"How long will you be away?" Hayley fought back tears.
"I do not know, but I will not be gone long." Maddie turned and picked up her bag.
"Though I 'm a lady now, I still need you more than ever." Hayley frowned.
"I will tell you what I shall do." Maddie's eyes brightened. "I will inform Mrs. Sommers that I will have a need of you to deliver messages to me from Mr.
Lawrence." She paused for a bit. "I will also, if necessary, send Mr. Sommers to deliver messages." Hayley knew exactly to which Mr. Sommers Maddie was referring. She took the bag from Maddie. They gave each other a triumphant glance, as they left the room.
_ _
Hayley sat on the front porch, her eyes fixed on the road as she waited to see Austin's carriage approach the front gate. Maddie sat down beside Hayley, on the porch swing, to await Austin's arrival.
"I just spoke with your father about how capable I know you are with the housekeeping while I'm away."
"Did you also tell him that I need to bring you messages?"
Hayley could see by the puzzled look on her face that she had forgotten.
"Oh, Maddie." she was pricked with disappointment.
"Hayley, perhaps it will not be necessary. I should not be away for long."
"You promised me!" Hayley rose from the swing, walked to the railing, and leaned against it. She didn't want to look at Maddie as she spoke. "You do not yet know how long you will be needed." Her ears caught the sound of an approaching horse carriage. Her heart seemed to skip a beat as she looked up and saw her former beau approaching the yard. As he coaxed the horses to a halt, Hayley stifled the urge to run to him. It took only a few seconds for her to notice that he did not seem eager to jump from the carriage into her arms.
She wondered if the last six months had changed her so dramatically that he did not recognize her. She thought that perhaps with the brightness of the sun, he did not see her standing beside the large column, above the stairway of the porch. She didn't want to appear too eager to see him.
Austin stepped down from the carriage and walked toward the Lawrence mansion. He noticed the fragrance of freshly bloomed lilacs that surrounded the spacious house and the well-groomed yard, with its huge trees that stood guard, and supplied comfortable shade.