Page 11 of The Seaside Homecoming
“How soon must I leave?”
“By the end of the week.”
Claire gasped. “So soon!”
“I’m afraid so. Have you decided where you shall go?”
Claire shook her head.
“Will you go home?”
“I have no other home.”
“If memory serves, your family live in Gloucestershire?”
Another shake of her head. “They did. But the house wentto Father’s heir after he died, so they’ve had to move elsewhere.” This much she knew, from the one letter of Emily’s she’d been allowed to read.
The kindly man gave her a sympathetic look. “I am sorry.”
Claire gripped her hands tightly, hoping to divert the topic before threatening tears overwhelmed her self-control. She prompted, “You mentioned some matters you needed to discuss with me?”
“Aye, just two small things. Your aunt wanted me to give this to you before you go. A small token.” He opened an envelope and poured from it a thin gold chain and cross pendant.
Her aunt’s necklace.
Surprise flared. “Did she? How ... unexpected.” The cross, carved with scrollwork, had a small red ruby at its center to symbolize Christ’s blood shed on the cross. She remembered Aunt Mercer saying,“The cross alone renders sinners acceptable to God.”Was this a gift, then, or a final reminder of Claire’s sin?
“And,” the lawyer continued, “she instructed me to give you the overdue allowance you’re owed as her companion. Twenty-five pounds a year for two years.”
“But—!” Claire caught herself before the objection slipped out. Her aunt had said she’d already received adequate compensation, yet Claire needed the funds and wanted to give this man no reason to change his mind.
At her outburst, he looked up, brow furrowed. “Is the sum less than expected? If it helps, I have taken the liberty of adding interest on the portion not paid last year.” He gathered a pile of bank notes and coins from the cashbox and held them out to her.
After a moment’s hesitation, she held out her palm. “Thank you, Mr. Dumfries.”
With more than fifty pounds, she could let a small room in town and live for some time on that sum. But then hermoney would be gone, and she would be stranded alone in Scotland. How would she ever reconnect with her family if she remained so far away?
In her heart of hearts, what Claire longed for was to be reunited with her mother and sisters. Yet Claire did not presume she would ever be welcomed back home—even now that “home” was Sea View rather than Finderlay. So what should she do? Where could she go instead?
As Claire rose, Mr. Dumfries asked, “If anyone asks after your whereabouts, what shall I tell them?”
Who would ask?Claire wondered. Aloud, she said, “I can’t tell you what I don’t yet know myself.”
He handed her his card. “I understand. Do please send your direction as soon as you are settled. Just in case.”
“Very well. I shall.”
4
Wanted
As partner, in a genteel boarding house, a respectable Female who could advance from £50 to £100. Letters (post-paid) to A.B. Boarding House, shall meet with immediate attention.
—Advertisement,Saunders’s News-Letter
Hearing the front door open, Sarah poked her head from the library-turned-office to see who had arrived. She was in time to see the new-wed couple, James and Emily, pause in the hall as James swept off his hat and drew his wife close for a kiss. Sarah turned and retreated to the desk. A moment later, Emily sailed into the office with bonnet askew and the day’s post in hand.
Noticing her sister’s furrowed brow, Sarah asked, “What is it?”
