Page 65 of A Winter By the Sea
Emily nodded. “Yes, it was an unfortunate accident.”
“So His Royal Highness maintained in the letter he sent, asking for leniency. But the culprit was one of those parish apprentices, so one wonders what truly happened.”
“I don’t wonder,” Emily bluntly replied. “It was an accident. I was there.”
“Were you indeed?” Charlotte seemed to shrink before her eyes, having lost her cherished role as revealer of secrets.
A moment later she brightened again and stepped conspiratorially close. “What can you tell me about it? Who else was there? How did His Royal Highness react?”
Emily smiled at the girl’s enthusiasm. “Perhaps another time,” she appeased. “Now I really must go. Pray excuse me.”
Emily left the post office and hurried to Westmount, eager to tell Viola about Charles Parker’s unexpected visit the day before.
She found her talented sister in the drawing room, where she was playing the pianoforte, as she often did. Emily sat nearby and listened until she finished the piece. When Viola turned her full attention to her, Emily told her the news.
Viola’s eyes grew large as she listened. “And how did you feel, seeing him after all this time?”
“I felt ... I don’t know ... so many emotions! For so long now I have hoped to see him again, but truth be told, it was somewhat awkward. We were alone only briefly and mostly made small talk. We even spoke of the weather!”
“Maybe he was nervous.”
“I certainly was.”
“Do you think he came to apologize, or at least explain?”
“I think so. He brought purple hyacinths for Mamma and seemed about to apologize to me, but Georgiana came in and took over the conversation. He was polite and kind to her, of course.”
“He always was.”
Emily nodded. “Then Mamma asked to speak to him in her room.”
“About what?”
“Claire, I imagine. Or perhaps to warn him to say nothing to Georgiana. I don’t know. And when he came out again, Mr. Thomson was there. It turns out they were at Oxford together. Rivals.”
“Rivals? In what way?”
“In fencing, among other things.”
“What other things?”
“I don’t know. That’s what Mr. Thomson said. When I pressed him, he changed the subject.”
“Hmm. That’s interesting.”
“Or troubling.”
“Will Charles come back again, do you think?”
Emily shrugged. “His mother plans to call, so it is possible Charles and his father may accompany her.”
“Do you want to see Charles again?”
“Naturally I do. What a question!”
Viola tilted her head to one side. “It’s only that I... thought I noticed signs of partiality toward Mr. Thomson.”
“I can’t deny I like and admire Mr. Thomson—what little I know of him. But you know I have loved Charles for years.”
