Page 1 of All Roads Lead To Earls (To All The Earls I’ve Loved Before #2)
Chapter One
Bangor, North Wales
YOUR Committee have confined their inquiry to the state of the Road from London to Holyhead, and make it the subject of a separate Report, in consequence of the late period of the Session; and of the urgent necessity of some immediate effort to repair and improve that part of it which runs through North Wales.
The whole of this part of the Road is in the worst possible condition; it is exceedingly narrow (in some places but scarcely wide enough to admit two carriages to pass); and "it is carried unnecessarily over many hills, the ascents and descents of which are often one foot in height to fourteen in length, one in ten, one in eight, and even one in seven. "
Besides, many parts of it are very dangerous to travellers; for where it is the most narrow and most steep, and the most interrupted by sharp turns, it passes along the side of precipices many hundred feet high, and without any other protection to carriages than small walls built of loose stones, or very low and narrow banks of earth.
According to the Estimate of Mr. Fulton, who was recently employed by the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury to survey this Road, it appears that the sum necessary to put it into repair (without making any improvement by deviations from the present line, or lowering any of the hills) is ￡ 46,540.
18s. 7d. ; a circumstance which most forcibly explains how excessively bad the present condition of this Road must be.
Hannah Jones, lady’s companion to the Marchioness of Caernarfonshire, could have fainted at the enormous sum her employer had just read aloud in the breakfast room at Rosstrevor House.
The forty-six thousand pound part had barely entered her brain when her head turned fuzzy with the rest of it. She reached for her tea and sipped, hoping it might help things make sense.
It was excellent tea, but it didn’t help.
Sitting at the table, Amelia Rosstrevor, Marchioness of Caernarfonshire (and Hanna’s esteemed employer), put the report she’d just read down on the table. Then she too reached for a cup of tea.
There were a great many people who had come to grief along that awful road. It was in a shocking state, and it did need repair. But the price? Would it bankrupt the government?
The marchioness turned to her husband, sitting opposite the table and repeated the details: “Forty-six thousand, five hundred and forty pounds, eighteen shillings and seven pence.”
The Marquess of Caernarfonshire let out a low whistle at the amount. His mouth soon canted with mischief. “Wherever will they get the eighteen shillings and seven pence?”
Amelia shook her head with mirth, then reached for some toast.
Hannah adored her employer and her husband, who were loving toward each other and caring toward their staff. Considering her low beginnings in life, Hannah had done exceptionally well for herself to become a lady’s companion.
She spent her time making amiable conversation and sewing, when her ladyship required her company.
When not required (her ladyship was so enamored of her husband, she wasn’t required for that much company) Hannah was at liberty to visit with the Alwyns and their fascinating pair of spring bucks, who lived on the estate.
The Alwyns’ rare animals and their four-legged babies drew a steady stream of visitors from far and wide.
Now the roads would be repaired, and a bridge built across the Menai Strait as well. The region would he heaving with people soon enough.
It was an idyllic life, all things considered. Being surrounded by people deeply in love with each other - even the animals had birthed another calf, or foal, or whatever they were called - made her spinsterhood all the more painful.
Hannah couldn’t help feeling, at the age of four and twenty, a pang of jealousy that she might have missed her chance at something similar.
The marchioness declared, “When the road is in better condition, I daresay we’ll have even more visitors.” She turned to her mother-in-law, also sitting at the breakfast table, playing with baby Rhodri, the heir to the marquisate. “Lady Mary, I imagine that news excites you?”
Lady Mary, the dowager marchioness, was too busy babbling to her grandson to pay them any attention.
Another pang gripped Hannah. She sternly reminded herself she could have done so much worse in life, and she should not take her current situation for granted.
Yet still, the yearning persisted. Especially when she was in the same room as young Rhodri. He was an angel, filled with smiles and giggles.
The Dowager then dipped a thin slice of toast into her runny boiled egg and held it up to the pudgy babe for a taste. His eyes grew round as his tongue dabbed against the bright yellow yolk. Most of it ended up on Rhodri’s chin, but some went down the right way.
Lady Rosstrevor asked her husband, “Do you think they’ll begin work on the road soon?”
“They’ll have to,” he replied, “How else is everyone supposed to get from Dublin to London in one piece?”
Lady Mary kept up her baby-talk and helped the young heir join in the conversation. “They’re also going to build a big bridge all the way over the Menai Strait! We’ll be able to see it from the garden!”
The Marquess chuckled, “I don’t think it will be quite that big, mother. Though I am intrigued to see what Telford comes up with.”
“It will no doubt be grand if the road leading to it costs forty-six thousand pounds,” she replied. Then her voice rose an octave and said repeated the amount to young Rhodri. “Did you know numbers went up that high? Of course you did, because you’re so clever! More egg?”
One of the footmen came in with a tray of letters on a salver. He placed the tray beside the master of the house on the table.
Once the servant was out of the room, David slid the tray of letters across to Amelia and she sorted through them. She soon had two letters for herself and her husband, and six for the dowager.
“Your enterprise is coming along rather well, Lady Mary,” Amelia noted.
Hannah heartily approved of the enterprise, as they called it. From time to time, the men far outnumbered the women, and she and some of the staff were able to join in, to ‘balance the table’.
“It was your idea,” Lady Mary said. “I’d be more than happy with your assistance any time you feel like stepping back in,” she said with a pointed look.
“I’m rather enjoying my leisure,” Amelia confessed.
“As you should,” Mary said, standing up with young Rhodri and delivering the babe into his father’s arms. “If this is how busy I am now,” she said, taking up her pile of correspondence, “Imagine what life will be like once the road works really begin!”
She wasn’t complaining at all. Hannah could tell by the smile in her face and the twinkle in her eyes, that she was already plotting the most wonderful match-making adventures to ever take place in this quiet little part of north Wales.
Who knew, perhaps Hannah might one day find herself matched with a caring tradesman, or even an engineer!