Page 36 of The Seaside Homecoming
As the people around her sang, Claire braved a look forward and to the right. As she did, her gaze fixed on a familiar profile. Her heart lurched. Sarah. She would recognize her close-in-age sister anywhere. The serious expression, upturned nose, and prominent, pursed lips.
And beside her? Mamma. Her shoulders and back straight, her head high. Mamma was obviously in better health than when Claire had left home, thank God.
Yet her gratitude was tempered by the realization that Mamma would not be pleased to see her at church. To see her anywhere.
Aunt Mercer’s caustic words winnowed through her like an icy wind.“Your father declared you were dead to him. He forbade your mother to even speak your name. You will never be welcomed back there. Never...”
Claire’s heart seemed to shrink to a cherry stone inside her. Her own father, considering her dead. Her own mother, unwilling to allow her back into their lives. Yet could she blame them, really?
No.
Claire became aware of someone watching her. Not the old tabbies sharing her pew, but Mr. Hammond, seated across the aisle and a couple rows ahead. His eyes met hers, then followed her gaze to the women near the front.
What did she see in his expression? Had he guessed?
She had not told him her family lived in Sidmouth, although he had witnessed her reunion with Georgiana. And she had not told him they offered competing lodging—a fact she had only recently discovered. Would he be angry when he learned of it?
She decided to ignore his scrutiny. Pretend to, at any rate. After all, he kept his past hidden as well.
The vicar rose to lead them in prayer, and Claire was relieved when Mr. Hammond shifted his focus to him.
Despite her best efforts, Claire’s eyes drifted again to the front of the church during the service. She recognized Georgiana on Mamma’s other side, and next to her another woman. When the young woman turned to her neighbor, Claire recognized Emily’s pretty profile in a pert, upturned bonnet, leaning near the gentleman beside her in some whispered confidence. She recalled the brief letter Campbell had given her after her aunt’s death—the few cheerful lines from Emily inviting Claire to her wedding.
This dark-haired man with a handsome profile must be her new husband. She wondered how Sarah felt about one of their younger sisters marrying before her. Claire was not quite certain how she felt about it herself. Then again, everyone had long assumed beautiful Emily would marry young, and most likely to Charles Parker. That last prediction, it seemed, had proved wrong.
She saw no sign of Viola, no woman with her face hidden behind a veil. She supposed Viola still avoided public outings.
Claire looked toward the vicar as he began the sermon and did her best to concentrate.
Later, as the benediction ended, Emily’s husband whispered something in her ear. Emily giggled in reply, and Georgiana turned to see what was so funny. When Georgiana looked over her shoulder, her gaze landed on Claire across the nave, and her eyes grew large and bright with excitement. She grinned and waved.
In the next instant, Sarah pulled her hand down and leaned near Georgie, apparently whispering urgent warnings. Then Sarah turned their youngest sister almost forcibly toward the front. Georgiana frowned at Sarah, then with a glance at Mamma, seemed to reluctantly acquiesce.
Claire rose abruptly. Murmuring apologies to the women whose knees she pushed past, she exited the pew.
Others turned to look. Claire stared straight ahead, feigning nonchalance as she walked toward the porch. But as soon as she slipped out the church doors, she ran, fleeing through the churchyard.
What had she been thinking to attend?
10
She has no money, no connections, nothing that can tempt him ... she is lost forever.
—Jane Austen,Pride and Prejudice
By unspoken agreement, the family went into the parlour after church and shut the doors, something they rarely did, as guests sometimes used the informal sitting room as well.
Mr. Gwilt knocked, poked his head inside, and asked, “Shall I bring tea, or...?” Looking uncertainly from face to troubled face, he broke off and closed the door behind himself without another word.
Emily’s husband looked uncertain as well. He rose and said, “I think I shall let you ladies talk in private, but if there’s anything I can do to help, please let me know. May I bring anyone anything?”
The women all shook their heads.
So James alone went to partake of the cold collation left on the sideboard for family and guests to eat at their leisure before or after church. Sarah’s stomach churned at the thoughtof food, and apparently none of the rest of them had any appetite either. Not even Georgiana, most surprising of all.
“What is going on?” her youngest sister demanded. “Claire was there. Our Claire. And you all sat there like lichens on gravestones. Looked as grim as gravediggers too. Sarah shushing me. Mamma staring straight ahead, pretending not to notice.” She turned to Emily and accused, “Even you just sat there.”
Emily raised her hands in defense. “I did not know what else to do. We were in church, after all. Hardly the place to shout someone’s name. Or to run to her, although I was very much tempted.”
