Willow Grove Abbey by Mary Christian Payne

Author:Mary Christian Payne [Payne, Mary Christian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Literature & Fiction, Genre Fiction, Metaphysical & Visionary, Romance, Historical, 20th Century, Victorian, Metaphysical, Historical Romance
Amazon: B00GGLZIEU
Publisher: TCK Publishing
Published: 2014-01-10T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

August 1938- September 1939

The Truth Comes Out

The happenings of the next year diverted my attention from the shock concerning Papa’s possible involvement with Edwina. To begin with, Edwina’s own actions completely obliterated any lingering feelings of unrest and suspicion that I still had. In September, 1938, Edwina announced her intention to marry Dieter Schoen! I was aghast at the news, and it required a tremendous amount of effort to show even a minuscule amount of joy at my dear friend’s engagement. There’d been no mention of Dieter since the deplorable incident at Willow Grove, but for the brief conversation I’d had with my father. I assumed that Edwina had severed all ties with Dieter. Certainly all romantic ties. I couldn’t fathom Edwina becoming Dieter’s wife. Even if I had not witnessed his abhorrent behavior at Isabella’s birthday party, I would still have found it difficult to profess true happiness at the prospect of Edwina spending her life as ‘Frau Schoen’.

Edwina made the announcement via long distance telephone, probably because she knew that my reaction would not be overwhelmingly positive. In one respect, however, the news came as something of a relief. I certainly felt that it leant more credence to my father’s explanation of the deplorable letter salutation I’d discovered. It seemed unlikely that Edwina would commit to marrying a man who had been seen behaving in such a rude fashion, unless she truly loved him. Certainly she would not have done so if there were any sort of love affair taking place. However, I was still intensely dismayed.

Sentiments in England were becoming ever more negative toward Germans. Dieter had done nothing to endear himself to my family or friends. I found his political views repugnant, and could not fathom Edwina feeling any differently. No argument, however, seemed to phase my friend. Her mind was made up. I correctly sensed that too much negativity would only serve to damage our friendship irrevocably. Edwina maintained that a fellow traveler had treated Dieter shabbily on their trip from Paris to England for Isabella’s party. This then had caused him to feel resentful and ill at ease upon arrival at Willow Grove Abbey. However much Edwina protested, I found it hard to view him in a favorable light. Although I made every attempt not to be critical, and to give the impression that I was happy for her, I simply could not bring myself to attend the wedding, scheduled for May, 1939 in Paris. They planned a small affair with little elaboration. There was not even to be a church ceremony, which surprised me greatly, as I’d always assumed Edwina would want an enormous amount of glitter and splendor. I did know that Edwina’s father was not well, and it was possible that the stress of an elaborate event would be too physically demanding. I also believed that Edwina was sensitive to the prevailing anti-German feelings in Great Britain. Perhaps she felt it would be uncomfortable for those in Bury St. Edmunds if she brought Dieter Schoen to the local parish church for the nuptials.

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