Page 169 of The Sisters of Sea View
Viola opened the small New Testament and Psalms she had lent to Mrs. Denby and flipped to the appropriate page. She read, “He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.”
———
On the way home a short while later, Viola took the footpath from the church and stopped at Westmount. She wanted to see how the major was faring. She hoped the dismal weather had not depressed his spirits, especially after the distressing trip to Exeter the day before.
His brother greeted her warmly. “Ah, Miss Vi. You are just in time.”
“For what?” Viola asked. “If we had an appointment, I’ve forgotten.”
“No, no. But we need a fourth in whist. Most propitious timing!”
Colin led her into the drawing room. “Here is Miss Summers, braving the storm to save us.” In the room, his father and Armaan sat at the games table.
“Perhaps Miss Viola might play for us instead,” Armaan suggested, with a nod toward the piano, “and drown out the howling wind and rain.”
“I am afraid I do not feel much like music at present.”
“Then please join us at cards,” Colin pleaded. “We’ve had a deuce of a time getting Jack to come out of his room and out of his doldrums. You are just the tonic he needs.”
“Is he very low? I was afraid of that. It’s why I stopped by.”
“Go and see him,” his father urged.
Colin added, “Drag him out by his good ear, if you have to.”
Viola walked down the passage, knocked softly, and let herself in.
“Major? It’s me.”
He sat in the armchair, magazine on his knee, a candle lamp and cup of tea on the side table. When he looked up, pleasure lit his features. “Ah. The ‘me’ I most wanted to see.” He rose, setting the magazine aside. “I was afraid it was Colin come to coerce me into playing cards.”
“I just wanted to make sure you were all right,” Viola said. “I know grey days can be difficult.”
“True. Yet I feel better already, just seeing you.”
Pleasure warmed her. Viola sat down, and he resumed his chair.
She said, “To be perfectly honest, I went to visit Mrs. Denby first.”
His lip quirked. “Ah. Well, I don’t mind being on your list of charitable cases. As long as I am at least your second favorite client.”
“At least,” she agreed, smiling softly at him.
After a moment, she stirred. “May I bring you anything? Read to you?”
He shook his head. “I have all I need ... now. Tell me, what’s the latest at Sea View?”
She did so, relaying the disagreement with Mrs. Elton and her threat to give a bad report to Mr. Butcher and Mr. Wallis.
“She sounds quite the dragon.”
“I agree.”
Colin stuck his head into the room. “Vi, really. You were supposed to drag him out of here. We are still down one player for whist.”
She rose. “I shall come and play one handifthe major will tutor me.”
Jack gave a good-natured groan and pushed to his feet. “Oh, very well.”
