All the Pretty Places by Joy Callaway

Author:Joy Callaway
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2023-05-09T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

I saw no reason to prevent the world from knowing that my life was now over, so I donned my mourning dress again the following day. Agnes begged me to wear anything else—even the white linen costumes she had so criticized in the past. In a way it was freeing to know I could do no worse by Father.

Last night, after watching him from my window as he attempted to smooth things over with my suitors, I’d told Agnes I needed stationery to write some letters. She assumed they were farewell notes, but if I was to be shipped off with no return date issued, I had to do everything I could think of to further the notion of a public park in my absence. Ordinarily I’d think twice about being so bold, but Father was already beyond angry with me anyway, and my wish to run the nurseries was completely dashed.

I’d written to the Parkses, the Jays, and the Parsonses—all the estates Harry had mentioned he would try to obtain for me. Collectively they owned half of Rye. I told them of the plight of our neighbors and the need for a natural place of respite and asked if they would consider donating some of their land.

Then I’d written to Mr. Vaux. Of course, he wasn’t a nursery man, but he knew others beyond Father. I told him of my aspirations here in Rye and asked if he would provide his expertise if the land were donated. Father would undoubtedly want to strangle me for writing such letters, but I’d told the recipients there was no need to reply, that I was being sent to Stuttgart and would provide my address when I got there, so perhaps Father wouldn’t be aware for months.

“Do put up your parasol, Miss Sadie,” Agnes said from behind me.

We were traipsing through the wooded part of our land on my second of two permitted walks for the day. I wondered at the bright spring sunshine beaming through the treetops and the delicate curled shoots of forest ferns emerging from the ground. I preferred to traverse the wilderness on our outings. Taking a turn around the nurseries’ grounds without being able to check the new growth of my peonies or help orchestrate an order was a torture I couldn’t bear.

“I don’t need it. I have the trees,” I said, gesturing up. I swung the folded parasol in front of me. The feathers along the edges fluttered.

“There’s still a bit of sun, and that mourning bonnet isn’t covering your face in the slightest,” Agnes said.

“I don’t have a parasol when I work in the nurseries.” I lifted a hand to the soft ruche of lace and then the jet passementerie.

“Yes, but you wear a wide-brimmed hat, Miss Sadie.” Agnes huffed behind me, and I tried not to laugh. “Even so, your skin is affected quite a bit. I do believe staying out of the nurseries and taking a leave in Stuttgart will be wonderful for your skin.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.