* * *
Papa was goingto drive Susan and her luggage over to Haverford House after lunchtime. Susan was mostly packed and she took a moment to write Daniel. She told him all about her new position and how excited she was to be teaching the young child, Elizabeth. She touched upon Daniel’s efforts to find a way for them to be together longer if he was to stay in the Navy. And she gave him her new address and promised to write regularly with news of her new job andhome.
Susan wanted to mail the letter to make sure it went out before she left for Haverford House, so she decided to walk into town, mail the letter, and stop by to see Katherine and say good-bye. Not that she was going to be so far away that they couldn’t see each other—but it would be less often, as it required transportation to get into Ash from theestate.
Katherine was in the back garden harvesting beans for supper when Susan arrived. Katherine was wearing a large sunhat and was on her knees amongst the beanvines.
“Don’t you look stylish,” Susan called out as sheapproached.
Katherine looked up and brushed the perspiration from her forehead with hersleeve.
“You like myau courantfashion statement—kitchenchic?” She laughed and pushed herself up tostanding.
“I was just posting a letter to Daniel so I thought I’d stop by. Don’t let me interrupt your gathering,” Susansaid.
“Oh, I’m finished. Come inside with me. I believe Mother made some lemonade, would you like some? It’s a warm day for September, isn’tit?”
They went into the kitchen and Katherine set the basket of beans on thetable.
“Would you like me to help string those,” Susan asked as she sat at the table and began cleaning thebeans.”
“Aren’t you nice?” Katherine said as she poured two glasses oflemonade.
“How do you get ice this time of year?” Susan asked as she took a swig of the colddrink.
“Ah, we have an in with the mayor who has a root cellar where he stores ice he takes from the lake during the winter. Don’t tell anybody though. It’s supposed to be asecret.”
They sat for a moment in silence, snapping beans and savoring thelemonade.
“When I was getting the ice, the mayor’s wife told me about the railway coming through Kent from London. Have you heard about it?” Katherineasked.
“Jasper mentioned something to me about a new railway line, but that’s all Iknow.”
“Seems the big mucky mucks are buying up property for rights of way from London to Dover, so it’s unknown if it will come our way or not. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a station in Ash? Then we could go visit the King andQueen.”
“I think of my carriage ride to London when I went to visit Jessica. How much nicer and faster it would have been on a train,” Susansaid.
They worked on the beans a bit longer then Susan said, “I’m off thisafternoon.”
“Oh, honey, I’m going to missyou.”
“I’ll be back. And maybe you would like to visit sometime. There are wonderful walks on the property and you could stay a couple of days and meet the adorableElizabeth.”
“Yes, I’d likethat.”
“But I’ll need to settle in and get my bearings first. But I’ll drop you anote.”
Katherine looked like she wanted to say something. Susan studied her. “What?” she finallyasked.
“We got the strangest letter from Daniel the other day,” Katherineanswered.
“Oh?”
“He’s talking about taking a shore job with the Navy. That’s so unlike him. He loves the sea. He loves being a captain with his own ship. Why do you think he’d say such a thing? It’s not like him atall.”
Susan felt a little embarrassed, as she knew she was the cause of that thinking. “I may have something to do withthat.”
Katherine looked surprised. “How?”
