The Longing by Wendy Lindstrom

Author:Wendy Lindstrom
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Wendy Lindstrom

Chapter Twenty

Amelia prayed Catherine wouldn’t notice her trembling as they exchanged a hug in the parlor, but to her surprise, Catherine felt just as tense.

“You look lovely, Amelia.” Catherine smiled, and Amelia felt anything but lovely. In a word, Catherine was beautiful. All the Clark girls were gorgeous, but they were also genuinely kind and loving so it was difficult to hate them for being so pretty. Still, Amelia wished she was wearing something more attractive than her black mourning dress.

She glanced at Kyle and Richard, who had just exchanged a handshake. That they were pleased to see each other was obvious in their beaming expressions.

“I hope you’re hungry,” Amelia said, groping for a suitable way to greet Richard.

“I’m famished. Catherine fairly starves me.” Richard cast a teasing smile at his stepmother, who flushed and lowered her lashes. He laughed and gave her a side-armed hug, then turned back to Amelia. “You do look lovely this evening,” he said, then to her chagrin, he pressed his lips to the back of her hand.

Amelia summoned a believable smile, but tugged her fingers from Richard’s grasp. “Thank you. Why don’t you and Kyle relax in the parlor while I get beverages for everyone?”

“I’ll help you,” Catherine said, latching on to Amelia’s arm as if desperate to escape the men.

Amelia had thought Catherine’s presence would lessen the tension, but to her surprise it actually made the situation worse. Catherine had been different since she’d married Alfred Cameron. Before the marriage, when she still lived with her parents, Catherine had been happier, more talkative, and though Amelia had gone to their house to visit Lucinda, she’d enjoyed the teasing that went on between the four sisters. Catherine was still friendly, but her eyes were full of heartache and secrets now.

The instant they stepped into the kitchen Catherine gasped. “This is splendid!”

Amelia smiled, knowing her first reaction had been similar. “Kyle and his brothers built the house,” she said, then conveyed the details while pouring ale for the men and tea for herself and Catherine.

To Amelia’s relief, they shared an amiable drink in the parlor, then brought their light conversation to the table with them, which seemed to calm Catherine’s unease and her own as well.

Kyle and Richard headed toward the beer barrel in the pantry for the third time. Amelia and Catherine exchanged a glance, then flinched when a loud burst of laughter came from the pantry. Kyle and Richard came back out with grins on their faces and proceeded to wash down their supper with several mugs of ale.

“How many times did we fall from that vine before your father cut it down?” Richard asked, his face alight with laughter.

Kyle snorted, his own face flushed, his eyes alive with humor that mesmerized Amelia. She’d never seen him like this, almost boyish in his enthusiasm. Richard and Kyle were talking about a thick, wild grapevine that they had used to swing out over the gorge and drop several feet into the water. Apparently it

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