When I finally returned home, without my fresh herbs, my basket ruined, Tess took one look at me and barely stifled a shriek.

“What the devil happened to you, Mrs. H.?”

“A wall fell down,” I said. “I happened to be near. I’d better go wash up.”

They all stared at me—Mrs. Redfern, Mr. Davis, Elsie, little Charlie. I took off my coat, dismayed at the pebbles and dust that rained from it. A gash in the coat’s sleeve made me even more unhappy.

“That will have to be cleaned and mended,” I said with a sigh. “Did Miss Townsend return?”

“No, but she sent that.” Tess pointed with the knife she held at a box on a stool, which overflowed with greenery.

The delightful odors assailed me even as I reached it. Dill and thyme, parsley and chervil, chives and spinach, everything perfectly green and crisp, not a wilting stalk in sight.

“Very kind,” I said in delight. I lifted a strand of rosemary and slid it under my nose, enjoying the clean fragrance.

“Generous,” Mrs. Redfern said. “Those came from a fine garden, if I’m any judge. She’s a well-off lady, no mistake.”

“Miss Townsend said she could get her hands on a rare Sauternes,” Mr. Davis said, a glow in his eyes. “Though Mr. Bywater might balk at the price.”

“Lord Rankin might not,” I said. “Apply to him.”

The glow flared. “Excellent idea, Mrs. Holloway. I’ll write to him at once.”

Mr. Davis glided off, a spring in his step. Miss Townsend had known exactly how to turn him up sweet, I noted. She’d done the same with Mrs. Bywater and, now with these herbs, me.

“You look a fright, Mrs. Holloway,” Mrs. Redfern told me. She, of course, was as neat as ever, not a hair out of place. “Upstairs with you to wash. Take care you’re not seen.”

Her advice was good. Mrs. Bywater might once again decide to sack me if she saw me in this state.

When I reached my bedchamber and looked into the small mirror that rested on the bureau, I winced. Mrs. Redfern had been right to call me a fright.

My face was red as though I’d been sunburned, streaked with white dirt and smears of blood. Bessie and I had rubbed the worst from our faces, but we’d had to make do. My hair had been mostly protected by my hat, which itself was in a sad state. I dropped it to the chair—it was the same hat that had been soaked on my day out, and I definitely needed to clean and retrim it.