Page 10 of The Seaside Homecoming
Claire tiptoed to her aunt’s room. Finding the door ajar, she slowly opened it wider. Inside, the chamber nurse sent by the physician sat slouched in a chair, snoring peacefully. The frail figure in the bed, however, was clearly agitated, gnarled fingers clawing at the bedclothes.
Claire pulled a second chair to the other side of the bed, reached over, and took her hand.
“Shh. Rest easy.”
The hooded eyes opened into slits. It seemed to take the woman a moment to focus, to recognize her.
“C-Claire.”
“I’m here. Can I bring you anything? Water?”
A hesitation, then a mumbled, “Forgive me.”
“It’s all right.”
A slight shake of her head, a mere tremor on the pillow. “Should have been kinder.” Her eyes closed. She drew a shaky breath, then added, “Your father’s wishes...”
“I know. Never mind that now.”
Aunt Mercer might initially have been cold and critical , yet over time she had slowly warmed to Claire—at least to some degree. But she had never before apologized.
Now, seeing the woman’s misery, pity softened Claire’s heart. She said, “Youwerekind, in your way. You took me in when I showed up on your doorstep. You sheltered me, clothed me, fed me, took me to church....”
“Kirk,” the woman interjected, insisting on the local term for church.
Claire bit back a smile. Still correcting her, even now.
“If you are burdened, ask God to forgive you.” Over a hard knot in her throat, Claire said, “I forgive you as well.”
Claire remained at her aunt’s bedside the rest of the night. When weariness overtook her, she leaned forward in the chair, resting her head and arms on the bed. She was still there at dawn, when the nurse woke her with a gentle touch to her shoulder. “She’s gone, miss.”
Claire straightened and looked to Aunt Mercer’s still form. The grey pallor of her face. “May God rest her soul,” she whispered, sadness flowing through her. Despite the woman’s stern demeanor, Claire had done her best to be a help and comfort to her, and now she was sorry to see her go.
Campbell summoned the physician to verify the death, the lawyers were informed, and the undertaker began preparations. Claire herself stopped the clocks and draped cloths over the mirrors in the house.
In Scottish tradition, they laid out her aunt’s body for a wake of a few days’ duration. Claire, the lady’s maid, and women from Aunt Mercer’s church took turns sitting with the body round the clock.
A modest number of people came through to pay their respects. The minister. Several church members. Governors and matrons of the various charitable organizations she had supported. The apothecary and a few tradesmen. Each left with a packet of funeral biscuits.
When the funeral was over, the solicitor came to the house, settled himself in the morning room, and met with each of Aunt Mercer’s retainers individually. Most accepted their employer’s death without noticeable distress. Mary and Campbell, however, were visibly aggrieved. Claire could understand why Campbell might be upset, having served his mistress for many years. And, at his advanced age, it would be difficult to find another situation. But Mary had not been in servicethere long. She was young and would have little trouble finding another place. So why had the death hit her so hard?
When Claire’s turn came, she entered the morning room feeling nervous.
“Mr. Dumfries.”
He looked up from his papers. “Miss Summers. Do be seated.”
She sat before the desk, hands clasped.
He began, “Your aunt’s will won’t be read formally nor acted upon for some time. Several details yet to be sorted. However, I have two small matters to address with you now.”
“Will the house be sold?” Claire asked, wondering how long she could stay.
“Probably. Although not yet. The will must first be proved in the Commissary Court, Services of Heirs documents completed, et cetera. I’m afraid I cannot disclose specifics. In the meantime, your aunt instructed that the staff be given notice. She had no wish to go on paying, in her words, ‘idle servants who are no longer needed.’”
That sounded like Agnes Mercer.
He went on, “So everyone will be dismissed immediately except for her lady’s maid, who will stay on longer to donate her personal effects to charity, and Mr. Campbell, who will watch over the place until a new owner makes other arrangements.”
