Love Bade Me Welcome by Joan Smith

Author:Joan Smith [Smith, Joan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Victorian Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Belgrave House
Published: 1984-08-01T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

The argument with Homer, though not revealed to the family, cast a pall over life at Wyngate. Our tea parties in his study were discontinued. It was discomforting to have to sit beside him at table. We were each at pains to avoid the other as much as possible, which was most of the time. He breakfasted early; I made sure to stay in my room till he left on his morning’s business. When he returned for lunch, and on many days he did not, he arrived at odd times. Being cook’s favorite, he was catered to at whatever inconvenient hour he popped in. It was only at dinner that we had to sit beside each other. My place had been arranged at his right, and to change it would require an explanation which we were loath to give.

So we sat side by side, making stilted talk. How was I feeling today, was the usual opener. My unexciting day’s activities were mentioned. He said vaguely what he had been doing. The weather took up a few moments, impinging as it did on his own work about the place, affecting crops and so on. The family in general were kept informed on the progress of the drainage work going forth. Any small local doings were stretched out to their limit. Births—was it Mrs. Gilchrist’s fourth child, or her third? How many boys did that make, then? And the eldest, Billie—would he be ten now? Soon able to help his father with the farm work. Old Tom could use a hand around the place. Jarvis and Millie were helpful in this charade. They knew something was wrong between us, and it was inevitable that Millie would want to hear about it, Jarvis too was curious, but more discreet.

I felt alone, cut off from my old home and friends, with many troubles to beset me. Thal, who might have made a good confidante, was eliminated. I could hardly discuss her son in unflattering terms with her. But Homer was not the only weight on my mind. I thought of Norman’s inexplicable behavior, and of Millie’s tale about his mother. When the opportunity arose, I asked Jarvis about the latter. It was in the saloon one afternoon we happened to be there alone together.

“How did Norman’s mother die, Jarvis?” I asked.

“Has Millie been telling you tales?” he asked sapiently.

“Yes. She fell from a window or roof, I take it?”

“We don’t know what happened. No one saw it,” he told me, with a sorrowful shake of his head. “She was an unstable girl. After Norman was born she went into a strong state of depression. It happens sometimes with women. She was suicidal. She tried to cut her wrists. Roger had to have a nurse with her around the clock. The nurse said she tried to jump out the window one night, so they moved her to the virgin’s room, behind her own chamber. It has no window, and can only be reached through the larger bedchamber.

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.