บท 9: The nationals flyer

Prudence snuggled her mother the entire night. Her eyes were so heavy and yet the worries were heavy on her mind. Her mother had gone to sleep after consoling her daughter, even though Prudence had shown to be strong about it, Elizabeth knew in her daughter's heart there was fear. The silence of the night was difficult for Prudence, and only when the birds chirped at the break of dawn was she able to sleep.

The sun had risen high in the sky and the rays coming through the window had created a hot atmosphere in the small room. Prudence twisted in her sleep and her hand fell on the empty side of the bed.

Her brows creased, searching for her mother with her hand. Not feeling anyone else besides her, she opened her eyes quickly. The bustling of vendors on the street was loud, and Prudence understood she had slept past noon. After getting fresh in the bathroom, she stepped out of the bedroom to not find her mother in the living room. This house had only two rooms and if her mother was not here, she wasn't in the house.

Fear of someone having taken her away engulfed Prudence's heart. "Mama?" She ran to the main door to check if she was on the tiny lawn in front of their house. As her hand turned the knob, she felt the door open from outside.

The door opened, and her mother was standing outside. "Oh, you are awake darling, I hope you had good sleep," Elizabeth said, closing the door behind her.

Elizabeth wore a hat and one of her best gowns. It was evident that she had been to some place of better standing than where they lived. "Where did you go this early in the morning?" Prudence asked, worry laced her voice. She offered her mother a glass of water.

"Morning? It is Afternoon Pearl," Elizabeth took the glass and quenched her thirst. The temperature was high today, and she had a long walk. "I had been to Abiona's place. Mr Thatcher will help you with what happened yesterday. And you don't have to worry, even he thinks you had not offended who so ever this Lord Dominick was. About the matters of Don Sam Murray, he will have a chat with Lord Dominick. Mr Thatcher is the governor now. I don't think this Dominick guy would turn him down."

Prudence took the empty glass of water from her mother. "You did not have to travel in such scorching heat, mama." She placed the glass near the sink and went to sit by her mother's feet, resting her head on her lap. "Thank you"

Elizabeth ran her hand over Prudence's head. "You worry too much, honey. But I hope now you understand, we can't always rely on Mr Thatcher, even if Abiona is your dearest friend"

Prudence nodded with the side of her face on her mother's lap. "I am sorry mama, I promise to be more careful from now on"

"As long as you learn your lessons," her mother said in a gentle tone. Prudence stared at nothing in particular, wondering what would have happened if Abiona was not her friend. There was a knock on the door and she got up alerted. The fears in her heart had not subsided, but that did not mean she would send her mother ahead for a potential threat at the door.

She carefully opened the door to see Mr Carswell standing there. He never left the horse farms unattended, especially when Prudence wasn't there, yet he was here with a gleeful face.

"Prudence, you did not come to the farm today. I hope everything is alright," Mr Carswell asked with a little worry.

Prudence opened the door full so he could come in. "I wasn't feeling well last night, apologises for not informing. Please come in"

Mr Carswell stepped inside the house, and Elizabeth was quick to bring him a glass of water. "Would you like some tea?" Her daughter's employer was here, and she did not want him to feel uninvited.

He shook his head, after removing his brown hat, "Thank you, Mrs Warrier, but I am in a bit of a hurry." He turned to Prudence, and a broad smile spread across his face as he handed her a flyer. Mr Carswell waited for a reaction from Prudence before he could explode with his own excitement.

Prudence saw the image on the flyer. It was clearly about selections for the national horse racing. Her eyes skimmed through the text and her face beamed up, "Is this real?"

"Yes, it is!" Mr Craswell finally let go of his excitement. "It is the first time they will take ladies in nationals, and it is directed towards the general public. Of course, the upper-class ladies won't take part, all they do is a bet on the players."

Prudence smiled, knowing there won't be partiality here. More like only the girls from the middle and lower class would be up for selections. Mr Carswell pointed at a text written at the bottom and said, "the owner of the horse will himself select two girls from Dewrest, and the selections are to be held in our horse farm"

"It is tomorrow," Prudence read, and looked at Mr Carswell and then at her mother, who gave an approving look. Prudence had been fond of horse riding since a very young age and so worked at the horse farm, lucky at the second-largest horse farm of Dewrest. Only in recent years were girls' participation in games accepted by society and universities. This would be the first official horse race where the ladies would also have a slot for participation. "Is it government-affiliated? Official?"

Mr Carswell shook his head, "The owner of the racecourse is doing a private race for the ladies, maybe because his daughter always talked about racing. But he kept a hefty reward for the winner and made it national-level so it felt like an actual race to his daughter."

"Who is his daughter?" Prudence had a curiosity whether she knew this pampered lady. She must be so lucky her father is going to these lengths just to fulfil his daughter's needs.

Prudence did not have a father, but her friend's father had filled that role for her. Abiona's father had taught them equally and helped Prudence get a job she loved, making sure the girl grows up independent. He was a good parent. Even after coming from a rich family, he knew not to pamper the girls. He wanted them to grow strong and ones who can run their own life.

"Do you remember Norma Weasley?" asked Mr Carswell, and Prudence creased her eyebrows, trying to remember. The name rang a bell, but she could not exactly pinpoint it. Mr Carswell said, "the girl with black hair, comes around every three years to buy horses with her father"

"Oh, the Weasleys, yes I remember her" Prudence slapped the flyer on her hand. "I won't say I am fond of her." That girl, Norma Weasley, was her papa's little princess.

Mr Carswell laughed at Prudence's straightforward confession, "No one is fond of girls like Norma, don't let that weigh you down. Come to the farm, I will ask Mister Weasley to record your racing time today. Norma is also going to record it today, to avoid the crowd tomorrow."

Prudence did not understand why Mr Carswell asked her to go through selections today. "I can record my time tomorrow, with everyone else"

"Don't be foolish, Prudence," Mr Carswell waved his hand. "If you focus on selections tomorrow, it will leave all the farm work for me and the boys. You should understand how hectic it would get. I want you on your toes tomorrow, taking care of horses amid the chaos"

Prudence understood how the new boys were clumsy with taking care of the horses. She had been working there from a young age and was used to the horses like the back of her hand. "Okay, let's make haste then, Mr Carswell"

She went to put on the shoes. There was no need to change her clothes, as they would get dirty, anyway. Mr Carswell gave a gentle bow to her mother and went outside to wait.

Elizabeth walked to her daughter and set Prudence's hair properly. "Do an amazing job, Pearlie," Elizabeth said, pulling her daughter in a hug. It seemed like the worry that Prudence had, was evaporated. She said nothing to make her daughter remember how anxious she was a while back. When they broke the hug, she shooed Prudence, "go now, don't wait here watching my face"

"Yes mama, bye-bye" Prudence waved her hand as she stepped outside. Elizabeth waved back and watched her daughter walk a step behind Mr Carswell as they headed to the farm.

When they reached there, one of the young boys working here ran towards, "Mr Carswell, Mr Carswell"

"Aye slow down lad, you will slap your face don't the ground like this," Mr Carswell said in an irritated tone. The boy slowed down and stopped in front of Mr Carswell, huffing of air while his hand kept pointing haphazardly towards the stables. "Take a breath and talk clearly, Richard"

"Mis- Mister We- Weasley and his daughter are here," the boy gulped to wet his parched throat, "they are looking around the stables"

It immediately worried Prudence of her mare, Daisy. " I will escort them out here along with the horses," she said, her feet quick as she walked to the stables. Just what she had feared had happened. The girl, Norma, stood in front of Daisy's stall, with stars in her eyes.