Page 107 of The Sisters of Sea View
After dinner, Sarah spoke to Mr. Hornbeam privately in the hall.
“I am surprised your son traveled all this way if he did not mean to stay longer.”
Mr. Hornbeam nodded vaguely. “Yes.”
“May I ask why he did so?”
“Well, he did not come this far for advice, I assure you. He left here with his purse heavier and mine far lighter.”
“Ah.”
He grimaced. “Yes, ‘Ah.’”
“I am sorry.”
“Do please stop apologizing, my dear.”
“Am I making you feel worse? It was not my intention.”
“Not at all. You have nothing to apologize for. Your kindness—yours and your sisters’—eases the sting of his callous disregard.”
“I am glad.”
He patted her shoulder. “And I am glad I came here.”
“We are too.”
Mr. Henshall stuck his head out of the parlour. “How about a game of chess, Mr. Hornbeam? I shall call out the moves.”
The older man hesitated. “Chess, ey? I should warn you, I was pretty good in my day.”
“And still are, I have no doubt.”
Mr. Hornbeam managed a smile. “Thank you, Mr. Henshall. I would enjoy that.”
Sarah admired the Scotsman in that moment even more than she had before. She met his gaze across the distance and hoped he could see all the warmth and gratitude she felt.
21
Often it’s only when you see other folks minding a thing, that you begin to mind it for yourself. I make no doubt, if Eve had been so unlucky as to have a hare-lip, she’d not have minded it till Adam came by, looking doubtfully upon her.
—Mary Webb,Precious Bane
The next day, Viola again avoided Westmount. But half an hour after her usual time with the major, Armaan walked over to Sea View, letter in hand.
Viola answered the door. “Good day, Mr. Sagar. Everything all right?”
“No, miss. The major is not happy. He is most irritated you do not come.”
“Oh.”
“Are you ill?”
“No. I simply assumed that with houseguests...”
He shook his head. “The major wishes you to come.”
Armaan handed her a note, written in a scrawled hand.
