Alresford is a charming Hampshire town, where you can easily take a step back in time. I was on the look out for a coaching inn for the characters in my story and The Swan was exactly right. One of the waitresses there remembered that not many years ago there had been a wide entrance for coaches to sweep in from the street and drive between the buildings to the stableyard. That is now all renovated and part of the restaurant. But easy enough to picture as it was in 1814.
[ You can read about the history of The Swan here:
https://www.swanhotelalresford.com/about/our-history.html ]
Now for the story - The Rake's Challenge
[ You can read about the history of The Swan here:
https://www.swanhotelalresford.com/about/our-history.html ]
Now for the story - The Rake's Challenge
Driving in Giles' curricle behind his splendid matched horses, Anna cannot help enjoying the ride. They stop in Alresford at The Swan.
' He swept under the archway and through to the yard of The Swan. Ostlers came running to attend to the horses. Giles jumped down, and helped her descend. He noted how gracefully she managed this.
' He swept under the archway and through to the yard of The Swan. Ostlers came running to attend to the horses. Giles jumped down, and helped her descend. He noted how gracefully she managed this.
'Do you always stop at hostelries
called The Swan?' she asked as they approached the open door where the landlord
stood waiting.
'Anna
was impressed by the ease and speed with which Giles whisked her into a private
parlour. She was even more impressed when a meal started to appear almost
immediately. The drive had made her hungry. She removed her bonnet and came to
survey the food on the table. The serving boy was hurrying in with a large dish
of vegetables. Anna sniffed appreciatively. 'That smells delicious.'
The young man looked up, gaped at
her and set the dish down too close to the edge of the table. There was a
mighty crash, which brought him back to his senses. 'Sorry, sorry, miss…sir…'
He fled.
Giles shook his head, his mouth thin
with annoyance. Anna smiled uncertainly. 'That was a silly thing to do-' she
began but stopped as the landlady bustled in and quickly cleared up the mess.
She gave the floor a last wipe and straightened up. She glared at Anna then
turned her fearsome gaze on Giles before sweeping out. The serving boy came
back in, eyes lowered and bashfully set another dish of vegetables down
carefully before scuttling out and closing the door behind him.
Giles sighed as he carved the
sirloin. 'I must remember not to come here again for some considerable time.'
'Why ever is that?' Anna inspected
all the dishes eagerly and helped herself to a generous portion of vegetables.
'Mmm, carrots, my favourite.' When there was no answer to her question, she
eventually looked up. Giles was leaning back in his chair, watching her.
'Are you not hungry?' she asked,
eager to begin her meal but making herself wait until he had served himself.
He shook his head slowly. There was
a strange little smile on his face. 'Miss Lawrence, you are an education. I
begin to perceive that I have taken on a new role in life. Perhaps it's doing
me good.' He poured some lemonade into her glass. 'Behold me in the position of
chaperon!'
Anna frowned over this. 'Surely we
are only two travellers, whose paths go together for a short while?'
He laughed. 'You just do not
understand, do you? You have been too sheltered from the real world. You bewitched
that poor mooncalf of a serving boy. And you're not aware of why, are you?' He
set his glass down abruptly. 'And the landlady evidently thinks I'm running
away with you.'
excerpt from The Rake's Challenge
2 Comments
Close this windowJump to comment form