The Tale of Hawthorn House by Albert Susan Wittig

Author:Albert, Susan Wittig [Albert, Susan Wittig]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: PENGUIN group
Published: 2010-02-28T23:00:00+00:00

18

The Hand-Woven Cover: Part Two

By the time Beatrix and Dimity left Holly How Farm to go to Long Dale, the blue sky had darkened, Coniston Fell was draped in a cloudy veil, and a chilling breeze blew from the west. Rascal explained that he had decided to stay and see what sort of business the badger on Holly How was getting up to and barked a polite “thank you” before he ran off. Winston the pony explained that his bones predicted rain and he preferred to go straight home to the Hill Top barn. But Miss Potter explained that she and Miss Woodcock had other plans, and since Miss Potter held the reins quite firmly, Winston did what was asked. But he heaved a heavy sigh, letting her know that he wasn’t to be held to account when all three of them got soaking wet.

For most of the afternoon, Dimity had been very quiet, and Beatrix remembered her earlier impression: that her friend found herself in the midst of an intensely private dilemma, and that it at least partly involved the baby. As they started back in the direction of the village, Dimity startled Beatrix by spilling the story of what had happened that morning: Major Kittredge’s confession of love, his proposal (and his idea that they should adopt the baby), and her refusal.

“Miles will never consent to the marriage, Bea,” she said disconsolately. “I had to tell Christopher that there’s no point in even thinking about it.”

Dimity and Christopher Kittredge?

Beatrix was taken suddenly aback. “But I thought you were interested in Mr. Heelis!” she exclaimed. Mr. Heelis was a frequent visitor at Tower Bank House, and she had assumed that he called to see Dimity. And since Beatrix knew that Mr. Heelis and Dimity’s brother were the best of friends, she had thought it a perfect pairing. She had even envied Dimity, who was free to marry him, if she chose.

“Mr. Heelis?” Dimity managed a sad little laugh. “Whatever gave you that idea, Bea? He’s just a friend, although a good one. And I daresay Miles would never object to him.”

“I see,” Beatrix said slowly. “I was wrong.” And with that realization came another thought—not a thought, exactly, more like a feeling, and a rather disturbing one at that. It was a feeling of sudden lightness, as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She felt . . . glad to know that she had been wrong. Why?

But Beatrix put the feeling away, for she didn’t understand it, and anyway, it had nothing to do with Dimity. “Why does your brother object to the major?” she asked, and then answered her own question. “I suppose it has to do with his marriage.”

Dimity nodded sadly. “Miles says that Christopher’s reputation has been ruined, and that if I should ally myself to him, I would be tarred with the same brush.”

“There’s something to that, I suppose,” Beatrix said, thinking that at least the captain’s refusal was stated honestly. It wasn’t hypocritical, like her mother’s rejection of Norman.

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