Page 58 of A Winter By the Sea
She wanted to ask him why they had chosen to come to Sidmouth. If they wanted the south coast, Weymouth would have been somewhat closer. Was it his parents’ choice, or his? Had she figured into the decision at all?
As if guessing her unspoken question, he said, “Mamma thought it would be pleasant to see your mother while we are here.”
This surprised Emily. She had assumed his family would want nothing to do with them after they’d come down in theworld—both from Claire’s disgrace and the change in their financial circumstances.
He added, “And I thought I would call on you ... and your sisters.”
Emily swallowed hard. “And where are your parents now?”
“Settling in at the York Hotel. I decided I had better call first instead of all of us descending upon you at once.”
Emily glanced again at the flowers. Purple hyacinths, she knew, symbolized deep regret.
He followed her gaze, then looked back at her. “You know what they mean?”
“Yes,” she murmured.
Stepping closer, he locked eyes with her, expression earnest. “And I do so regret—”
The door flew open with a blast of cold air. Georgiana hurried inside, returning from the outing with her friend. Seeing them, she stopped abruptly, her mouth falling ajar. “Charles!”
She seemed about to throw her arms around their old neighbor, but at the last moment he thrust out a hand. Georgie grasped it in both of hers. “How wonderful to see you!”
Her youngest sister had always idolized Charles, some ten years her senior. To his credit, he had never ignored the youngest Summers but had instead treated her with kindness.
“And you, Georgiana. You’ve grown.”
“So the dressmaker tells me.” She laughed. “I knew you’d come to visit us! You are the first from home to do so.”
He smiled—a bit sheepishly, Emily thought.
Looking around the hall, Georgie unclasped her cloak, then asked Emily, “Where are the others? Everyone will be so happy to see him.” She turned back to Charles. “I shall have to tell Viola. She married last summer and lives next door with her husband. And you do know Claire moved to Scotland? She is staying with our great-aunt there.”
Nerves thrumming, Emily held her breath, awaiting his reply.
“Ah yes.” He glanced from one to the other, then down to his hands. “I remember ... hearing something about that.”
“Oh! And did you hear the Duke of Kent is staying up the lane, in the house next to Viola’s? We have some of his staff here with us. It’s terribly exciting!”
“No, I did not know. Quite impressive.”
“We rent out rooms now, like a guest house. But if you want to stay, you would be more than welcome. We would not charge an old friend.”
Emily felt her face heat. “Georgie. The Parkers are staying at the York Hotel.”
“Oh. That’s nice too. I just took tea there. The cakes are remarkably good....”
Georgiana chatted away and Emily stood there, hands clasped, torn between disappointment at the untimely interruption and a flare of hope. This was not how she’d imagined a reunion with the man she had loved all her life. But hewashere, and that was a start.
———
Sarah was sitting in Mamma’s room, talking over menus, when the sound of voices from the hall drew her attention—Emily’s, uncharacteristically subdued, a man’s low tones, followed by exclamations from Georgiana.
Sarah rose. “I shall see who it is. As far as I know, we are not expecting anyone today.”
She poked her head out the door, looked into the hall, and jerked back in astonishment.
“Who is it?” Mamma asked.
