The Orphan's Dream by Dilly Court

Author:Dilly Court [Dilly Court]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House
Published: 2015-02-24T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

THE CERTAINTY THAT Jack was still alive, however ill-founded, made the world a more colourful place and infinitely more interesting. The next morning Mirabel joined in with everything Jerusha suggested with an enthusiasm she had not felt for a long time. She put her fears aside and allowed the D’Angelos’ groom to help her onto the grey mare, riding side-saddle around the plantation with Jerusha, who was an accomplished horsewoman. In the afternoon she sat in Mrs D’Angelo’s bedroom while Jerusha read several passages from Daisy Miller, a novella by Henry James. Whether or not the story registered with Betsy was questionable, but the sound of her daughter’s voice seemed to soothe her and she drifted off to sleep. Jerusha closed the book with a sigh. ‘I keep hoping that one day she’ll come back to us.’

‘Miss Betsy’s doing just fine,’ Kezia said, moving silently from her chair to the bedside. ‘She understands more than you think, she just don’t have much to say. When the time comes she’ll open her mouth and speak.’

The sound of horse’s hooves broke the ensuing silence. Jerusha leapt to her feet and ran to the window. ‘It’s Ethan, and about time too. I declare I’m going to give him a piece of my mind.’ Picking up her skirts, she raced from the room.

Mirabel sent a questioning glance to Kezia, who shrugged her shoulders. ‘Ethan Munroe. His family own the neighbouring plantation.’ She turned her attention to Betsy, plumping her pillows and smoothing the sheets.

‘I – I’ll leave you to do your work,’ Mirabel said lamely. She hurried from the room and made her way slowly down the wide staircase.

In the entrance hall Jerusha was berating a tall young man, whose fair hair flopped over one eye as he raised her hand to his lips. ‘I came as soon as I heard you’d come home,’ he protested.

‘I might just forgive you,’ Jerusha said, smiling. ‘But only if you promise to stay for dinner.’

‘I’d love to, honey, but I have a business meeting in Richmond.’ He bowed from the waist, clicking his heels together. ‘I regret that I cannot accept your kind invitation, Miss D’Angelo.’

She slapped his wrist. ‘If you mock me, Ethan Munroe, you can just get back on your old horse and ride on to your boring old meeting.’

He grinned and gave her a hug. ‘I’ve missed you more than you’ll ever know.’

‘Oh, well, since you put it that way, I guess I’m pleased to see you too.’

Mirabel cleared her throat to announce her presence and Jerusha spun round, her eyes shining and her cheeks flushed. ‘Mirabel honey, may I introduce my old friend, Ethan Munroe.’ She turned to Ethan, adding proudly, ‘Mirabel is from London, England.’

Mirabel met his curious gaze with a smile. ‘How do you do, sir?’

He acknowledged her with a courtly bow. ‘How do you do, Miss Mirabel? I must say it’s a pleasure to meet an English lady.’

Jerusha slipped her hand through the crook of his arm. ‘We’ll take

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