AllFreeNovel
Share Us
But if she withdrew it and apologized now she would only draw attention to the act and make it necessary for him to respond. They would both be embarrassed, and it would rob the moment of its understanding and create of it a lie.
Instead she sat back slowly with a very slight smile.
She was prevented from having to think what to say next by the library door opening and Romola coming in. She glanced at them together and instantly her face darkened.
“Should you not be with Lady Moidore?” she said sharply.
Her tone stung Hester, who kept her temper with an effort. Had she been free to, she would have replied with equal acerbity.
“No, Mrs. Moidore, her ladyship said I might have the evening to do as I chose. She decided to retire early.”
“Then she must be unwell,” Romola returned immediately. “You should be where she can call you if she needs you. Perhaps you could read in your bedroom, or write letters. Don’t you have friends or family who will be expecting to hear from you?”
Cyprian stood up. “I’m sure Miss Latterly is quite capable of organizing her own correspondence, Romola. And she cannot read without first coming to the library to choose a book.”
Romola’s eyebrows rose sarcastically. “Is that what you were doing, Miss Latterly? Forgive me, that was not what appearances suggested.”
“I was answering Mr. Moidore’s questions concerning his mother’s health,” Hester said very levelly.
“Indeed? Well if he is now satisfied you may return to your room and do whatever it is you wish.”
Cyprian drew breath to reply, but his father came in, glanced at their faces, and looked inquiringly at his son.
“Miss Latterly believes that Mama is not seriously ill,” Cyprian said with embarrassment, obviously fishing for a palatable excuse.
“Did anyone imagine she was?” Basil asked dryly, coming into the middle of the room.
“I did not,” Romola said quickly. “She is suffering, of course—but so are we all. I know I haven’t slept properly since it happened.”
“Perhaps Miss Latterly would give you something that would help?” Cyprian suggested with a glance at Hester—and the shadow of a smile.
“Thank you, I shall manage by myself,” Romola snapped. “And I intend to go and visit Lady Killin tomorrow afternoon.”
“It is too soon,” Basil said before Cyprian could speak. “I think you should remain at home for another month at least. By all means receive her if she calls here.”
“She won’t call,” Romola said angrily. “She will certainly feel uncomfortable and uncertain what to say—and one can hardly blame her for that.”
“That is not material.” Basil had already dismissed the matter.
“Then I shall call on her,” Romola repeated, watching her father-in-law, not her husband.
Cyprian turned to speak to her, remonstrate with her, but again Basil overrode him.
“You are tired,” he said coldly. “You had better retire to your room—and spend a quiet day tomorrow.” There was no mistaking that it was an order. Romola stood as if undecided for a moment, but there was never any doubt in the issue. She would do as she was told, both tonight and tomorrow. Cyprian and his opinions were irrelevant.
Hester was acutely embarrassed, not for Romola, who had behaved childishly and deserved to be reproved, but for Cyprian, who had been disregarded totally. She turned to Basil.
“If you will excuse me, sir, I will retire also. Mrs. Moidore made the suggestion that I should be in my room, in case Lady Moidore should need me.” And with a brief nod at Cyprian, hardly meeting his eyes so she did not see his humiliation, and clutching her book, Hester went out across the hall and up the stairs.
Sunday was quite unlike any other day in the Moidore house, as indeed was the case the length and breadth of England. The ordinary duties of cleaning grates and lighting and stoking fires had to be done, and of course breakfast was served. Prayers were briefer than usual because all those who could would be going to church at least once in the day.
Beatrice chose not to be well enough, and no one argued with her, but she insisted that Hester should ride with the family and attend services. It was preferable to her going in the evening with the upper servants, when Beatrice might well need her.
Luncheon was a very sober affair with little conversation, according to Dinah’s report, and the afternoon was spent in letter writing, or in Basil’s case, he put on his smoking jacket and retired to the smoking room to think or perhaps to doze. Books and newspapers were forbidden as unfitting the sabbath, and the children were not allowed to play with their toys or to read, except Scripture, or to indulge in any games. Even musical practice was deemed inappropriate.
Supper was to be cold, to permit Mrs. Boden and the other upper servants to attend church. Afterwards the evening would be occupied by Bible reading, presided over by Sir Basil. It was a day in which no one seemed to find pleasure.
It brought childhood flooding back to Hester, although her father at his most pompous had never been so unrelievedly joyless. Since leaving home for the Crimea, although it was not so very long ago, she had forgotten how rigorously such rules were enforced. War did not allow such indulgences, and caring for the sick did not stop even for the darkness of night, let alone a set day of the week.
