Page 32 of The Seaside Homecoming
“I do,” Sarah replied, her gaze remaining on her mother’s troubled face. Had something happened?
At that moment, Georgiana burst into the house and into the parlour, still wearing her cape and gloves.
“You’ll never guess. She’s here! Claire. In Sidmouth.”
“What?” Sarah asked, stunned.
“Is she?” Emily asked eagerly. “Where?”
Mamma, Sarah noticed, remained silent and did not look surprised by Georgiana’s announcement.
“At Broadbridge’s. She’s a partner in the boarding house with the new owner. She said she’ll be too busy to call here but we are welcome to visit her there. He must make her work round the clock. At all events, she’s here in Sidmouth. After all this time. Is that not exciting?”
Instead of answering, Sarah looked at her mother, whose expression had not changed.
“Mamma,” Sarah asked gently, “did you know?”
She nodded. “I saw her with Georgiana.”
“Did you?” Georgiana asked, brows high. “Why did you not say anything? Or come down and greet Claire yourself?”
Sarah exchanged a worried look with Emily, then said, “I am sure Mamma was stunned, as we all are. Give her time to grow accustomed to the idea.”
“But it’s good news, is it not?”
“Mamma?” Emily asked. “Shall we tell her?”
“Tell me what?” Georgie asked, blue eyes wide with innocence.
Mamma rose abruptly. “I have a sick headache and am going to bed. Let me think on it. Tomorrow will be soon enough.”
9
[He] spent a good part of his later life trying to prove Lord Palmerston was a Russian spy.
—Raymond Jones,The British Diplomatic Service 1815–1914
During dinner that night, Mr. Hammond raised the topic of divine services the next day. “There are a few churches in town, but if you’d like to attend the parish church, you could go with Mira and me. Sonali prefers not to, but you would be most welcome to join us.”
“I shall think about it.”
Near the end of the meal, Mr. Hammond took Mira upstairs himself, as the girl was overtired and pleaded for one of his bedtime stories. When they had gone, Claire and Miss Patel finished their desserts in awkward silence.
As soon as she could, Claire excused herself, saying she would just peek into the dining room and make sure their guests had all they needed. Before she left the room, she retrieved the partially written letter from the desk drawer.
She met Mr. Filonov as he was coming out of the dining room.
“Good evening, sir. I found this letter in the morning room. Not in English. Might it be yours?”
She held it out to him.
He gave it a brief glance. “Not mine. And not Russian,” he said, rolling ther. “But sank you for reminding me. My sister shall expect a letter soon.”
He smiled, bowed, and went upstairs.
She turned back toward the morning room just as Miss Patel was exiting. The woman would probably accuse her of prying again, but Claire decided it was worth the risk to satisfy her curiosity.
Claire held out the letter. “Do you recognize this?”
