Set in the 1800s

CHARLOTTE! Bless me, where is the girl?” The woman stood looking around her. “I think she’s in the dairy, Cook,” the little scullery maid ventured. “She’s churning the milk.”

“Tell her to come. I want her to – oh, never mind, Lizzie, I’ll go myself.”

And she bustled off across the kitchen yard.

As she approached the dairy, she heard soft singing and smiled to herself.

A sunny little soul, always singing, though the girl had precious little to sing about, with both her parents dead and her grandmother ailing. “Charlotte.”

“Yes, Cook?” The girl was peering into the churn. “It’s almost turning, I think.”

“Well, never mind that – Lizzie can finish it. I want you to go to Top Meadow and milk Buttercup.” “But Silas –”

“Silas says that cow doesn’t like him milking her.

“Says she has a mind of her own and won’t let her milk down for him.

“Mistress fancies a drop of Jersey milk in her tea this morning. There’s the pail.”

****

Matthew wandered along the lane. It was a beautiful spring morning, the air heavy with the scent of May blossom and early honeysuckle, while in the damp hedge bottoms celandines and violets peeped out.

But the young man was so deep in his thoughts that he saw nothing of them.

It was no use. Inspiration would not come.

He struck his balled fist into his other palm with frustration.

He wanted – needed – something new if he was to impress, something that had never been done before.

He almost trod on a clump of primroses in the rutted lane and, stooping, he picked a couple of the delicate blooms to tuck into his lapel.

As he straightened up, he heard someone talking softly, and leaping up the bank, he peered over the hedge.

In the middle of the meadow was a young girl in a calico sunbonnet, her plain sprigged muslin gown tucked up into her petticoat.

Her back was towards him and she was talking to a Jersey cow that seemed to be taking in every word.

“Now, Buttercup, you’re going to be a good girl, aren’t you? Mistress wants some of your creamy milk.”

It seemed the animal was agreeable for the girl settled herself on a three-legged stool, leaning her face, still hidden from