Carola Dunn by Angel

Author:Angel [Angel]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

“Dick Burchett called again while you were out,” said Mrs Sutton at dinner. “He does not seem disturbed to find you always gone when he comes, but you will not wish to give offence, I know. I told him I thought you had no other engagements on Friday and could visit Beckside Farm then.”

“Burchett?” queried Angel, her thoughts far away. “Oh, I remember. The odd one we met after church that first Sunday.”

“Of course we will go,” agreed Catherine. “He is so very unpretentious one cannot help but like him.”

“I promised to pay a visit to Mrs Burchett,” her mother added, “so I will come with you.”

“Unless the invitation is for ladies only, I believe I will join you,” proposed the vicar. “Apart from Lord Grisedale, Mr Burchett is the only landowner in the parish, and I should not like him to feel slighted.”

“Papa, I think you should put in a word for, was it Miss Betsy? It does not seem fair that the son should be kept from his true love because the father sets himself on high form.”

“Or a daughter!” added Angel with unexpected vehemence. “People are always talking about splendid matches and eligible connections, and all that really matters is loving each other. If I fell in love with, with, oh, say with Dick Burchett, I should not be in the least sorry to have whistled Damian down the wind.”

“I must hope you will not do so, my dear,” said her uncle, “for much as I sympathise with your views, I should find myself at a loss to explain it to your parents.”

“Not to mention Miss Betsy,” Catherine pointed out.

“Well, I will not, for I do not like him above half, but I daresay it will be amusing to see the farm, so I will tell Beth I cannot see her on Friday.”

“How is Lady Elizabeth?” asked Mrs Sutton. “I’m afraid she was sadly out of frame last Friday, though she seemed well at church. Her father’s manners must be a constant source of mortification to the poor child.”

“She was happy as a grig today. Aunt Maria, would you say that a minister is a respectable alliance for an earl’s daughter?”

“As the granddaughter of an earl myself, I can hardly deny it, Angel. Of course, my papa was merely a second son.”

“Well, he was my grandfather, so you cannot expect me to concern myself with that.”

“May I enquire where this sudden interest in genealogy is leading?” requested the vicar.

Suddenly aware that she was jeopardising a secret not her own, Angel clapped her hand to her mouth.

“I think you had best not, Papa,” said Catherine calmly. “I can assure you that Angel is not at present contemplating marriage with a clergyman.’’

“My father is a marquis,” Angel pointed out.

Mr and Mrs Sutton exchanged amused glances, and kindly allowed the subject to drop.

Angel and Catherine walked up the Crag with Beth the next day. It was cloudy, and much cooler than the last time Angel had accomplished the climb, but she swore the path had grown steeper in the interim.

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