The Color of Forever by Julianne MacLean

Author:Julianne MacLean [Julianne MacLean]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Julianne MacLean Publishing Inc.
Published: 2016-04-04T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty-five

A few days later, Sebastian traveled to South Portland to meet with one of his captains about his oldest and most prized steamship, which was in need of a full refurbishment. He rose early and left before dawn.

A light snow began to fall by mid-morning—the first snowfall of the year—so Nanny and I took the children outside to play in it. Though there was only an inch or two on the ground, we had a marvelous time building tiny snowmen until Nathan got snow on his wrists and wailed in agony. I took his hand to lead him inside and change his mittens, but stopped at the bottom of the veranda steps when I spotted something shiny in the garden.

“Wait, sweetheart,” I said as I let go of his hand and moved to pick it up. Wearing my black leather gloves, I brushed the snow off it and held it in my palm. “Look what I found. Someone lost an earring.”

I recognized it immediately. It was the emerald and diamond set Mrs. Danforth had worn to our dinner party. It must have fallen off as she descended the stairs at the end of the night, perhaps when she was gathering her fur mantle tightly about her shoulders.

I was reminded of how grateful I was to Mr. Williams that day in the keeper’s cottage when I was unaware I had lost an earring and he had found it for me.

“This belongs to one of our guests from the party the other night,” I said to Nathan. “I must see that it is returned. But for now, let’s go inside and get you a dry pair of mittens so we can build some more snowmen.” I took hold of his hand and led him up the steps.

o0o

Later that afternoon, when the children went for their naps, I asked John, one of the footmen, to take me to the Danforth’s house in the small Stanhope buggy. By then the sky was blue and the sun had come out, but it was still wickedly cold. The snow had not melted and the water was peppered with whitecaps, so I dressed warmly with a fur scarf and hat, and covered my legs with a thick woolen blanket.

When I arrived at the Danforth’s mansion, I hurried up the walk and rapped on the brass knocker. Their butler opened the heavy oak door and informed me that Mrs. Danforth was not at home. I then asked to see Mr. Danforth, so that I might return something of value, which belonged to his wife.

“I’m very sorry, Mrs. Fraser,” the butler said, leaving me to shiver outside in the bitter wind blowing off the ocean, “but Mr. Danforth has returned to New York.”

My eyebrows lifted. “I see. And what about Mrs. Danforth? Is she gone as well?” It surprised me that they hadn’t at least sent a note to thank us for the dinner party and say good-bye until next summer.

The butler spoke matter-of-factly. “Only to Portland for the day, to do a little shopping I believe.

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