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them?”she asked eagerly.
    “Why, of course, my angel. But not in the shop. You shall have what you need in the cottage. Not that I intend you shall spend all your time working, mind you. You will want to get to know the town. And I shall need to make some provision for a horse for you. Perhaps the Feather and Flask would make an arrangement with us.”
     

Chapter Three
     
    As the post-chaise came out of the forest, they caught sight of the inn almost immediately. Even though the day was gray, the brick building looked welcoming. The green across from the row of shops was now occupied by the stalls and booths of a country fair and Felicia squealed with delight.
    “Oh, what a crowd. There is a Punch and Judy show! May we go, Mama? Please say we may.”Felicia sounded like the child she should have been, if the harsh realities of life had not forced themselves on her. Alicia nodded her amused agreement, but insisted that they claim their room first. When they presented themselves to the landlord, however, he was apologetic and harassed.
    “Oh, my lady, I saved your room for you just as I promised, but I cannot get the gentleman out of it! He came last night and I said as how he could have the room for one night, but it was spoken for from today. He agreed to such an arrangement, but he will not budge now. Him be out to the fair and left his man in the room. What with all the activity, I have not another bed in the house, not a shakedown or sofa not occupied.”
    Alicia regarded him quizzingly. “Surely a man of your size should be able to move a gentleman’s valet from a room. My daughter and I have been promised a room and I assure you that we intend to have it, since we must. Would you prefer that I route this interloper?”
    The landlord smiled reluctantly at her. “No, my lady. I can handle it better’n you. Would you care to restyourselves in the parlor for a moment?”
    Alicia agreed to do so, and led Felicia into the oak-paneled parlor, where they seated themselves comfortably on the two winged chairs provided there. They grinned at each other when they heard a disturbance on the floor above them and it was some time before the landlord arrived to announce, “Your room is ready, Lady Coombs. My wife has set things to order and I will show you there myself. Your trunks will be sent up directly.”
    “Thank you, Mr. Harper. We appreciate your efforts,”Alicia remarked, a wide grin bringing out her dimples. “I hope we have not lost you any important custom.”
    “I assure you I never set eyes on the young man before in my life,”he proclaimed.
    When Alicia and her daughter had refreshed themselves and bestowed those belongings they would need immediately from their trunks, they descended again to the ground floor, assured the landlord that everything was to their liking, and emerged into the cloudy afternoon to view the fair. There were a myriad of delights to fascinate Felicia—marionette performances, a ropewalker, a trained monkey, the Punch and Judy show, a skittle alley, and a gambling booth. There was even a small roundabout and a fiddler. Felicia watched a sword swallower with amazement and bought a sweet from the bellowing vendor. She ate this treat while she watched a young man at the shooting gallery miss his target each time, amidst the good-natured disparagements of his companions.
    Alicia delighted in her daughter’s enjoyment of the festivities and laughingly suggested that it would be wisest not to buy a ballad from the young man hawking them, as they were like to bring a blush to her face. Felicia wandered on and eventually settled before the Punch and Judy show, her countenance reflecting the vicissitudes of that age-old entertainment. Alicia was more interested in the people about her and surveyed the crowds of laughing people carefully. They had discovered that this was the last day of the fair, and there was an undercurrent of reckless abandon about the partakers. Mr. Dean made his way