Homecoming Girls by Valerie Wood

Author:Valerie Wood [Wood, Valerie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781409010661
Google: Y9nWRPrN1BAC
Publisher: Random House
Published: 2010-11-30T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Hull

Before leaving London Wilhelm had sent a cable to Ted informing him of his plans, which he hoped would reach Dreumel’s Creek before he arrived in New York. Sure enough, on his arrival at the Marius a letter from Ted was waiting. It outlined the devastation in Yeller but sounded remarkably upbeat about it. It’s a chance to rebuild a new town, Ted wrote. Some of the men have started on their homes already but we need a town plan, wider streets, firebreaks and a proper fire brigade for a start. I’m glad you’re coming, he’d added. We need your keen mind.

Wilhelm relayed this information in a letter to Georgiana, waiting at home. I must go to them, he wrote. They are my people and I want to help as much as I can. Forgive me, my darling Georgiana, for leaving in such a hurry, but as I know you, then I also know you will understand.

Georgiana gave a wry smile as she read his letter. Well, of course she had known that he would go to Yeller. That was apparent right from the start. The inhabitants of Dreumel’s Creek and Yeller were indeed his people. His determination and perseverance had made their lives possible. Without Wilhelm there would have been no towns. And without Lake, she thought, the half-breed trapper who had shown Wilhelm the valley and subsequently stolen her heart, there would have been nothing.

I’ll follow him, she decided. I’m halfway ready. But should I allow Dan Hanson to travel with me? She thought that she would perhaps be glad of having someone to accompany her; to find porters and take care of her luggage and perhaps ward off lone male passengers who might make a beeline for her. But on the other hand, what kind of companion would he be? He was not at all worldly or experienced. And would Jewel be cross if he followed her? Jewel, Georgiana was convinced, was not at all interested in Dan in a romantic way.

She was deliberating thus over afternoon tea, when her housekeeper knocked on her door. ‘Apologies for disturbing you, Mrs Dreumel,’ she said. ‘But Mrs Hanson is asking if she might see you.’

‘Mrs Hanson?’ Georgiana was puzzled for a moment and then her head cleared. Ah! Ruby. ‘Yes, of course. Ask her to come up, and bring more tea, please.’

She rose to greet Ruby, who was highly embarrassed when Georgiana offered her tea. ‘I’m so sorry,’ she began, ‘but I – well, I don’t know what to do and I asked Grace and she said I ought to come and see you. So I did before I changed my mind.’ She took a deep breath. ‘It’s about Dan and his da.’

Georgiana raised her eyebrows and waited, her hands folded on her lap.

‘They’ve had an almighty row – a quarrel,’ Ruby explained. ‘Dan told his da that he’s thinking of going to America and Daniel hit ’roof. He said that Dan was only going cos of Jewel and if that was ’case then he needn’t bother coming back.

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