Funding
Southampton
The change in her mother’s disposition since Charlie had agreed to begin sending them a bit of money was unbelievable to Meg; it was as if she had transformed into some sort of happy-go-lucky girl. It wasn’t what Meg would consider a fortune, but it was enough to make sure necessities were accounted for and the lights stayed on at least.
Mildred had instructed her daughter to describe a party she wanted to have and to ask for enough money for an auto in the first letter. Of course, the money would go to neither of those things. Meg didn’t even need a motor coach of her own anyway. She would much rather ride on horseback if she had to go somewhere close by, and her uncle was rarely home anymore, but his own auto was often parked in the garage where she could get Bitterly to drive her if she needed.
In her last letter, she’d asked for enough for a new dress and some proper jewelry, and Charlie had sent it, asking for a picture of her in the dress with the jewelry in exchange. When she’d asked her mother if she could afford to sit for a photograph now, her mother only laughed. Charlie obviously wouldn’t be getting the requested item.
Meg felt awful about lying to Charlie and taking his money. However, she had little say in the matter. If she refused to write the letters, her mother would simply do it on her own. And Mildred insisted that Charlie was worth millions. What was a few thousand pounds to someone who could afford anything his heart desired?
The thought of money had Meg dreaming of running away again. She’d been doing her best to save as much as she could ever since she was a child. Any time she found a coin or her mother gave her money to purchase something, and she had some left over, she’d put that away. There’d even been a few times when she’d taken loose change off of sideboards—and not always in her own home. The thought of money and freedom made her heart begin to race, and since her mother was down the street visiting Mrs. Donaldson, she decided perhaps it was time to have a little fun like she used to when she was a young girl. She quickly changed into riding clothes and headed off to the carriage house.
There were not nearly as many horses as there had once been, and part of the carriage house had been transformed into a garage for her uncle’s motor coach. Still, Meg’s favorite stallion, Lancelot, met her gaze as she entered the building, and his expression seemed hopeful. He was clearly ready to breathe in some fresh air as well.
She took a quick look around and did not see Mr. Bitterly anywhere. He was likely off in his quarters taking a nap, an activity he seemed to do more and more of these days. Ezra was probably in school, she thought, or off with his friends. She wasn’t quite sure what his educational arrangement happened to be. She only knew that from time to time when her mother asked for him to complete a chore, his father would say he was at school. Since Ezra was slightly older than Meg, it seemed to her he should be finished with his studies by now. It wasn’t as if Ezra were attending university.
Meg pulled a saddle down off the shelf where they were kept and approached Lancelot’s stall. However, a noise behind her caught her attention, and she turned to find Ezra there, nearly right beside her, a curious expression on his face. She jumped, frightened by his sudden proximity, and nearly dropped the saddle on the ground.
Grabbing the heavy device, Ezra took it from her so that it didn’t fall and land on her foot. “Sorry, Meg. I didn’t mean to frighten you,” he said as she relinquished the saddle to his stronger grasp.
“Oh, no. It’s just… I thought I was alone. I didn’t see you.”
“I was in the loft,” he replied, gesturing above them.
“I see,” Meg said, nodding. “I just thought I’d take Lancelot for a quick ride.” The building was rather dark and dusty with fine particles of straw floating in the air, but as Meg looked into Ezra’s eyes, she couldn’t help but think he looked quite handsome despite the debris and his sweaty appearance.
“Why take one horse for a ride when you can take twenty?” he asked with a crooked smile.
Meg was confused. They only had two horses left in their stable. “Whatever do you mean?”
Without answering her, Ezra took the saddle and placed it back where it belonged. He came back to her, took her dainty hand in his rough one, and led her out of the carriage house door, taking a few steps over, and opening the garage door.
Uncle Bertram’s motor coach sat there, clean and shiny. It looked as if it had recently been polished. She looked at the car and then at him. “Are you saying…?”
“Why not?” Ezra asked, still holding her hand.
“I haven’t the foggiest idea how to drive it,” Meg reminded him.
Ezra laughed at her, and at first, Meg was offended, but when she saw his smile, she couldn’t help but join in. “I’ll drive,” he finally managed.
“You know how?” she asked as he released her hand and approached the vehicle.
“Oh, yes. My father taught me. He wanted to be sure I knew how to drive in case your uncle or mother ever needed to get somewhere and he was indisposed.” He was going about readying the vehicle, and Meg simply watched, not even sure where one was to begin. After a few moments, the engine was purring. Ezra went around to the passenger side and held the door for her. “Are you coming?”
Meg knew good and well this was liable to get her in heaps of trouble if her mother or uncle found out. Ezra, too. On the other hand, she couldn’t help but feel as if she would be in trouble either way. The feel of Ezra’s hand on hers still lingered, and the thought of having him drive her around was both tempting and frightening. She’d been thinking about him more and more lately; surely he’d be able to see that in her behavior.
“Meg, your mother will never know, and your uncle is likely passed out at the tavern.”
“It’s not even noon.”
“And?”
He had a point. Meg had been looking for adventure, and now, here it was before her. Without another thought, she climbed into the passenger seat, a grin on her face. Ezra smiled and patted her hand where it rested on the door before he shut it and went around to the driver’s side.
“Hold on,” he said, “this is going to be a wild ride.”
That turned out to be an understatement. While Ezra was quite cautious while driving in town so as to avoid any undue attention, as soon as he made his way out into the country, he pressed the gas pedal down to the floorboard, and they took off. Meg couldn’t imagine ever going so quickly in an automobile. His father only drove slowly and carefully. Ezra made the car do things Meg had no idea it could do, like take corners without braking and slide on the gravel. He even drove it through an open field, which made the sides all muddy, but going over the bumps was particularly exciting to her.
Meg had always known her sense of adventure was still inside her. She just hadn’t been able to find it for so long. Now, here it was again. Ezra had brought it out of her in a way she didn’t even know was possible.
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