Edward Marston_Christopher Redmayne 03 by The Repentant Rake

Author:The Repentant Rake
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Jonathan (Fictitious Character), Mystery & Detective, Redmayne, Bale, Crime, Christopher (Fictitious Character), General, Historical, Fiction
ISBN: 9780747275862
Publisher: Allison & Busby
Published: 2001-01-01T06:00:00+00:00

For two days, Lucy Cheever barely left her room. The funeral had been a severe trial for her and she lay prostrate on her bed for most of the time. Even her maidservant was only allowed limited access to her. Lucy's collapse aroused mixed feelings in the household. Sir Julius was at once sad and relieved, sorry that she was suffering so badly but glad to be left alone to nurse his own woes. Before he learned more about his daughter-in-law, he wanted to clarify his feelings about his son. Lancelot Serle was sympathetic to the young widow but Brilliana was more critical, unable to accept that a secret marriage entitled Lucy to the attention she was receiving and unwilling to embrace her in the way that Susan had done. Brilliana bickered so much on the subject with her father and sister that Sir Julius was on the point of ordering her out of the house. Serle anticipated him and, in a gesture that earned a rare compliment from his father-in-law, more or less hustled his fractious wife into their coach to take her back to Richmond.

The atmosphere in the house improved markedly. As if sensing the fact, Lucy made her appearance on the third day, apologising profusely for imposing on her hosts and for remaining out of sight. Susan Cheever took her off to her own room so that they could talk in private. While Lucy sat in the chair, she perched on the bed.

'How are you feeling now, Lucy?' she began.

'As if all the life has been drained out of me.'

'We all feel like that.'

'What happened to your sister?'

'Brilliana decided to return to Richmond.'

'I heard her voice a number of times.'

'Yes,' said Susan wearily, 'Brilliana tends to shout, I fear, especially when she's losing an argument. It was best for all of us that her husband took her away when he did. The house seems much quieter all of a sudden.'

'Do you see much of your sister?'

'Enough.'

'She is so unlike you, Susan,' said Lucy 'Gabriel warned me that she would be.'

'Do you have any brothers or sisters?'

'Not any more. I had one of each but both died during the Plague.'

'What about your parents?'

'My mother is a widow.' She felt a lurch of recognition. 'Just like me.'

'Not quite, Lucy. You were unlucky. Gabriel was taken before his time.'

'I wish that I had been killed alongside him!'

Susan was shocked. 'That's a dreadful thought!' she exclaimed.

'At least we'd still be together.'

'You are together, Lucy. As long as you preserve his memory.'

'I'll cherish it for ever.'

Susan felt a pang of regret that she had never seen her brother and his wife together. They must have made a handsome couple, but there was far more to their marriage than a pleasing appearance. Lucy had somehow managed to rescue Gabriel from his former dissolute existence and give him a sense of purpose. In doing so, she had found her own true path through life.

'May I ask how you met?' said Susan.

'By accident.'

'Where? Gabriel said so little about you in his letters, apart from the fact that he loved you to distraction, that is.

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.