Clemmie's Major by McLeod Lesley-Anne

Author:McLeod, Lesley-Anne [McLeod, Lesley-Anne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

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CHAPTER SEVEN

Clementina was comfortably established in the great hall before the majority of the household departed for divine services the next morning. She was tucked up with shawls and nostrums, books and flowers and Kit had brought a quantity of toys and his own books to entertain himself, and her.

As he busied himself, she indulged her thoughts, although she would not allow herself to consider Major Gideon Rhyle. But she would admit that she had been happy she was wearing her new habit when Major Rhyle had found her after ignominious fall.

She shook her head and rather, turned her mind to consider her son, and his inheritance, Carmelth. How were they managing without her she wondered, her devoted and kindly staff, and the elderly grandmother of her late husband? She must not be too long away, she decided, but return to her solitary life held not the appeal it once had.

Her thoughts wandered on. In passing, she considered Louisa, whose happiness daily improved, and to Susan, at last beginning to set aside childish pursuits. To her dearest brother, Nicholas, she sent prayers; surely he would return to them. If only they all could be as happy as Eleonora and her Robert.

Her thoughts slid back to the major. Would he look for her at the ancient church in Lindfield today? There was only one week left of their visit in Sussex. She could wish, now after her accident, that she had not agreed to travel on to Brighton with her family. She had just as soon return to Carmelth to recuperate.

Where would life lead Gideon Rhyle after his visit with his cousins? Before she could pursue that immaterial thought, her ruminations were interrupted by the arrival of her sister, Felicity.

“I thought you were gone to services!” she said.

Felicity was aglow, fairly dancing in her blue silk slippers. “I told Mama I should be good company for you and Kit. And so I shall ... I have so much to tell you.” She settled into the least unwelcoming chair nearby, wriggled herself to comfort, and continued, “I had a most interesting day yesterday while you were about your accident. Well, it did not appear at first to be fortuitous ... it began wretchedly. Things do come about surprisingly sometimes, do they not?” She pondered that oddity for a long moment.

Clementina choked back a chuckle.

“Lady Damerham enlisted me—me!—to accompany Louisa to the vicarage on an errand. Eleonora and Susan were with Mama, Robert off somewhere, and you were nowhere to be found. So was I entrapped.” She dwelt a moment upon the injustice.

Clementina's sympathies lay with Louisa.

“The drive was mercifully short, though I must say the child drives tolerably, but when we arrived, we stood in a nasty little wind, chattering. Louisa soon went off with the vicar's wife and daughter upon whatever silly errand we were to be about, and someone arrived to see the vicar. I said I would be most happy just to look about the rose garden. It at least was sheltered from the wind.

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