My Dear Sophy by Kimberly Truesdale Page A

visiting with the rector and his family included both the Captain and Mr. Hollingson, Sophy's heart began to beat a little bit faster. And she began to wonder what might transpire. It was a source of joy to think that she did not know what to expect out of the day. So many of her days lately had been proscribed before they had even begun.
    And though Sophy kept repeating her own admonition to calm herself, the warning did not serve to stop her from putting on her best-looking dress and spending an extra moment in the glass carefully arranging her wavy brown hair to the most advantage. She was not a vain woman, but she wanted to look just so for the unexpected treat that would be today.
    The extra attention to herself did not seem to have gone amiss. On their way down the road to Saint Michael's Church for the late-morning service, Papa remarked on how well she looked, which drew a blush to her cheek that lingered there long after the compliment had been carried away on the wind.
    Her looks also drew the attention of other townspeople, especially the nosy matrons who winkingly told her how well she looked and cast significant glances in the direction of the rector and his son. She was one of the last unmarried girls of her age group and the matrons had made it their mission to attach her to someone. It seemed that the rector's returned son was to be the current object of their matchmaking.
    Sophy on one side of the churchyard and the captain on the other formed two hubs around which the townspeople revolved in the time before the service began. Sophy, though surrounded constantly by people wanting to hear her story of yesterday's events, was able to observe Captain Croft's open and easy manner with everyone who approached him. A few times he even threw his head back and bellowed with laughter. Sophy found herself smiling and laughing with him, though unaware of the joke. This resulted in an entirely inappropriate reaction to the news that Mrs. Henry Schott's prize sow had recently lost half her litter. Sufficiently chastened by Mrs. Schott's horrified look as she laughed at the misfortune, Sophy turned her attention fully to what was in front of her, with the result that she lost track of the captain until all the parishioners took their places inside the church and the service began.
    Mr. Hollingson she did not need to look for. He would be conducting his own services in Preston-Bowyer. She thought ahead to luncheon and hoped she would see him then. Sophy had received many compliments on how well she was looking and wished for the man who loved her to see her in such good form. And she thought that Mr. Hollingson would deal remarkably well with Captain Croft. Yes, she was sure the two men would have much to speak about.
    These thoughts carried Sophy into her seat in the church. She joined into the prayers and hymns with a glad heart.
    Though quite an unreserved speaker on a normal Sunday, Reverend Croft was in his finest form this day. With his son present, there seemed to be an added vigor in his voice as he sermonized on one of his favorite verses from the Psalms.
    The Reverend's voice rang out with the text, “What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?” He read the joyous question aloud and then prepared to expound on his subject. The congregation sat enthralled as he told them that God pours out his blessings, often in the most unexpected of places.
    “ Yesterday, a blessing was delivered to me on the most ordinary of Saturdays. By now you all know, my son Connie has returned home. He walked into town yesterday, a blessing right as we the people of Milverton were rejoicing over a different blessing, the safe return of Freddy Wentworth, another of our beloved sons. Two big, visible blessings delivered to us in the most conspicuous of ways.” The Reverend beamed down at his son with a love that filled the whole church.
    Then the Reverend turned serious. “But God does not always offer blessings