Mrs. Lady (Season of the Furies Book 2) by Stephanie Patterson

Author:Stephanie Patterson [Patterson, Stephanie & Patterson, Stephanie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-06-01T04:00:00+00:00

“Yes…no.” She shook her head and looked at him with a stricken expression. “That was not the sole reason – not even the real reason for my dislike of her.” Katherine tried to rise as if to get away from the accusation he knew carried in both his voice and demeanor. He placed a restraining hand on her arm to prevent her flight. She quickly schooled her features and continued. “I’d had another friend at school, a very dear, very sweet girl named Venetia Crawley. Venetia’s origins were even more mysterious than Damaris Kingsford’s, but Venetia was a delight. She sang like an angel and had a natural ear for languages as well as accents. She was beautiful inside and out and many of us adored her.” Katherine’s eyes became soft and distant as she recalled her friend. “She saw things, felt things that other people frequently missed as they went about their lives. If a girl were homesick and kept it to herself, Venetia would know. If someone’s life at home wasn’t all if should be, Venetia understood without a word being said. Lonely young ladies, girls who felt lost by circumstances they could not control would find small gifts, tokens left by Venetia to let them know they were not alone. She was much admired for her kindness, her ability to bring joy into any room she entered.”

Jonas considered his wife’s words. He never imagined that she would ever call such a person a friend – not someone without family, or station. “What happened to her,” he asked quietly.

Katherine studied her hands for a moment. Jonas didn’t press her. He knew she would tell him eventually. He’d given her no choice.

…

Katherine mind worked feverishly as she prepared herself to answer his questions. She knew she would have to remain guarded lest she reveal too much about any of the people in her tale. “I happened,” she said in a whisper, “or more correctly, my mother happened. I’d come home for Easter holiday filled with stories and accounts of my new friend, Venetia. My father smiled indulgently and read his paper, but after a few days my mother demanded to know my friend’s full name – who her people were. I told her Venetia’s last name was Crawley and that I knew no more than that. My mistake was in thinking that information would be enough for my mother.”

Jonas stood up and crossed to the decanters of liquor he kept atop an inlaid cabinet. He took two glasses from one of the compartments and splashed a richly-colored amber liquid into both of them. He came back to her side and pressed one of the glasses into her hand. “Brandy,” he announced. “I thought perhaps you could use it.” Katherine murmured her thanks. “I think I can guess what happened. Your mother learned that your friend Venetia was naturally born and forced her removal from the school and from you.”

“Yes,” Katherine answered after taking a small sip from her glass, “but she did much more than that, you see.

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