Seasons of Littleton 02 - Christmas at Cartwright Manor by Shaela Kay

Author:Shaela Kay [Kay, Shaela]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Goodreads: 41831808
Publisher: Blue Water Books
Published: 2018-10-01T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Mrs. Manwill was laid to rest with her infant son in her arms, dressed in the christening gown Eleanor had labored over so carefully. Eleanor was too shaken by their deaths to attend the funeral, but insisted that Albert go to pay their respects.

The service was short and ill-attended, which made Albert glad he came. As far as he knew, Mrs. Manwill had no near relations, and aside from himself and the Lewises, the only other person in attendance was Henrietta Jones. The old midwife coughed through most of the service, and he went directly to her side at the conclusion of it.

“Mrs. Jones, are you unwell?” he asked, leaning upon his cane.

“No rest for the weary,” she said. “But I’m afraid it’s catching up to me.” She turned away, coughing into her handkerchief.

“Dear Mrs. Jones, please go home and rest,” Mrs. Lewis said, coming up to stand beside them. “What will we do if you are stricken ill?”

“Same as we’re doing for the others: rest and warmth and keep me coughing, and if that don’t work, put me in a pine box and bury me before sundown.”

“Mrs. Jones!”

The midwife chuckled at the appalled look on Mrs. Lewis’s face. “Forgive me, Constance, but a little humor can go a long way to cure someone, you know.” She did not wait for the murmured rebuke she knew was forthcoming, but instead waved a hand and started walking away. “Send me word if you’ve a mind to. I’m heading home to rest my bones for a time.” She coughed all the way to the church door.

Mrs. Lewis sighed and shook her head. “What shall we do with her, Mr. Cartwright?”

Albert chuckled. “Well, she did say to put her in—”

“Don’t you dare repeat it!” Mrs. Lewis cried, laughing tightly.

“Repeat what?” Father Lewis asked, walking up.

“Oh, nothing of consequence,” Mrs. Lewis said, shooting a look at Albert. He smoothed his face into a suitably somber expression, and was rewarded when her lips twitched.

“Mr. Cartwright,” Mrs. Lewis said, deftly turning the conversation, “there is a delicate matter we would like to discuss with you.”

“Oh?”

“Indeed,” the minister said, taking up the conversation. “We had hoped to discuss it with both you and your wife, but since Mrs. Cartwright is not here, you shall have to account for her opinion as well as yours.”

Albert bowed. “I shall do my best.”

“As you know, Mrs. Manwill is survived by her oldest child, Henry, whose father has not been seen in over a year. We plan to send out inquiries, but we know not the best way to go about doing so.”

“Allow me. My solicitor in Norwich has connections that may prove useful in the search for Henry’s father.”

“Thank you, Mr. Cartwright, that is most encouraging.”

In the silence that followed, the minister and his wife exchanged hesitant glances, and Albert’s eyes narrowed.

“There is more?”

“Yes,” Father Lewis said, clearing his throat. “You see, with Mr. Manwill unavailable at present…”

“And Mrs. Manwill laid to rest—”

“—and no other family in as suitable

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