Page 168 of The Sisters of Sea View
Instead, she sat in quiet regret, and he said nothing more.
Viola began to feel agitated, the words she longed to say bottled up inside her, corked by worries about his regard for her, and fearing his good opinion might have changed.
He returned to staring outside, or perhaps he had even dozed off, head tilted toward the window, his right side toward her.
Could he really not hear out of his right ear? She grew increasingly restless in his silence and the long confinement.
With him focused out the window, or perhaps even asleep, andwith the rumble of wheels and horse hooves filling the carriage, she decided to try an experiment.
She leaned close to his right ear and whispered, “Is this the ear you can’t hear on?”
He didn’t move. Made no sign he’d heard.
She waited a minute, then leaned close again and said, “Jack Hutton, I think you are wonderful just as you are.”
He turned abruptly toward her. Her face flamed. Had he heard her after all?
His brows knit. “What did you say?”
“Oh, um, nothing much. Never mind.” Embarrassed, she turned to gaze out the opposite window for the remainder of the journey.
When they finally arrived back in Sidmouth, they stopped at Sea View to return Viola home first. Major Hutton alighted ahead of her, offering a hand to help her down. Even when both feet were on the ground, he held on to her hand.
She looked up at him in silent question.
He leaned close to her ear and said, “Viola Summers, I think you are wonderful too.”
32
Yesterday and today there has been very boisterous and rainy weather, with violent wind ... The waves have been dashing over the esplanade and running into the town. Mr. Pepperell, the dairyman, delivered milk to some of his customers by boat.
—Peter Orlando Hutchinson, diary
The wet weather continued the next day, with heavy drenching rains that soddened the ground and spirits. Due to the deluge, the Eltons had put off their departure for another few days, although relations between them and the family remained chilly.
Meanwhile, Georgiana and Effie spent a lot of time in the attic rehearsing their play, which they planned to perform at the end of the week.
Despite the rain, Viola put on a cape, unfurled their largest umbrella, and hurried across town to visit Mrs. Denby.
The rolled-earth esplanade was puddled, and people huddled under the awning of Wallis’s Marine Library, staring out wistfully at the sullen skies.
When she arrived at the poor house, she found Mrs. Denby looking out her solitary window, wearing a worried frown.
She said, “I don’t like how that sounds ... or looks, from what I can see. Too much rain too soon. We’ve had flooding here before, you know. And this building is very near the river.”
“Marsh Chapel is near the river as well. It must be safe enough.”
The old woman snorted. “Hardly. Why they built it there, I shall never understand. The Sid bursts its banks every few years, usually starting near the ford just up the street.”
She shook her head. “I still remember when the only crossing on the river was a tree trunk. When the water rose, debris would collect behind the tree and block the river, forcing it to flow down Mill Lane into the eastern town. Even now that we have the wooden bridge, flooding still happens, especially after storms or heavy rains.”
“Well, let us hope the rain stops soon,” Viola said, attempting to cheer her. “Shall I read to you, to take your mind off it?”
“No, my dear. I don’t want you to stay long. I don’t like the thought of you out in this alone.”
“I have come this far. Let me read to you for a few minutes, at least.”
“Very well. Luke six, verse forty-eight, then.”
