Page 77 of The Seaside Homecoming
Georgie turned to Viola beside her and whispered, “Who’s that?”
“The son of Papa’s friend, Mr. Welch. Papa wanted her to marry him.”
Mamma’s lips tightened. “That boy turned out to be a grave disappointment to his parents.”
“We have that in common,” Claire murmured.
“Then, why did Papa want her to marry him?” Georgie asked.
“We did not learn until later that he was not all we believed him to be. Your father thought if she married his friend’s son he would keep her close. He did not like the idea of her marrying some stranger with a house in London or some far-off estate. But he would not have wanted to see her miserable, which she would have been, if half of what I’ve heard about Harry Welch is true.”
A fashionably dressed, middle-aged woman stopped at their table.
“Good day, ladies. A pleasure to see you.”
“Good day,” Mamma returned the greeting, although not very eagerly.
The woman’s gaze swept the table and landed on Claire. “Have a friend visiting?” she asked.
Mamma’s smile seemed forced, but hopefully the woman did not notice. “Y-yes.”
When Mamma failed to make the introductions, Sarah said, “Lady Kennaway, please allow me to introduce our sister Claire.”
Claire dutifully rose and curtsied. “A pleasure, my lady.”
“Likewise. Ah. Now I see the resemblance. I don’t believe we’ve met before.”
“No,” Claire replied. “I have only lately come to Sidmouth.”
Sarah hurried to explain, “She had been caring for an ailing relative in Edinburgh, until her recent death.”
“I see. Most admirable. Well, I won’t keep you. Enjoy your reunion.”
After she left, Mamma hissed, “Now, that’s enough of the past. Let’s speak of topics more appropriate to our surroundings.”
Sarah obliged by asking Claire how things were going at the boarding house, and how often she saw Fran.
Claire, in turn, asked how long they had been hosting guests at Sea View and how it had all come about. She also asked what advice they would give her, still relatively new in her situation at Broadbridge’s.
When Viola raised the subject of Mr. Hammond’s surprising connection to the major’s friend Armaan, Claire explained that Mr. Hammond had come to Sidmouth, at least in part, in hopes of meeting his wife’s half brother. She also described the sweet bond between Mr. Hammond’s young daughter and her uncle Armaan.
Viola nodded and said, “Mr. Hammond brought her to Westmount the other day. Such a sweet little girl. Oh, before I forget, I brought her a little something. Just a little ribbon with a silk flower I saw at the market. I thought it would look well in her hair.” She handed over a small paper-wrapped parcel. “Armaan is happy about it as well. How wonderful to discover connections to a family he thought he had lost.”
Claire swallowed a hard lump. “Yes.”
A short while later, tea drunk and cake eaten, the ladies rose to depart. As they did, Claire said softly to Mamma, “I know you don’t wish me to come to the house, but perhaps you might call on me at Broadbridge’s as my sisters have done? Would that be all right? I miss you.”
Mamma held her gaze, throat convulsing. “I ... shall think about it.”
“Thank you.” Claire longed to reach out and touch her mother’s hand but resisted.
19
Uninvited guests are often most welcome when they leave.
—Aesop’s Fables
After taking tea with her family, Claire returned to Broadbridge’s and went upstairs to Mira’s room to give her Viola’s gift.
