Christmas in a Castle by Samantha Hastings

Author:Samantha Hastings [Hastings, Samantha]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scribbling Pens
Published: 2023-11-26T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6

Mary prepared for another boring Sunday service. Sighing, she missed both her father and his sermons. Papa’s words were elegant, understandable, and thoughtful; they filled her soul with an eager desire to do better. Revered Turpin’s did not. She only felt dread when she heard the low, growly timbre of his voice. His complicated theology and extended historical theories were convoluted and dull. Not that she would ever say as much to her charges.

Putting on her bonnet, Mary tied the ribbon underneath her chin. A person did not need to leave the inside of the castle to enter the chapel, but Mary still wished to show the Lord her best efforts. She pulled her mother’s cashmere shawl over her shoulders. It felt like a warm hug. How she wished that she could be spending the holiday with her family this year, but she had chosen to take time at Easter instead. She would not repine now. The Stringhams felt like her second family and they treated her as such. Many governesses were not accepted by their employers or by the servants. Mary was lucky enough to consider herself a friend to both.

She waved to Miss Wade, who was dressed in a severely cut black pelisse. “Is Lady Frederica ready?”

The stern woman snorted. “She is dressed if that is what you mean. I cannot be sure that she will attend Sunday service. Her ladyship complained of the ailment she often feels only on Sabbath mornings.”

The Stringhams called it the Sunday sickness, and it was coined by Lady Hampford in reference to her husband, who missed his fair share of services and snored through the rest. Mary thanked Wade and circled back to her charges’ rooms and insisted that all three girls come with her to the chapel. They had invited Trevor to stay and therefore they must come with him to church. He was already seated when they arrived, and he stood up like the thoughtful gentleman he was.

Despite the dull sermons, Mary loved the castle’s chapel. It was old and beautiful, dark and mysterious, and the sun shone through the colorful stained-glass window of Michael battling the armies of Satan. The girls all plopped down on the pew, leaving her little space to sit by Trevor. She was certain that they did it on purpose and she could not be angry, for it felt thrilling to have her entire leg touching Trevor’s. A warm heat centered in her belly, and she wondered if such pleasure was a sin.

The side door of the chapel that led to the chaplain’s rooms burst open and Reverend Turpin’s housekeeper rushed out. Her usually tidy hair was coming out of her cap, and she still wore an apron over her dress.

“Miss Perkins, I cannot wake the reverend, and it is all your fault.”

Mary touched her chest. “How could that possibly be my fault?”

The housekeeper pointed her stubby finger at the Stringham girls. “Your charges have poisoned my husband.”

Mary had a quick intellect, but this revelation took her a few moments to follow.

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