Page 181 of The Sisters of Sea View
“Has he made her an offer of marriage?”
“I don’t think so. She has given him too little encouragement.”
“They have known each other for less than two months—is that not right?”
“Yes. Six weeks or so. The same amount of time I’ve known Jack.”
Mamma nodded thoughtfully. “Sarah is so much like your father. Both determined to carry everything on their own shoulders, unwilling to ask for help.”
“Ha.” Viola smirked. “Sarah has no trouble asking her sisters for help.ThatI shan’t miss when I become a married woman.”
Her mother chuckled.
Viola thought, then added, “Sarah likes to be needed, I know. But it doesn’t seem right that she should deny herself another chance at happiness. I am not nearly as noble. I confess I did not give my duty to this house a moment’s thought before I accepted the major. Does that make me terribly selfish?”
“No, my dear. Besides, you’ll only be moving next door.”
“True. And I could continue to help, if I am needed.”
Her mother tucked her chin. “I cannot imagine the major’s wife coming over to clean our water closet.”
“No. That is one task I shan’t be volunteering for.”
“But I do hope we shall see you both often. After your honeymoon period, of course!”
Viola grinned at the thought, even as her cheeks heated.
Her mother gazed at her wistfully. “You really love him, don’t you?”
Viola nodded.
“And it’s obvious he loves you. Oh, my dear. You don’t know what a pleasure it is to see you so happy. To see your beautiful smile on your beautiful face.” She laid a finger beneath Viola’s chin, and her voice thickened. “And to know a worthy man has come to recognize what I have always seen in you.” She caressed Viola’s cheek before releasing her.
“Now, you start thinking about your wedding, and leave Sarah to me. Agreed?”
Heart warm and eyes damp, Viola nodded. “Thank you, Mamma.”
In honor of their last full day together, Georgiana and Effie announced they would be performing their play, which they had been rehearsing for some time.
Georgie had wanted to borrow one of the Cordeys’ boats as a prop, but Sarah forbade her to ask, reminding her that, first of all, the boats were the men’s livelihood. Second, they were heavier than they appeared. And third, she did not want a damp, sandy, smelly boat in their house—even if they could fit it through the door, which she doubted.
So instead, the girls fashioned a boat from a slipper bath wrapped in brown paper and placed in the parlour, the blue velvet curtains a fitting backdrop. Nearby stood a stool covered by a dark cloak. Seven chairs had been set before this makeshift stage, and at the appointed hour, they were filled by Emily, Viola, Mamma, Mr. Hornbeam, Mr. Henshall, Sarah, and Mr. Gwilt on the end. The parrot cage was strangely absent.
Sarah leaned close to Mr. Gwilt and asked, “Where’s Parry?”
Eyes shining, he whispered conspiratorially, “Getting ready for his big entrance.”
In the play, Effie had cast herself as a ship’s captain, sailing the high seas.
A storm blew up and flooded an island, until all that was left was one spot of dry land on a hilltop. Marooned there was a beautiful maiden, portrayed by Georgiana.
It amused Sarah to see her rough-and-tumble sister in an elegant dress, her hair curled and pinned atop her head, wearing a tiara, a necklace, and even a bit of rouge on lips and cheeks. She looked pretty and startlingly grown up.
Effie, meanwhile, wore a borrowed tricorne, one of her father’s coats, and a painted-on mustache. She was rather amusing as a swaggering seaman. The unexpected casting required both girls to behave quite differently from themselves, and perhaps that was why they had chosen the parts they had.
Georgiana stood atop the stool and waved a handkerchief, calling in melodramatic style, “Help, help! The water is rising and I shall be swept away!”
“Never fear, I shall rescue ye!” Effie replied. She feigned rowing and then gave Georgiana a hand into the “boat.” “Come aboard, fair lady.”
