A Class Coveted: A sweeping Irish historical romance saga (A Matter of Class Book 4) by Susie Murphy

Author:Susie Murphy [Murphy, Susie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2021-11-28T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 26

Another year and a half slipped by and by the time they reached their third summer in Acorn House, Bridget had ascertained that there wasn’t a breath of air to be had anywhere inside once the sun rose on the hottest days. On this Fourth of July, she traipsed from the front of the house to the back, propping each door open wide, including the door separating the front room and the kitchen. She then stood on that threshold and waited for a breeze to waft through. None came. She sighed, knowing all along it would be a vain attempt. It was so unlike the weather she had experienced in Ireland and England where truly sweltering days had been a rarity. Sometimes she found herself longing for the cool, high-ceilinged entrance hall of Oakleigh.

‘Still, we wouldn’t change you for the world,’ she said, patting the doorframe fondly.

‘Are you talking to the house?’ came Orlaith’s voice.

Bridget looked up quickly to see Orlaith and Tess entering through the open front door. ‘No,’ she said and, to cover her embarrassment, hurried on, ‘You’re a bit earlier than I expected. I don’t have the food ready yet.’

‘Not to worry, we can help you,’ said Orlaith. Now seventeen, she had developed a lot over the past year and a half, her adolescent body filling out with more womanly curves. She grinned and added, ‘Happy Independence Day!’

The family was gathering today to celebrate the special occasion out of loyalty to their adopted home. Needless to say, given the success of American liberty from British rule, they continued to harbour hopes of a similar triumph for the Irish people back in their homeland.

As Bridget reciprocated the felicitations, she glanced at Tess. Always rather prickly, she had been growing steadily more distant for quite a while now, to the point that Bridget had hardly even seen her in recent months. She had a pinched look about her and only muttered a greeting without making eye contact.

‘Charlie should be along shortly too,’ said Orlaith. She flushed and Bridget didn’t think it was on account of the heat.

A loud thumping resounded on the ceiling above. Bridget marched to the bottom of the stairs and shouted up, ‘Quieten down, both of you!’

She received two boyish grumbles of compliance in response.

As she returned to the others, Orlaith said shyly, ‘Do you have a few moments before we start preparing the food? I’d like to talk about something important.’

‘Of course,’ said Bridget, intrigued.

She, Orlaith and Tess pulled out chairs to sit around the kitchen table. There were a few letters scattered upon it; Bridget shuffled them into a pile and set them to one side. Tess folded her arms and half faced away towards the window but Orlaith sat up straight, palms flat on the table’s surface.

‘I spoke with Sister Annunciata yesterday,’ she said. ‘The Ursulines’ attempt to revive the convent and school hasn’t worked. They’re leaving Boston again.’

‘Goodness, that is a shame,’ said Bridget. ‘Where will they go?’

Orlaith swallowed audibly. ‘Quebec, or New Orleans.

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