“Oh, and we’ll be accompanied by my wife’s brother, Sir Andrew Cull and his (ah hum) companion, Miss Fiona Fitzwilliam (but everyone calls herFitz).
We should be your way about mid-October. Do let us know if that is notconvenient.
We’ll bring a couple cases of champers from gay old Paree. Let’s make a grand old time of it shallwe?
Ever your devotedfriend,
BentleyCavendish
John putdown the letter and scowled.How awkward, he thought. Couldn’t be worst timing. He would be right in the midst of sheering and marketing the wool. And he might also be in the process of losingHollyoak.
But Bentley was an old friend whom he’d not seen in a long time. And, with all his troubles, it might be nice to have a diverting break and enjoy himself a little. However, he knew nothing about Sir Andrew Cull and his companion. But if they were Bentley’s traveling companions they must be all right, as he didn’t think Bentley would have invited them to travel to Paris with them if theyweren’t.
John stood from his desk and went to the library window that overlooked the kitchen garden where Susan was still instructing Elizabeth. He couldn’t help but study her. What a fine woman she was he thought. The more he observed her, the more he began to appreciate her many fine qualities. She was gracious, intelligent, and certainly caring, as evidenced by the wonderful changes he was seeing in hisdaughter.
He was reminded of Susan and his Aunt’s suggestions that he take a more active role in his daughter’s upbringing. And that set him thinking… if he were to spend more time with Elizabeth he would also be spending more time with Miss Susan. And how could that bebad?
* * *
When Susan tooka break while Elizabeth was having her lunch, she went to her suite to pick up a book. As she entered she was surprised to find a letter on her desk. It must have come by post when she was out in thegarden.
She opened it. It was from Katherine and was short and sweet. It simply asked Susan to come to their house for a visit as soon as urgentlypossible.
Urgently,Susan contemplated. What could that mean? It slightly worried her, as she was afraid that Katherine might have becomeill.
She went directly to Aunt Clarissa’s room andknocked.
“Yes?”
Susan went inside, still holding theletter.
“Aunt Clarissa, I’ve had a note from a dear friend who requests my urgentattendance.”
“Oh, my. Is there a problem?” Auntasked.
“I have no idea. The note is vague, but I know my friend, Katherine would not summon me like this unless it wasurgent.”
“Then you must go see her this veryafternoon.”
“Would that be all right? Could you or Charlotte care for Elizabeth in myabsence?”
“Of course, my dear. And you will need transportation. Just tell groom I approve your use of the trap for the afternoon and he will prepare it foryou.”
“Oh, thank you, dear AuntClarissa.”
Susan took a quick bite of lunch in the kitchen and then availed herself of the trap and headed for Ash. When she arrived at the cobbler’s shop she knocked at the family’s door and anxiously waited for someone to answer. When the door finally opened Susan was shocked. There stood Daniel, smiling like aclown.
“Daniel, what are you doing here? I thought you were to be gone for many monthsyet.”
“What? No hello, dear Daniel? No, how glad I am to see you? Just a gruff what are you doinghere?”
Susan laughed. “Yes, I’m sorry. It just took me so much by surprise. Katherine made no mention in her note that you were back. And I was worried she might beill.”
“I asked her not to tell you. I wanted it to be asurprise.”
Daniel was still dressed in his uniform. He looked wonderful and her heart filled with joy in seeinghim.
“Come in, then. No point in standing in thedoorway.”
