help?”
“Tomorrow? What are you doing tomorrow?”
Mary answered, “We thought we'd ride up
Hatterrall hill or one of the other ones. We were going to do it
today but our horses are too sore from yesterday.”
“I don't know.”
“Miss Arnold, you are welcome to come with us.
If you want we can bring Captain Wood too. Otherwise, we'll just go
ourselves. It's your choice.”
“I think I shall not. I'm finding all of this
horse business tedious in the extreme. When we move back to the
city, after the Captain and I wed, I hope never to have to deal
with horses again.”
“I think Miss Somerset is in need of some
refreshment, I certainly am. If you'll excuse us, we'll see what we
can find for a nuncheon.”
Miss Arnold made dinner interesting. She snipped
at Cecelia for much of the meal, criticizing her manners,
deportment, and even the color of her hair. Part way through the
meal, she announced, “George, I have decided that you should plan
on selling this forsaken place once we're married. In fact, its
sale should fund my portion.”
George said, “You can't be serious? I've found
the company pleasant. It's a profitable estate, and the calm is
good for my nerves.”
“I am. Once we set a date, I expect you to put
this place on the market. I certainly cannot live here. Miss Wood,
I presume you have made arrangements for yourself. It might be time
to look into them.”
Cecelia found she could not speak, and left the
table. She could barely hold back her tears. The Captain asked her
friend to see what she could do. “Miss Somerset, would you look for
her.”
Mary found Cecelia in the stables, weeping as
she saddled her horse. “What are you going to do?”
“I'm leaving. Now.”
“Where are you going?”
“I don't know. Yes I do. Swansea. My aunt. I
can't stay here and watch my home destroyed by that woman.”
“I can't let you do that. If nothing else
there's no moon and it's too dark.”
“Georgie, what am I to do?”
“I think Miss Arnold is showing her ugly side.
Putting the knife in you. It was bound to come out sooner or
later.”
“Yes, you're right. Still, I can't stay here. I
must go now.”
“You can stay here tonight. In fact you will
stay here tonight. I'll take you directly to your room and you
don't have to meet her again. We'll ride for Raglan tomorrow. I
know my mother would love to see you again.”
Cecelia fought back a sob, “Georgie, you're a
true friend. Thank you.”
The next morning, while the sun was struggling
to break free of the ground, two horsewomen left Penyclawdd. They
headed down the Hereford road to Abergavenny and then out the
Monmouth road to Raglan. One of them had to restrain her urge to
gallop. The other one struggled to keep up.
It was the fashionable mid-morning hour for
breakfast when Sir Charles and Lady Elizabeth descended from their
room. They were met by the noise from a loud hubbub in the parlor.
Mary and Cecelia had returned before breakfast and were now seated
with the rest of the family at the breakfast table.
The hubbub quieted when Sir Charles opened the
door. “Mary, what are you doing back so early?”
“Miss Wood and I rode back this morning.”
“That's fourteen miles. How long did it take
you?”
“An hour and a half. We made good time.”
“While I am displeased that you would show such
hoydenish behavior Mary, it does sound like your seat is much
improved. I'm not sure whether to be proud of you or upset with
you.”
“I'm sorry father, it was that Arnold woman. She
was most unpleasant to Miss Wood.”
Cecelia spat out, “She insists that Captain Wood
sell Penyclawdd. Just to spite me.”
“You know that was always a possibility.”
“I know, but Ge- Captain Wood likes Penyclawdd,
and its quiet is good for him.”
It was Lady Elizabeth who explained things,
“Miss Wood, it is your friend the Captain who will have to live
with Miss Arnold. Let him learn to handle her.” She kept her
thoughts of “or not”
“Tomorrow? What are you doing tomorrow?”
Mary answered, “We thought we'd ride up
Hatterrall hill or one of the other ones. We were going to do it
today but our horses are too sore from yesterday.”
“I don't know.”
“Miss Arnold, you are welcome to come with us.
If you want we can bring Captain Wood too. Otherwise, we'll just go
ourselves. It's your choice.”
“I think I shall not. I'm finding all of this
horse business tedious in the extreme. When we move back to the
city, after the Captain and I wed, I hope never to have to deal
with horses again.”
“I think Miss Somerset is in need of some
refreshment, I certainly am. If you'll excuse us, we'll see what we
can find for a nuncheon.”
Miss Arnold made dinner interesting. She snipped
at Cecelia for much of the meal, criticizing her manners,
deportment, and even the color of her hair. Part way through the
meal, she announced, “George, I have decided that you should plan
on selling this forsaken place once we're married. In fact, its
sale should fund my portion.”
George said, “You can't be serious? I've found
the company pleasant. It's a profitable estate, and the calm is
good for my nerves.”
“I am. Once we set a date, I expect you to put
this place on the market. I certainly cannot live here. Miss Wood,
I presume you have made arrangements for yourself. It might be time
to look into them.”
Cecelia found she could not speak, and left the
table. She could barely hold back her tears. The Captain asked her
friend to see what she could do. “Miss Somerset, would you look for
her.”
Mary found Cecelia in the stables, weeping as
she saddled her horse. “What are you going to do?”
“I'm leaving. Now.”
“Where are you going?”
“I don't know. Yes I do. Swansea. My aunt. I
can't stay here and watch my home destroyed by that woman.”
“I can't let you do that. If nothing else
there's no moon and it's too dark.”
“Georgie, what am I to do?”
“I think Miss Arnold is showing her ugly side.
Putting the knife in you. It was bound to come out sooner or
later.”
“Yes, you're right. Still, I can't stay here. I
must go now.”
“You can stay here tonight. In fact you will
stay here tonight. I'll take you directly to your room and you
don't have to meet her again. We'll ride for Raglan tomorrow. I
know my mother would love to see you again.”
Cecelia fought back a sob, “Georgie, you're a
true friend. Thank you.”
The next morning, while the sun was struggling
to break free of the ground, two horsewomen left Penyclawdd. They
headed down the Hereford road to Abergavenny and then out the
Monmouth road to Raglan. One of them had to restrain her urge to
gallop. The other one struggled to keep up.
It was the fashionable mid-morning hour for
breakfast when Sir Charles and Lady Elizabeth descended from their
room. They were met by the noise from a loud hubbub in the parlor.
Mary and Cecelia had returned before breakfast and were now seated
with the rest of the family at the breakfast table.
The hubbub quieted when Sir Charles opened the
door. “Mary, what are you doing back so early?”
“Miss Wood and I rode back this morning.”
“That's fourteen miles. How long did it take
you?”
“An hour and a half. We made good time.”
“While I am displeased that you would show such
hoydenish behavior Mary, it does sound like your seat is much
improved. I'm not sure whether to be proud of you or upset with
you.”
“I'm sorry father, it was that Arnold woman. She
was most unpleasant to Miss Wood.”
Cecelia spat out, “She insists that Captain Wood
sell Penyclawdd. Just to spite me.”
“You know that was always a possibility.”
“I know, but Ge- Captain Wood likes Penyclawdd,
and its quiet is good for him.”
It was Lady Elizabeth who explained things,
“Miss Wood, it is your friend the Captain who will have to live
with Miss Arnold. Let him learn to handle her.” She kept her
thoughts of “or not”
Similar Books
