A Disgraceful Affair by Sally James

Author:Sally James [James, Sally]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Regency Romance
Publisher: Belgrave House
Published: 2008-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

At Clayton Court a few bedrooms had been made habitable by the maids Lady Carstairs had sent ahead. The first thing to be arranged was the funeral, and after breakfast, when David had gone out with the intention, he'd said, of seeing what was needed out of doors, Lady Carstairs sent one of the footmen to the village to ask the Rector to visit.

Sylvie had been relieved to discover that Sawyer had already arranged for Sir George's body to be removed to the village church. She suspected she would never have slept if she'd thought her great-uncle was in the same house. She wasn't afraid of ghosts, she told herself, but her only meeting with him had left such a feeling of distaste she had no desire to view even his dead body.

'You should think more kindly of him,' Lady Carstairs had said once on the journey. 'After all, he has left you his own fortune, as well as what already belongs to you.'

Sylvie had choked back a giggle. 'I am to be thankful for his generosity in leaving me what already belonged to me?' she asked.

'Well, not exactly, perhaps. From what you have told me it seems your money and his were linked so firmly it would have been almost impossible to disentangle them. Really, he has done you a favour by dying.'

Sylvie hoped Lady Carstairs would not repeat that sentiment too loudly, or she might find herself accused of murdering Sir George. Much as she had sometimes felt like it, she could do without that complication in her affairs.

* * * *

The Reverend Archibald Dawes, a youngish man with thin wispy hair and long thin arms and legs which were clothed in garments too short to cover them, arrived within minutes of the footman's return. They received him in the morning room, the only room apart from the dining room which had yet been cleaned. He sidled into the room looking highly embarrassed, and made no attempt to greet them until Lady Carstairs sharply bade him to come closer and sit down. Then he gulped and shook his head, at the same time approaching the chair she indicated.

'Miss Delamare?' he asked, bowing towards Lady Carstairs at the same time as he backed towards the chair and lowered himself onto it.

'I am Lady Carstairs. This is Miss Delamare. She has been staying with me. And this is my niece, Miss Mannering. I understand Sir George's body has already been taken to the church. When will it be convenient to hold the funeral service? I expect there is a family plot in the graveyard?'

He seemed to gain confidence with business to discuss. 'I suggest the day after tomorrow. We do not wish to delay too much. It has been several days since poor Sir George went to his maker, and - and the weather is hot.'

'Indeed. Shall we say midday?'

'Yes, my lady, that was what I was going to suggest. It will allow people to travel here.'

'People? We do not know anyone in the district.

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