AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It is dearest Seraphina. My other daughter, you may recall.” Her face shone with a brightness Theo had not seen in years. “Oh, Theo, is this not wonderful?”
She forced a smile. “Most wonderful.” Apparently her day of rest would not happen after all.
The carriage slowed.
As it stopped, Theo begged a moment of Mama’s time. “Before we go in, we should discuss being careful and not admitting the captain’s identity.”
“Is he really all you think about?” Mama asked. “Your sister, whom we have not seen in many a year, is finally visiting, and you are more concerned about the captain and his secret?”
Regret kneaded within, as her mother exited the carriage, Becky assisting her with a worried look over her shoulder.
Theo tried to offer a reassuring smile, but the years of growing up had proved there was nothing sure about Seraphina. Her younger sister blew hot and cold—one minute sad, the next filled with gaiety—contrary as her grandfather. As for trusting Seraphina with things …
Theo’s lips tightened, remembering the many instances when she had cried herself to sleep as she endured the lifelong legacy of Seraphina’s breaking of things. Her word. Theo’s confidence. Friendships. Trust.
Theo knew Jesus Christ’s commandment to forgive seventy times seven, but hadn’t she exceeded that long ago? Love her sister, she would do. But like or trust her? No.
She joined the others in making her way inside, unsurprised at the squeals that suggested her younger sister was in a good mood. Following the sounds, Theo found her mother clasping Seraphina in her arms, while Becky stood uncertainly and a tall man nodded to her mother before gazing out the drawing room window.
Her heart squeezed.Hewas here.
He turned. Faced her. Looked her up and down without a smile. “Theodosia.”
“Roger.”
“Still the same as ever.”
“As are you.” Lean. Handsome. But perhaps a little too pretty.
“Theo, dearest.” Seraphina drew toward her, hands outstretched. “How are you?”
Before she gave time to answer, her sister kissed the air either side of her cheeks—she hadn’t dared to actually touch Theo’s marred cheek since she was a child, scared, she’d once admitted, that the condition might be contagious—and demanded to be introduced to the young lady.
“Why, this is little Becky Mannering.” Mama trilled a laugh.
“Look who is all grown up!” Seraphina offered a smile that did not seem entirely genuine. But then, she’d never found it easy to admire anyone she could regard as competition, as the self-inflicted rivalry between Seraphina and Amelia Bellingham witnessed. And Becky was a pretty girl, owning a fair beauty not unlike what Seraphina had known.
Perhaps that was one advantage of being plain all one’s life. There was never any pedestal from which to fall.
Enough of such musings. She forced brightness into her voice. “This is a pleasant surprise, sister.”
“Is it?” Seraphina cocked her head.
“Pleasant?” Hadn’t she hidden her dismay well enough?
“A surprise.” Her sister’s eyes narrowed for a moment. “I declare, Theodosia, if I was less contented with my lot, I might almost wonder if you were not happy to have us here.”
She willed her smile—and what pleasantness her features could find—not to waver.
“Have you forgotten the invitation?” Seraphina tilted her head, the blonde curls dancing merrily. “By the looks of you, it seems you have.”
Oh.Thatinvitation—issued weeks ago when they’d thought Becky and the captain would be gone. “I do not recall seeing a response,” she said apologetically. “Perhaps Mama—”
“I did not think I would need to respond, not for a visit to my family home.” Seraphina stripped off her gloves and took the most comfortable chair. “Is Siddons still around? He did not answer the door when we came.”
“He was in church.” Theo took the chair nearest the fire. “With the rest of us.”
“But not Grandfather. The general hasn’t been to church more than a dozen times in his entire life. Surely you would not leave him without an attendant.”
