Page 113 of A Winter By the Sea
Their gazes met and held, concern and regret passing between them.
———
When they reached Sea View, Mr. Thomson helped the ladies down, then climbed back in, saying he would go on to Woolbrook to learn if there had been any change in the duke’s condition.
Sarah met the returning sisters in the hall and asked how the outing had gone. Georgie told in excited tones about her turn at the reins, saying the groom had called her an “excellent whip.” She then hurried to Mamma’s room to relay her adventure. Emily lingered.
Sarah studied her face in concern. “You do not look as pleased.”
“It started out well. Mr. Thomson was a helpful and insightful companion. Then on the way back, we encountered two men on the road. They seemed almost threatening and all but accused Mr. Thomson of being a preventive officer.”
“Who were they? Did you recognize them?”
“One of them was Mr. Mutter, who delivers our fuel. I didnot recognize the other man. Big and angry. I did not like the look of him.”
Sarah slowly shook her head, worry evident in the downturned corners of her mouth. “This is the second time I have heard Mr. Mutter spoken of with misgivings about the company he keeps. If his companion was the man Mr. Cordey warned me about, let us hope we have seen the last of him.”
“Good heavens!”
“Yes.” Sarah drew herself up. “In any case, I am glad you made it back safely. Now, I had better see how dinner is progressing. Oh! I almost forgot. Charles called while you were out.”
Emily bit her lip. “Did he? Did he say what he wanted?”
Sarah dipped her head and looked at Emily through her lashes. “Need you ask?”
“Yes, I do! Especially as he told me he would be visiting a friend of his father’s today, and that he would not call until Friday.”
“Apparently their plans changed.”
Emily swallowed. “Did you tell him where I’d gone?”
“I told him you went to visit a neighboring village. He asked if you went alone. I assured him Georgiana went along, and he said, ‘And Mr. Thomson, I assume?’”
Emily groaned.
“I don’t like to lie, so I said, ‘Why, yes. He wished to see more of the surrounding area.’ To which Charles rather dryly replied, ‘Of course he did.’”
Emily’s stomach dropped. “Oh dear.”
“If he was displeased, do you blame him? He came here to apologize and be reconciled with us—especially with you. And yet you are spending a great deal of time with another man.”
“Charles has nothing to fear there. Mr. Thomson has madeit clear he is not in a position to marry. He will leave when the royal party leaves. Probably back to Germany.”
“Then perhaps you ought to tell Charles that to put his mind at ease. Assure him Mr. Thomson has no designs on you, and that you and he are just friends.” Sarah tilted her head to study Emily’s face. “You are just friends, are you not?”
Emily sighed. “I don’t know, Sarah. We are hopeless—that’s what we are.”
“Well. Hopeless or not, you had better hurry and change for dinner. It will be ready soon, whether you are or not.”
———
Sarah walked away, concern for her sister churning inside her. Must relationships between men and women always be so difficult? She started toward the kitchen. As she descended the stairs, she thought of Mr. Bernardi. In the days since his refusal to help prepare a meal for the poor house—and her angry reaction—there had lingered an awkward unease between them. They had passed each other with polite nods, shared meals civilly, and attended the same ball, yet their former camaraderie had crumbled.
Entering the kitchen, she was relieved to find Jessie busy grinding the after-dinner coffee and Mrs. Besley stirring a pot of soup on the stove.
“How is dinner coming along?” she asked.
“Not bad. The soup will soon be ready, and Jessie is preparing the coffee before she takes the aspic out of the mold.”
