A Refuge for Rosanna by Susan Karsten

Author:Susan Karsten
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Christian Fiction, inspirational fiction, Clean and Wholesome Novels, Religion and Spirituality
Publisher: Pelican Book Group
Published: 2019-06-18T16:00:00+00:00

28

Departing from Rosanna’s delectable company, he reversed course and entered the vicarage grounds through a black wrought iron gate. After closing the gate, Lord Winstead approached the vicarage door, his emotions mixed. He enjoyed his few talks with the minister so far, but the time had come when he needed to go deeper—to confess his sin. An ugly blot kept him from a clear conscience. He needed to deal with his transgression.

Compassionate to a fault, Mr. Clough appeared to be the best person to help him rid himself of a mortifying burden of a sin too heavy to bear alone. Convinced the minister wouldn’t be too shocked, and if he was, he’d hide it, Peter forced his reluctant feet to the door and knocked, half-hoping no one was home.

A maid answered and ushered him into a cozy dining room. He discovered the minister already seated at a table with an expectant look on his face.

“So glad you could join me, sit right here.” He gestured to a place set across the table.

Peter sat down with rising trepidation.

A mob-capped serving girl backed into the room carrying a loaded tray. She unloaded a tureen, a heaping basket of rolls, and a butter dish. She then served each man a bowl of steaming soup, before leaving the room with the tray tucked under her arm.

“Shall we pray?” Mr. Clough proceeded to ask God’s blessing upon their meal and their time together. “Lord God, King of the Universe, we beseech a blessing upon this bounty mercifully provided for us. May our words be edifying and full of grace. Amen.”

“Delicious.” Peter set down his spoon a short time later. The meals he’d been throwing together of late consisted of nothing near as tasty as this. “Living alone in my cottage has its merits, but cookery isn’t one of them.” Peter’s words set the course of the conversation, preparing the basis to work his way around to the painful revelation he needed to make.

“My small staff takes good care of me. I am grateful.” The minister’s response downplayed Lord Winstead’s reduced circumstances.

Clough’s kindness gave him the courage to forge on into difficult territory. “I want to talk about…” The serving girl re-entered the room bearing another tray with two plates of roast beef and vegetables. She set one plate down before each man, bobbed a curtsey and departed for the kitchens.

Peter let his words die away for now, instead addressing the appetizing meal with his knife and fork. What he had to say could wait. Determined to get it off his chest today, a half hour either way made no earthly difference. Besides, the maid would return with pudding before long. He’d bide his time.

~*~

“Ah, a fine meal.” Mr. Clough pushed back his chair and moved over to an alcove featuring a bank of broad, low windows.

The arrangement of two upholstered chairs and a divan provided a view of the gardens and the woods beyond. Both men sat.

The minister locked his fingers, elbows on the chair’s arms.

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