AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Good evening, Miss Fletcher,” he said. “I trust you are well?”
“Very well, Mr Plummer. Very resolute, after your sermon. Also very hungry. We’re not used to eating at this hour. Does everyone here eat this late?”
“Six or seven o’clock is quite usual, although there are those who still prefer five or even earlier. In London, eight o’clock is not unheard of.”
“Good heavens! I should expire from hunger if I— Oops!”
One foot caught a protruding part of the steps and she would have plunged to her knees, but somehow he caught her and held her fast, one arm around her waist.
“There, I have you now. Up you come.”
And by some miracle, she was upright, her gown undamaged, the disaster averted. How astonishing. “Thank you, sir.”
“Really, Julia,” came the sour tones of Aunt Madge from behind her. “Do try for some decorum.”
“Decorum,” she said musingly. “Tricky.”
Her gamekeeper laughed genially. “Come inside, Miss Fletcher. This is the great hall. You will see it properly later, for we are to dine here. This way.”
A screen shielded most of the room from view, but the soaring roof was visible. Craning her neck to see the great wooden beams and carved ceiling far above her head, Julia slowly turned round in a circle. “It is like a cathedral,” she said, awed. “Just like the Minster, only in wood, not stone.”
“York Minster? Is it so? On a smaller scale, I should think.”
“Oh yes, but such confidence, don’t you think? Those great soaring arches — what sort of man could imagine such things, and then build them, and have them stand for hundreds of years? It is astounding.”
“Indeed it is,” he said, his ever-present smile widening. “I had never thought of it so, but it is indeed astounding. Have you been often to York Minster?”
“Several times a year. Ma used to love to listen to the music there, and it has become a family tradition. There is something magical about a choir singing in such a setting. The music seems to rise into the air and weave itself around the columns and fill every corner of the building, even into the highest point of the roof. It’s wonderful.”
“I can imagine it must be. I have attended service at Lincoln Cathedral, of course, but I must be a philistine, for I never once observed the music weaving itself around the columns in that way. What a wonderful image!”
“Comealong, Julia! You are keeping everyone waiting.” That was Aunt Madge, fussing as usual.
“Do forgive us, Miss Paton,” Mr Plummer said smoothly. “The blame is mine, I fear, for delaying Miss Fletcher, but I was much interested in her remarks.”
He smiled so charmingly that even grouchy Aunt Paton softened and smiled a little and murmured that it was quite all right and it was no wonder that dear Julia was riveted by such a fascinating old building. A footman took the ladies’ cloaks and they moved out of the great hall into an inner hall filled with a fine staircase lined with carved balusters. Passing it by, they turned aside into a cosy inner room full of people and the light of many candles.
“Miss Julia Fletcher, Miss Paton,” intoned the butler.
Lady Plummer came forward to greet them, and Julia was gently shepherded to a sofa where the daughter of the house sat — what was her name? Patricia, that was it. They were almost the same age, but Miss Patricia Plummer was as unlike Julia as could be imagined, for she was short and plump, with a white, rounded, almost featureless face that reminded Julia forcefully of a piece of dough, with two currants for eyes. Miss Plummer turned her expressionless gaze on Julia.
“Good evening, Miss Fletcher. You are well, I trust.” Her tone was flat, the words less a question than a formality. Without waiting for an answer, she went on placidly, “You are pleased with your new home, I hope. I took the greatest care in arranging everything for you.”
“Oh, that was your doing, was it?” Julia said. “I thought Lady Plummer—”
“Mama has been too distraught for such activity, naturally. The duty fell to me to manage all the arrangements. I hope everything is to your liking and the servants are giving satisfaction.”
How to answer that without giving offence? But perhaps she ought to express her concern for Lady Plummer? She scratched around in her mind for a suitable form of words. Fortunately Miss Plummer was not much interested in her answer, for she continued immediately in the same calm tone.
“Your eldest sister is married, I understand. Does she have children?”
This time, she was genuinely interested for she paused for Julia to answer.
“She has three children, two little girls of three and two, and a boy who is not yet one.”
“How could you bear to leave them?” Miss Plummer said, and for the first time there was animation in her face. “Such a charming collection of infants! But you will have them to stay with you, I hope.”
“They plan to visit us during the summer, and my eldest brother’s family, also. He has four children.”
