over to the door, opening it just a width only to come face to face with the man she had seen outside with the lilies. She smoothed down her dark hair nervously as it became apparent from the man's expression his mistake.

"Oh I do apologize ma'am. I was told Miss Munro was upstairs and was directed to this room. Please forgive my intrusion" he spoke visibly embarrassed.

"Miss Munro - Cora doesn't arrive till supper time sir. Her things have arrived just now, I can only imagine this was the root of the mistake. I am Miss Donaghue, Cora's maid" Lara explained and she saw a look of confusion pass over the man's face. "Can I pass on a message to Miss Cora for you sir?"

"No, no, please don't trouble yourself Miss Donaghue, I will call back in the morn" he said rather abruptly and turned on his heel.

The clock chimed at 5'o'clock as Lara made her way downstairs to the courtyard. Marie was already waiting at the gatehouse, along with Mr Brown and a few servants from the grounds. A courier had sent word that the Munro sisters were due to arrive soon and all the preparations had been made to welcome them to Albany.

"I see you made a point of checking Cora's trunk and having it moved to her room" murmured Marie as Lara stood next to her.

"The trunk was delivered to my room for inspection, it made sense for me to check it as I am after all her maid" Lara countered, her patience wearing thin with Marie. "A man - a soldier - came looking for Cora earlier, you wouldn't know anything about that would you? It was just he seemed surprised when I told him who I was."

"I hope you didn't say anything to him - " countered Marie as Lara's ears turned red but before she could retaliate, the wheels of a carriage could be heard approaching. " - as that man was Major Duncan Heyward and will be the future master of this household."

"What?" Lara asked under her breath, her eyes widened as Marie smirked.

"I have been in correspondence with him for months - " Marie stopped herself from saying anything more as the carriage became visible from the bridge. "You cannot mention a word of this Lara, if you do, I will need to tell Mr Phelps about your conduct, how you like to share tipples with savages - "

"And I will tell Mrs McCann about your whoring ways, you striapach" Lara's murmured temper flaring as she broke out into her native Gaelic.

"Haud yer wheesh" Mr Brown hissed at both women as the carriage drew up and Cora Munro climbed out first. She looked weary as she forced a smile at the waiting members of the household and Mr Brown tipped his hat as her gaze reached him. "I hope the journey wasn't too arduous Mistress."

"Hello Mr Brown, Marie - " Cora's dark eyes rested on Lara's. " - Lara, it is good to see you. I trust all is well."

"Miss Cora - " Lara spoke, aware she could hear her heartbeat drumming in her ears as she hesitated, then spoke again. " - yes, all is well."