Page 180 of The Sisters of Sea View
After he had settled his bill, Sarah rose to walk him out. Mrs. Elton stood in the entry hall near their piled baggage, spine stiff, face averted.
Sarah took a steadying breath and said, “Safe journey.”
The woman refused to look at her.
It struck Sarah as a vivid reminder that she had not only failed to please one of their first guests but had also alienated her. Regret dampened her spirits. She did not like to fail.
A coach and horses arrived, and Lowen carried out the couple’s baggage. Mr. Elton opened the door for his wife. Head high, she sniffed and stepped through the door without a backward glance.With a final apologetic look, her husband dutifully followed her outside.
Sarah watched them go with a heavy heart, wishing their stay had gone better and considering what she might have done differently.
Then, with a mournful exhale, she returned to the office.
In short order, another guest entered and Sarah’s mood instantly lightened.
“Good morning, Mr. Hornbeam. What can I do for you?”
“Ah, Miss Sarah,” he began. “Just the person I wished to speak to. I’ve been thinking; might you have the availability and the inclination to extend my stay?”
Sarah’s mood brightened all the more. “My dear sir, we have plenty of both where you are concerned. In fact, my entire family will be pleased to learn you are staying on longer.”
“Thank you. You are kind to say so.”
Sarah privately wondered if this decision had anything to do with Miss Reed but decided not to pry.
Thankfully, the water that had rushed into the poor house during the flood quickly receded. When it did, Viola and her sisters went over to help with the clean-up efforts. Tall Mrs. Fulford was there, organizing, while Mr. Butcher and a few volunteers from his congregation joined them in the work. Even Major Hutton came over to offer his assistance, which only increased Viola’s admiration for him.
When all was ready, Viola delivered Mrs. Denby back to her room, with promises to visit again soon.
Mrs. Denby pressed her hand. “Thank you, my dear. And thank you for sharing your home and family with me.”
Viola kissed her cheek. “You are family now too.”
That night, everyone was back in their own beds, and Sea Viewhad been restored to some semblance of order and normality. Viola was exhausted. Even so, she lay awake in the dressing room off Mamma’s bedchamber. The room was small, but the dividing wall gave them both privacy. With the door between them, one could leave her candle burning and stay up reading without bothering the other. Since she’d stopped taking a nightly draught, Mamma sometimes had difficulty sleeping, but tonight, it was Viola who tossed and turned.
She stood and opened the adjoining door. “Mamma? Are you awake?”
Her mother drew in a long breath and yawned. “I am now.”
“Oh. Sorry.”
“Don’t be. I have been sleeping better since I’ve begun taking more exercise.”
“Bathing, do you mean?”
“Well, that, and I’ve also been walking with Georgiana. Up and down the lanes west of here. With so many hedges about, few see me, which is good since I must look like a feeble old woman, trudging along with my stick. Yet I am slowly getting stronger and can walk farther than I could before.”
She studied Viola. “But you did not come in here to talk about that.” Mamma patted the mattress in unspoken invitation.
Viola walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. Moonlight from the nearby windows shone on her mother’s face, revealing her concerned expression.
“Now, what is it? Are you having doubts about the major already?”
“Not a one. It’s not me I’m worried about. It’s Sarah.”
“What about Sarah?”
“She likes Mr. Henshall—I know she does. And he clearly likes her. But he is about to leave with no hope of his affection being returned, because Sarah believes she can’t leave her responsibilities here.” Viola raised her hand. “I am not blaming anyone. I just feel bad. There must be something we can do.”
