a light step and a girl’s voice calling, “Jocelyn?”
In an undertone Jocelyn said, “That’s my friend. Miss Fain. She shouldn’t see you. You can hide in there.” She pointed to the door of the stair beside the fireplace.
The light through the shutters was full in Helena’s face when she entered, and her eyes took a moment to adjust. She did not see the masculine figure slip out of sight nor the small door left slightly open. “Jocelyn, where have you been? They’re getting ready to leave!”
“Oh, dear,” Jocelyn said in some confusion. “I forgot!” She saw that her friend looked at her as if she had suddenly gone quite mad. “I hope they are not angry?”
“No, they don’t seem insulted. Nicholas is exercising his charm, and Granville has been keeping us all beautifully amused. I didn’t realize he knew so many things about London society.”
“That has been his chief study for many years, which is why he has so much trouble with his education.” She knew Helena still regarded her with alarm, and she said, “I had better light the fire, if we are to have any dinner tonight.”
“I’ll help you make it. But you’re forgetting the Swanns, again.”
“Oh, dear.” Bundling wood into the stove, Jocelyn caught Hammond’s eye. Her back blocking Helena’s view, she lifted one finger toward the ceiling. He nodded briefly and faded into the shadows in the stairwell. She lit the fire from the kitchen lamp and left, followed by Helena, to return to her guests.
The elder Mrs. Swann seemed in no way put out by her hostess’s long absence. She complimented Jocelyn once more on Granville’s manners, refraining from bringing up Arnold’s name. She drew on her white gloves and accepted the strength of the vicar’s arm for the journey to her carriage.
Miriam walked down with Jocelyn, saying softly, “I shall try next time to come alone. We have had no chance for a good coze, and I am so longing to talk with you.”
The young Mrs. Swann looked pointedly over her shoulder at Mr. Fletcher walking in silence beside Miss Fain. In a whisper she said, “You are very wise to invite Miss Fain to stay. If you only knew how people gossip about even the most innocent people. Miss Fain will lend an air of propriety to your house. I have made an effort to persuade Mr. Fain to agree with me.”
“I cannot resist the blandishments of a beautiful woman, Mrs. Swann.” It was not clear which Mrs. Swann he referred to, but Mrs. Alastair Swann simpered. Mr. Fain helped her into her carriage.
The vicar turned back toward his sister and said, “I shall not see you for the evening meal, then, Helena. If it is not too much trouble, please lay out my breakfast for tomorrow. I do not wish Mrs. Penhurst to have the key to the larder.”
Helena said, “Of course, Nicholas. I will be prompt. Your supper is all but ready; it only needs to be warmed.”
“I see I shall have to get used once more to a bachelor household. Good afternoon, Miss Burnwell.” The vicar bowed to Jocelyn, clapped his black hat over his silver hair, and set off toward the church.
It seemed odd to Jocelyn that Mr. Fain, who did not seem to like the tutor, would make no greater objection to Helena’s staying under the same roof with him. Jocelyn decided that tonight, after she’d blown out the candle, would be the right time to delve into her friend’s confidence. Jocelyn further resolved that she would find a way to help Helena achieve her tutor, if he was what she wanted.
Mr. Fletcher had vanished. Jocelyn hoped he’d gone for one of his walks, with book and pipe. What would her position be if he came across Hammond somewhere in the house? With Mrs. Swann’s hints about the dangers to young women alone still in her ears, Jocelyn was certain she would be suspected of harboring an admirer. Thinking of Hammond, Jocelyn tried a few hints of her own. “Aren’t you tired, Helena? The spare room is made up, and I know how early you rise to
In an undertone Jocelyn said, “That’s my friend. Miss Fain. She shouldn’t see you. You can hide in there.” She pointed to the door of the stair beside the fireplace.
The light through the shutters was full in Helena’s face when she entered, and her eyes took a moment to adjust. She did not see the masculine figure slip out of sight nor the small door left slightly open. “Jocelyn, where have you been? They’re getting ready to leave!”
“Oh, dear,” Jocelyn said in some confusion. “I forgot!” She saw that her friend looked at her as if she had suddenly gone quite mad. “I hope they are not angry?”
“No, they don’t seem insulted. Nicholas is exercising his charm, and Granville has been keeping us all beautifully amused. I didn’t realize he knew so many things about London society.”
“That has been his chief study for many years, which is why he has so much trouble with his education.” She knew Helena still regarded her with alarm, and she said, “I had better light the fire, if we are to have any dinner tonight.”
“I’ll help you make it. But you’re forgetting the Swanns, again.”
“Oh, dear.” Bundling wood into the stove, Jocelyn caught Hammond’s eye. Her back blocking Helena’s view, she lifted one finger toward the ceiling. He nodded briefly and faded into the shadows in the stairwell. She lit the fire from the kitchen lamp and left, followed by Helena, to return to her guests.
The elder Mrs. Swann seemed in no way put out by her hostess’s long absence. She complimented Jocelyn once more on Granville’s manners, refraining from bringing up Arnold’s name. She drew on her white gloves and accepted the strength of the vicar’s arm for the journey to her carriage.
Miriam walked down with Jocelyn, saying softly, “I shall try next time to come alone. We have had no chance for a good coze, and I am so longing to talk with you.”
The young Mrs. Swann looked pointedly over her shoulder at Mr. Fletcher walking in silence beside Miss Fain. In a whisper she said, “You are very wise to invite Miss Fain to stay. If you only knew how people gossip about even the most innocent people. Miss Fain will lend an air of propriety to your house. I have made an effort to persuade Mr. Fain to agree with me.”
“I cannot resist the blandishments of a beautiful woman, Mrs. Swann.” It was not clear which Mrs. Swann he referred to, but Mrs. Alastair Swann simpered. Mr. Fain helped her into her carriage.
The vicar turned back toward his sister and said, “I shall not see you for the evening meal, then, Helena. If it is not too much trouble, please lay out my breakfast for tomorrow. I do not wish Mrs. Penhurst to have the key to the larder.”
Helena said, “Of course, Nicholas. I will be prompt. Your supper is all but ready; it only needs to be warmed.”
“I see I shall have to get used once more to a bachelor household. Good afternoon, Miss Burnwell.” The vicar bowed to Jocelyn, clapped his black hat over his silver hair, and set off toward the church.
It seemed odd to Jocelyn that Mr. Fain, who did not seem to like the tutor, would make no greater objection to Helena’s staying under the same roof with him. Jocelyn decided that tonight, after she’d blown out the candle, would be the right time to delve into her friend’s confidence. Jocelyn further resolved that she would find a way to help Helena achieve her tutor, if he was what she wanted.
Mr. Fletcher had vanished. Jocelyn hoped he’d gone for one of his walks, with book and pipe. What would her position be if he came across Hammond somewhere in the house? With Mrs. Swann’s hints about the dangers to young women alone still in her ears, Jocelyn was certain she would be suspected of harboring an admirer. Thinking of Hammond, Jocelyn tried a few hints of her own. “Aren’t you tired, Helena? The spare room is made up, and I know how early you rise to
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