Page 132 of The Seaside Homecoming
“Mrs. Harding and Miss Craven to see you. I’ve put them in the parlour.”
Disappointment darkened his gaze, then he seemed to steel himself. “Then perhaps you might join us?”
“No, thank you. They seem keen to see you. Alone.”
“Ah.” His expression hardened. “I see. I appreciate the warning.”
He stepped into the corridor, shutting his door behind himself. “Are you sure there is no ... news ... I might relay to them?”
“Not from me, no.”
“So be it.” He nodded and walked into the parlour.
Despite her best intentions to move away immediately, Claire lingered outside the parlour door long enough to hear a few moments of their conversation.
“Lord Bertram! What a pleasure to see you. I was so sorry to miss you when you called at Sea View.”
“The regret is all mine,” he said politely.
“And how kind of you to join us in Sidmouth, as you did last year. We have been looking forward to your company.”
“You honor me.”
“Not at all. But ... as a friend. A close friend. May I say something in confidence?”
“I suppose so.”
“My lord, you must see. This place, these people, are far beneath you. You don’t belong here with them.”
Claire turned and walked away, not sure she disagreed.
Sarah and Mamma were on their way into the parlour when Mrs. Harding and her sister returned to Sea View, tossing their coats and hats at poor Mr. Gwilt with barely a glance.
“Ah, Mrs. Summers. We saw your daughter at the boarding house. Quite an ... interesting establishment. And rather shocking to find her living with a widower. How sad that she continues to disregard the dictates of good society. You are wise indeed to keep your distance.”
It was all Sarah could do to hold her tongue. She wanted to defend Claire, to ask the woman if she herself was perfect and had never made a mistake. She wanted to tell her to pack her bags and leave.
Instead she looked at her mother, who appeared more downcast than before.
When the women had gone up to their rooms, Sarah led her mother into the parlour and closed the door.
“Mamma, please don’t let that mean-spirited woman influence you. She will be gone soon, and quickly forgotten, but none of us shall ever forget Claire.”
Mamma took a deep breath. “You are right, of course. I don’t like the woman, but she does represent how many insociety would look down on Claire—on all of us—if her past were generally known.”
“Do we still care so much about ‘society’? We have already lost touch with most of our former friends and neighbors. And those who would shun us because of rumors about Claire or our reduced circumstances have already done so. I don’t think they can cut us a second time. And we have made new friends here, who, I believe, would not be so quick to shun us even were Claire’s history revealed. You and Lady Kennaway have become friends. Would she cut your acquaintance if she learned of Claire’s past?”
“I hope not. The truth is, I can put up with the sly jabs of a Mrs. Harding or even bear Lady Kennaway snubbing me, should it come to that. What troubles me most is the thought of your father being disappointed in me. As a wife, I always tried my best to honor and obey.”
“I know you did. But remember he was angry at the time he made those decrees. He was also seriously ill, and not thinking clearly.”
Mamma vaguely nodded.
Sarah thought, then said, “Where is he now, Mamma?”
“What? In heaven.”
“I agree with you. He was not perfect, for who is? Yet, with the exception of his last difficult months on earth, he was a God-honoring man. A Christian in word and deed. And now, he is with God.” At least Sarah hoped he had died on good terms with his Maker.
