The Making of Mrs. Hale by Carolyn Miller

Author:Carolyn Miller
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Published: 2018-01-17T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

JULIA WATCHED AS Catherine departed the sitting room to greet her newly arrived guest.

“Dearest Catherine!”

The voices in the hall continued, Catherine’s low voice underscoring the higher tones of Lavinia, Countess of Hawkesbury. From the conversation at dinner last week, Julia knew Catherine had been looking forward to seeing her friend again.

Julia looked back down at her sad attempt at stitchery. She would never master the patience required for such fine detail, patience her sister-in-law possessed in abundance.

She had welcomed Catherine’s invitation to visit this afternoon—really, these opportunities to escape the icy stillness of Portman Square were something of a godsend—but now felt a mix of trepidation and anticipation. If Julia was to ever make her reentrance into society, it might as well be with people she sensed would regard her with more consideration than contempt. And that had been her experience with the ebullient countess back in Gloucestershire two years ago. But time could change things. She hoped Lavinia’s kindness would be in evidence again today.

The door reopened, and Lady Hawkesbury entered, her face lighting as she saw Julia.

“Oh, my dear Julia!”

Seconds later she was ensconced in a hug so warm, filled with such acceptance, tears started to her eyes.

“Dear Julia.” Lavinia pulled back, eyes searching her. “How truly wonderful to see you.”

“I … I hope you don’t mind my being here. Catherine said you would not.” Julia shot her sister-in-law a small smile.

“Mind? How could I mind such a wondrous thing? You have been in my prayers these many months, and I confess it seems almost miraculous to see you again, looking so fresh and lovely.”

Julia forced a smile. Flutters of unease in her midsection certainly did not lend themselves to thinking herself in such a generous way. “’Tis kind of you to say so.”

“Not kind. Merely the truth.” Lavinia turned to Catherine. “Jon and your mother must be so pleased to have you returned!”

“They are delighted.”

“And your husband? Where is he?” Lavinia asked, her attention returning to Julia, without the flicker of an eyelash to suggest anything other than polite enquiry.

“My husband has recently returned to conclude some business matters in Scotland.”

“By all that is wonderful, so has mine! Well, not returned exactly. Nicholas is merely visiting his solicitor. Apparently, he has a cousin whose idea of estate management does not precisely accord with Nicholas’s intentions, and he feels it best to deal with such matters in a manner less confrontational, shall we say, than that which might more naturally be his bent.”

A chuckle escaped. “He sounds not unlike Thomas in that way.”

Lavinia peered at her. “Well, I should imagine they might possess similar qualities. They were both majors in His Majesty’s army, were they not?”

“My husband served in India.”

“And did some good work there, so my husband tells me.”

Surprise curled warmth within. How rare it was to hear her Thomas praised.

Lavinia smiled, a gesture so full of sincerity and friendliness Julia felt the shackles surrounding her heart loosen a fraction more. “And may I be so

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