“Of course, Sarah. What is it?”

I shuffle my feet as I try to find the words even though I practiced a dozen times. “Well, ma’am, I was wondering. I have my free afternoon coming up. Tomorrow. And Missus Welleby, when she had her baby last month, she said she’d have me back on my free afternoons to do some cleaning and extra washing and all. She said she’d talk to you about letting me hire out.”

She pinches her lips and I know already what her answer’s going to be. “Missus Welleby spoke to me about this, but I let her know it was a foolish notion. I let you work there out of Christian kindness. I knew she couldn’t cope with that new baby on top of the other three, and barely a house girl in sight. But the Lord’s Day is not meant for scavenging around for pennies, Sarah. I would have thought you had enough Bible in you to know that.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Besides, you don’t need money. You’re well provided for here.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“You want for nothing.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She cocks her head watching me. “I know what this is about,” she says with a voice like skipping stones. Bouncy and light, but heavy all at the same time. “I see you’re wearing a new scarf.”

I touch my head thinking of Henry giving it to me. My smile flashes out before I can pull it back in, but she’s seen it. “This here was a gift.”

“And I can guess where it came from.”

The bottom drops straight out of my stomach. Maybe Master and Missus ain’t so blind as they seem.

“Oh, Sarah. I’m not angry,” she says, seeing my worry. “I’ve seen the way Red stands close to you and talks right up in your ear. Smitten, I’d say.”

“You seen what?”

“He must have bartered for it the last time he drove his master into town. Well, no harm in that, I suppose.”

For a second my mind goes stupid, thinking to correct her with the truth. I mash my teeth together to keep the words in.

“And I can understand you wanting to buy him something in return.” Standing, she walks over to me and I grip at my skirt, staring at my feet.

“You’re at an age where you should be paired up, and Red’s a good choice for you. I’ll have a word with your master.”

“Please don’t say nothing, Missus. Please don’t.” I wish, for both our sakes, he’d gotten away with his runaway.

“You leave it to me.” She pats me atop my head. “And let’s have no more talk about earning money on a Sunday. He’ll hardly expect you to come with a dowry.”

Chapter 25

Maple

On Saturday afternoon, Willa catches me in the kitchen house staring off into nothing, thinking on Rose and Freddy and Momma.

“Master wants to see you in his study,” she says, pulling me out of my thoughts.