The Sea Between by Carol Thomas Page A

stuffed it into his pipe, tamped it down with his thumb, then reached for a taper.
    Sarah looked up from her tapestry frame and threw Charlotte a sideways glance. Charlotte had already confided in her what had happened between her and Richard.
    ‘I don’t think he will be stopping by, Father,’ Charlotte answered quietly.
    Putting the lighted end of the taper to the bowl of his pipe John gave two or three short puffs then, satisfied it was lit, blew out the taper. ‘Why not? Is he leaving very early?’
    ‘I don’t know what time he’s planning on leaving,’ she replied.
    Leaning back in his armchair, John fixed a shrewd eye on his daughter. ‘Are things all right between the two of you?’
    Sensing the answer might be no, Edwin set his book down on his knee while Isobel, who was sitting next to Sarah, reading through a letter, looked up and frowned.
    Deciding it was pointless to beat about the bush, Charlotte said, ‘If you mean will we be marrying, the answer is no, I’m afraid we won’t. We’ve found we’re not compatible.’
    John slowly pulled his pipe from his mouth and stared at her, then in an ominously low voice he asked, ‘What do you mean, not compatible ?’
    ‘I mean I’m not suited to being a captain’s wife, Father. Richard’s away at sea most of the time and I’m not willing to spend long periods on my own. I said I wouldn’t marry him unless he arranged his affairs so that he’s ashore more’.
    ‘Did he propose marriage to you?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘And you refused him?’
    ‘Yes.’
    There was a long silence during which everyone in the room seemed to hold their breath, then John said loudly, ‘Don’t you think you should have consulted me before giving Richard an answer? Or does respect for your father count for nothing, Charlotte?’
    Charlotte reddened and lowered her eyes. She ought to have consulted her father, and he had every right to be cross with her, but the truth was she had never anticipated this outcome. She hadn’t expected Richard to agree outright to her request, but she had expected him to say he would give it some thought. She certainly hadn’t expected him to simply dismiss her request out of hand.
    She looked up as her father began to speak again, and listened in tight-lipped silence while, over the next ten minutes, he told her very loudly how very disappointed he was with her, how very disappointed the Steeles would be, how astonished he was that she’d had the audacity and presumption to demand that Richard should rearrange his shipping itinerary, and finally how stupid she was to have refused Richard. After which, he decamped to his study to fume in private.
    ‘Don’t worry, Charlotte. John will get over it,’ Isobel said dismissively, breaking the heavy silence that John’s angry departure had left in its wake.
    Edwin narrowed his eyes suspiciously as he turned to look at his aunt.
    Knowing what was going through his mind, Charlotte chipped in quickly, ‘It was my decision, Edwin.’
    Edwin glanced across at her, his expression cynical. ‘With no influence from any other quarter?’
    ‘No.’
    ‘I suppose you agree with John, Edwin? You think Charlotteshould have accepted Captain Steele and made the best of things,’ Isobel remarked scornfully.
    ‘We all have to make the best of things,’ Edwin replied. He looked at Isobel pointedly, as if to say he had to make the best of her prickly presence in the household. ‘And yes, as a matter of fact I do agree with my father. Charlotte was a fool to turn Richard down,’ he added.
    ‘And that, I suppose, is an opinion you’ve formed entirely independently, without any influence from your father?’ Isobel taunted.
    Edwin tightened his lips angrily.
    Springing to his defence, Sarah said in terse tones, ‘Just because Edwin agrees with John doesn’t mean that he hasn’t made up his own mind, Isobel.’
    Isobel smiled triumphantly. ‘No, indeed it does not. And just because Charlotte agrees with me