Miss Newbury's List by Megan Walker

Author:Megan Walker
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Shadow Mountain Publishing
Published: 2023-01-17T22:12:02+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

Ben was not at breakfast. Nor in his study. Father had left for a meeting in town with our solicitor, and Mama had left to oversee the progress on my wedding dress.

I’d claimed a headache to get out of that task.

Sitting upright was still a chore, so I spent the morning back in my bedroom, thinking about Ben. His fight with Charlie stayed vividly at the forefront of my mind. I could not forgive my brother for what he had done, though neither could I reprimand him for defending my honor.

Instead, when my stomach was healed enough to hold down a light luncheon, I gathered my abandoned notebook, still unwritten in since the day Charlie taught me how to box, and a pen and ink, and sat at my desk, which faced the double windows in my room. Bright sunlight hit my notebook, beckoning back thoughts of my favorite childhood memories. And I let myself get lost in them.

Times when laughter came as plentifully as raindrops in spring. When I still had years ahead of me before worrying about protection and money or about leaving home and starting a new family with someone else. My whole life could be reduced to frames of memory, and while I could not remember every detail, in every memory I felt the same.

Safe.

Happy.

Perhaps that was why I loved painting so much. I wanted to remember moments, scenes, people—forever.

The only sound in the room was my pen sliding across pages. Ben and I floating boats down the stream. Playing spillikins until our fingers ached. Playing duets on the pianoforte and violin. Time had changed us, but at the core, I was still that girl with long brown curls, and Ben was my fluffy-haired, big-toothed little brother. And now, thanks to Aunt Alice and my list, I would have these memories to share forever.

I had just closed my journal, when my door swung open and Mama came through with Molly on her heels.

“Dress quickly,” Mama said. “We shall dine at the Ollertons’ home this evening.”

“The Ollertons?” I stood from my chair.

“Benjamin has befriended their nephew, and Mrs. Ollerton wishes to encourage the connection. I wouldn’t have accepted on such short notice, but hearing her admit our Ben is such a good influence . . .”

“On Mr. Winston?” He could not be in the same room as Ben after their fight. But Mama did not know about their secret duel, and clearly neither did Mrs. Ollerton. Could the boys be civil? I doubted anything but shreds were left of their friendship after yesterday.

“Yes. Apparently, not long after his brother died, Mr. Winston left University, fought with his father, and threw a terrible fit. He said he had no intention of taking over their estate in his brother’s stead and even threatened to see it go to ruin after his two younger sisters married. Can you imagine the shame?”

Charlie hadn’t told me about his sisters. Nor his ill intentions toward his family home. I could hardly believe Mama; her words did not sound like my friend at all.

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