Northern Rain by Nicole Clarkston

Author:Nicole Clarkston [Clarkston, Nicole]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Manuscript Template, Public
Publisher: Nicole Clarkston
Published: 2016-06-20T04:00:00+00:00

~

Margaret’s heart sank. All she could see of him now was the top of his hat and his broad, black shoulders as he disappeared up the street with his family. She had so hoped to speak with him! Of course she could not openly thank him for his thoughtfulness, but he was certainly perceptive enough to sense her gratitude. She would have given a great deal to know the full measure of what he might have expressed to her ears alone. Even in public, however, she had come to know his ways so well that a mere few seconds could have conveyed to her volumes of his thoughts and feelings.

To see his disagreeable mask back in place and his back turned once more made her wish she could retreat to the privacy of her own room to soak in self-pity. With all of her determination, she forced herself to attend Genevieve’s words. That John Thornton was disappointed could not be just enough cause for her to forget her own manners! Indeed, there might yet come a day where she would be forced to disappoint him. She would have to become intimately acquainted with her feelings of regret.

“Margaret,” Genevieve was imploring, “do walk with us this afternoon! Rupert and I were going to take in the Square, and we would so wish for your company.”

“Oh, I do not know if I…” she searched out her father’s face, trying to decide if she could neatly excuse herself. Walking might have been pleasant, but at the moment, time spent with the woman John ought rightly to marry was a bitter pill to her.

“Surely,” Genevieve followed her gaze, “your father is quite well enough to do without you, is he not? He looks very well today!”

Margaret tamped down a sigh of resignation. “He is better, yes.” She glanced quickly at the skies, searching for and finding the excuse she needed. “I fear, however, that it will rain rather heavily this afternoon, and I do not wish to leave him to return home alone.”

“Oh, why I have just had the perfect idea. Let us walk you to your door!”

“Are you quite sure you wish to walk so far out of your way?” Margaret glanced upward uncertainly. “The weather looks rather unpromising for your return.”

“Oh, we can hail a cab if need be,” the other woman returned airily. “There are more Sunday cabs now, so we shall have no trouble securing one if the need arises.”

“Of course, and you must stay to tea,” Margaret smiled her acceptance. Genevieve had been kind to her, after all, and she had no right to avoid her friend simply to nurse her own bruised feelings. John would be only right to choose Miss Hamilton, and Margaret would not degrade her own dignity or destroy any hope of remaining friendship by spiteful behaviour.

Genevieve clapped giddily, pleased to have gained the point in effectively isolating Margaret from John Thornton for the remainder of the Sunday. “Rupert! Rupert, come! We are to see Margaret and her father home!”

The foursome set out, Rupert offering his arm to Margaret.

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