Longings of the Heart by Bonnie Leon

Author:Bonnie Leon [Leon, Bonnie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: ebook, book
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2008-09-30T20:00:00+00:00

13

Hannah peered out the carriage window, excited about a day in Sydney Town with her friends. The coach shuddered as it dropped into a hole, and then jolted forward as it found its way out. She could smell the distinctive aroma that came only from the ocean—salt and sea life. Rather than rekindling ugly memories, it revived her. Once she’d thought the months aboard a prison ship had ruined her love of the sea and that she’d never tolerate the pungent ocean aroma. Thankfully, she’d been wrong.

Gazing at the aqua bay, she smiled. How good to be here. It had been too long. With the roads in such dreadful condition, she rarely visited. But today was to be a treat, a special time just for the ladies—her, Lydia, and Gwen.

“I daresay, Sydney Town’s becoming a proper city,” Lydia said, leaning over Hannah for a better look. “It’s quite grown up.”

“I love it here!” Gwen sat across from Hannah and Lydia and gazed out the window beside her. “It was good of the Athertons to let us use the carriage. It’s much more comfortable than a wagon.” She leaned an elbow on the window ledge. “It would be grand to have our lunch at a café. When I lived in London, I’d sometimes see the well-to-do in a fancy café. They’d be sitting at tables with linen tablecloths and flowers in the center, drinking from elegant goblets. I always thought one day I’d like to do that.”

“I doubt Sydney Town has anything so grand as that, but I’m sure we can find one with good food.” Hannah smiled at her two comrades. “Thank you for inviting me. It’s been far too long since I’ve had such an outing.”

“We thought it time you got away from that farm of yours and had a bit of merriment.” Lydia grinned. “And I agree that lunch together would be fun.”

Her eyes wide with anticipation, Gwen adjusted her bonnet. “I’ve so much to do. I’m not sure just what should come first.” She pulled her cloak more tightly about her shoulders. “It’s a shame the weather’s turned cold. This would be so much more pleasant if it were warm.”

“It is chilly.” Hannah rested gloved hands on a coverlet draped over her knees. “I’m glad I thought to bring my lap blanket.”

“I daresay, it’s utterly cold, but then August can be that way.” Lydia glanced at heavy clouds. “Perhaps there’ll be a rain shower or two. Mrs. Atherton is hoping so. She said it’s been too dry this winter.”

Gwen leaned her head against the edge of the window and gazed out. “I do miss the snow. It seemed to make the world brighter and cleaner.”

“Cleaner . . . until the horses and carriages started mucking things up. Then it was an utter mess.” Lydia made a face that showed her distaste.

“Well, I don’t miss the bitter cold at all,” Hannah said. “There were too many days that no matter how much coal we fed the stove, the house never felt warm.

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.