Page 112 of The Seaside Homecoming
Katrin McKay Henshall
Beloved Wife and Mother
Forever in Our Hearts
According to the engraved dates, she had been gone nearly four years now, a year longer than Peter. Sarah felt pity for the troubled woman who had come to Sidmouth in search of a cure and instead died there. And what did Sarah feel for the man who’d tried to save her, and who served as caring stepfather to the daughter she left behind? Sarah was not sure but was beginning to realize that despite her efforts to forget him, Callum Henshall would likely be forever inherheart.
The following day, Mr. Hammond invited Armaan to join him for a few games at the billiards room. With the men gone and the house quiet, loneliness threatened. To distract herself, Claire wandered upstairs to Mira’s and Sonali’s rooms.
There she found Sonali standing before a long mirror, adjusting a sari over her shoulder, a sari Claire had not seen her wear before.
“That’s the one you were embroidering.”
“Yes. I wanted to try it on.”
“It looks beautiful on you. That border is exquisite.”
“Thank you, Miss Summers.”
“Claire, please.” She did not wait for the woman to return the offer of given names. Instead she asked, “Is your clothing comfortable? It is certainly pretty.”
“It is. Although the stares of others are not always comfortable. I am a strange sight here, dressed insaree. Everyone looks, and the looks are not always friendly.”
“I am sorry. I would not like to be stared at.”
“I am too proud, perhaps. Vanita gave up traditional dress, but I shall not. This is who I am. It would be interesting to try, though I imagine the stays are very constricting.”
“Actually, a pair of well-fitted stays can be quite comfortable. A whalebone busk, however, is less so.”
Sonali looked up, mischief quirking her mouth. “Should you like to try my clothes, while I try on yours? Just for the experience?”
“Could we?”
“Why not? The house is quiet, Mira is napping, and Mr. Hammond is out.”
“Then let’s! Give me a few minutes to gather some things.”
Claire eagerly descended to her room. There, she selected a gown from Vanita’s trunk and one of hers, as well as a bandbox and correct underpinnings from the extra set Emily had given her. Then she hurried back upstairs.
When she returned to Sonali’s room, she noticed the woman had draped a long swath of fabric over the mirror. “Let us wait and look together, when we are both fully dressed. Yes?”
Claire nodded. Then Sonali helped Claire unfasten her gown, stays, and petticoat.
Claire stood there, self-conscious in her thin chemise, relieved the mirror was covered.
“First, you will want a well-fittedcholior blouse.” She helped Claire into a formfitting top.
“Next, an underskirt, I think. For modesty while walking.” She helped Claire into one of hers.
“We tuck in thesareeat the waist and drape it around your back and then again to the front and over your shoulder, folding it like so.”
The sari, Claire realized, was at least seven or eight yards long.
“Finally, I shall secure it with pins.”
The sari felt silky and featherlight against Claire’s body and almost too fine. She was glad for the underskirt and blouse.
Next it was Claire’s turn to dress Sonali in English clothes.
