Prue Phillipson - Hordens of Horden Hall by Height of Folly

Author:Height of Folly
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Knox Robinson Publishing
Published: 2014-05-27T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

On a day of continental heat the stagecoach, bearing Deborah, John, Matt and Suzette with baby Nathamiel and his nurse passed through Durham County on the last stretch of their journey home. Deborah sat still, utterly absorbed with the prospect of seeing her father again and anticipating the joy of Grandmother Bel.

John kept looking from the windows and remarking on the signs of new coal workings. Crossing the Tyne Bridge he pointed out the mass of coal-barges in the river.

“Look there, Deb, the north-east is the engine of the whole country. Whoever controls this trade will have London in their power.”

Deborah wondered if the prospect of being a landowner here was at last exciting him. She herself was not so sure that she wanted to see Newcastle as a coal town with tentacles of industry creeping into the countryside.

At the staging inn in Newcastle the Horden carriage was waiting for them. Suzette, who had chatted to Nurse Forêt all the way, a solid woman with not a word of English, fell silent, sensing her mistress’s suppressed excitement. The baby, muffled up, was bright red and cross.

As they approached Horden Hall Deborah saw beyond the trees the tops of the mine workings on Horden land. Her heart sank a little. With all these new mouths to feed would her father have to lease even more land for coal. She was glad that when she stepped down from the carriage and looked about with moist eyes at the dear old place no changes were apparent and here came everyone running from the house to greet them.

Her father’s welcome was the most emotional. He couldn’t hold back his tears. Her mother’s was for John first and then the baby.

“Poor little precious and no mother!” Eunice took him from the nurse and, sitting down on the steps, undid his wrappings and pulled up his dress to reveal his moist pink legs. Everyone gathered to coo and gloat over him, and then Deborah found herself embraced by her sister.

“Ruth!” She held her at arm’s length, astonished and a little disconcerted.

Fifteen months had changed her from an undeveloped girl into a stalwart young woman. Her fair hair was browner and swept up smoothly. Deborah thought, it will always look more kempt than my flaxen mop. Her face is not so prettily petite as it was but handsome. Her breasts and hips are fuller but her waist is neat. Despite the heat she is wearing a tight corset under her dress. She is Mother’s build though taller, but still shorter than John. Oh, men will turn to look at herall right.

Ruth said, “Oh Deb, you look exhausted and much thinner!” She turned back to the baby and begged to hold him. He was gurgling now at his freedom to kick.

Eunice yielded him up and finally turned to Deborah and hugged her.

“My dear girl, are you well?”

Deborah exclaimed, “Just a little wearied by the heat. Ruth has grown into womanhood! I hardly knew her.”

Eunice pursed up her lips with her old disparaging smile.

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