Chapter Seven

 

 

“My bonnet’s best,” Frances insisted. Dressed in her Sunday best and flanked by her mother and her aunt, she reviewed their reflections in the mirror in their bedroom.

“Do you think so?” Serena fluffed the pink bow attached to the side of her own hat. “I thought mine was rather lovely.”

“Mama.” Frances stamped her foot. “Easter bonnets are made of straw, not felt. Everyone knows that.”

“Silly me.” Serena bent and quickly bussed her daughter’s cheek. “Come along. I think everyone is ready to go to church.”

“It’s not church,” Frances called over her shoulder as she headed down the stairs. “It’s called chapel here.”

“And it’s a long walk up the hill,” Daniel added in a voice of gloom. “Are you sure we have to walk, Mama? Can’t we just drive?”

“Yes, I’m sure we have to walk and no, we cannot drive. It’s too short a distance for that and the . . .”

“. . .exercise will do us good.” Daniel finished his mother’s sentence. “I know, but we get exercise all the time, Mama. We walk down the hill to Blakeney then we have to walk up it again to get home. We go up the hill to collect firewood in the forest, and then we walk down again. I will be so glad when we can come home again and be where everything is flat.”

“But just think how strong your legs and lungs will be when it comes to playing sport at school. You will have the advantage by far over your classmates,” Serena comforted while silently agreeing that it would definitely be good when he could come home.

“That’s if they remember me,” Daniel commented gloomily.

Conceding he had a point, Serena distracted him by asking him about the black sheep grazing in the field they were passing. With no interest in the sheep, Daniel began to tease Frances about her bonnet and then called to two other boys who were coming down the hill towards them. Serena took the opportunity to stop and catch her breath.

“Alright, I know I’m out of shape for hill walking,” she muttered as she caught Rachel laughing at her. The wind at that moment buffeted her head and she reached up and hung on to her hat. She turned and looked at the pewter sweep of the River Severn and the broad, green plain beyond it spreading out beneath the distant hills. Home lay beneath that escarpment and that was where she wanted all of them to be.

With a sigh she turned and started up the lane again, thinking as she did so that while building a chapel on a hill might be pleasing to God, for his parishioners it left them too breathless to sing his praises when they got there.

The little chapel quickly filled. Impatient boys teased each other behind their parents’ backs. The girls, all wearing their Easter bonnets, cast sideways glances at each other, each convinced their bonnet was best. Their whispered comments were shushed by their mothers and frowned on by stern-faced fathers.

As Serena watched them a little smile played over her mouth. How many of the devout parishioners gathered here might know that the Easter service they now attended stemmed from pagan ritual? Who of them would recognize the names Ostara or Eostre, or ever believe that their beloved and solemn service originated from the moon cycle and the spring equinox, the date when day and night are of equal length?

Randolph would know that she gleaned this information from the extensive library at Buxton Hall. Missing him had become a constant ache with her. She listened to the readings from scripture, mechanically joined in responses and sang the hymns accompanied by an out of tune piano.

At last they were out in the fresh air again. As she passed through the chapel gate Serena realized that Rachel was not with her and looked back over her shoulder. She scanned the groups of people around the chapel door and saw Rachel talking to a young man. She turned away again, instantly annoyed by her unreasonable supposition that he could, or should, be at the front. He might be a soldier on leave. He could be recovering from wounds. She heard him laugh and wondered what Rachel might have said to amuse him.

She shook her head at herself. Why was she being unreasonable? Why shouldn’t Rachel enjoy the company of a young and attractive man? For hadn’t she seen enough of the man’s face to know that he was quite good looking? She called Frances to come along and leave Rachel alone but then Daniel raced past her and Frances took off in his wake, hanging on to her bonnet.

Serena smiled at their antics and inhaled deeply, enjoying the faint tang of salt in the air from the sludgy, tidal river. She heard footsteps hurrying behind her and Rachel caught up with her.

“Serena, I wanted to introduce you to Mr. Duncan but you’d already left. Why are you in such a hurry?”

“I thought you might wish for a little privacy,” Serena responded reasonably, although she had to quash the sharp pang of jealousy that stabbed beneath her ribs and nearly took her breath away. She gave herself a stern mental shake.

“Well, I can introduce you properly next week. He’s staying with his aunt, Mrs. Croft. You may have met her as she and the Beards know each other quite well. He’s waiting for the flat above the chemist’s shop in Lydney to be vacated and then he’ll take up his position there.”

“Oh? Is he a chemist then?”

“Yes, he is.”

“Is this something serious, Rachel?”

Rachel stopped and clasped her hands together. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

“I would like it to be,” she softly. “I hope it could be.”

Serena took her arm and squeezed it. “Then I hope it is, too. I remember when I first saw Randolph I couldn’t pull my eyes away from his and I just knew we were meant to be together. How was it for you and Mr. Duncan?”

“I thought he felt as strongly as did I, yet he still has not asked to walk out with me but I sense that he likes me.”

Serena noted the blush on Rachel’s cheeks and the sparkle in her eyes. Daniel was at an age when he would soon be going to boarding school. That situation did not sit well with her and Serena knew it would cause heated debate between her and Randolph if he were at home. Frances could go to the village school and then there would be no need for a nanny.

She would miss Rachel so much. It occurred to her that almost every thought in her head this day caused her physical pain. She could not deny Rachel the happiness she deserved. She stopped as they reached the garden gate, left swinging open by the hurried passage of the two children.

“Why don’t you ask him and his aunt to come to dinner with us next Sunday?” The words were out of her mouth almost before she thought them. “Didn’t you say the Beards know Mr. Duncan’s aunt? If he is to be the light of your life then I need to assure myself he is worthy of you.”

Rachel burst out laughing, a release of pent up anxiety and real humor. “Are you going to be a dragon lady on my behalf?”

Thinking of Matron Sally Light, Serena shook her head. “That title has already been bestowed elsewhere. But if I thought for one moment this young man was not capable of making you happy, or might harm you in anyway then, yes, I believe I could be quite fierce. I’m sure Nanny will not mind and you and I can go shopping in Lydney on Friday for some little extras for the table.”

Rachel covered her face with her hands. “Maybe it’s too much. Maybe he’ll feel his hand is being forced. What if he and his aunt refuse the invitation?”

“I don’t think they will.” Serena chuckled. “At times I don’t mind playing my lady-of-the-manor hand and, if this means your happiness Rach, I’ll plonk down an ace for you to win the game.”