don’t know it, too. As soon as we reach New
York I plan to spend the rest of my life making both Joshua and Michael
proud of me.”
Miranda sheepishly said, “Well, all I can say is, Michael definitely
takes after his father and not his mother.” Shaking her head knowingly at
Felicity, she added, “Now, don’t look at me so disapprovingly, Felicity. You
know what I say is the absolute truth.”
Felicity softly chuckled and whispered, “Shh, Miranda. What if
Michael can hear you?”
Anxious to hear what Michael’s parents were really like, Elise smiled
encouragingly, knowing if she asked point blank that would be wrong, but
if Miranda volunteered the information . . . Well, what could be the harm in
listening?
“Oh Felicity, you know perfectly well Vivian grates on your last nerve,
always comparing you to her precious Lavinia.” Realizing she had said too
much, Miranda quickly added, “I’m so sorry, Felicity. Will you ever
forgive me?”
“No harm done. I’m sure it’s just a matter of time, and Elise will be
told the whole sordid past regarding Lavinia, Benjamin, and me. After
Elise bared her heart to me, it’s only fair that I reciprocate. Besides, I
would rather Elise hear my side first.”
Unable to contain her curiosity any longer, Elise squealed softly, “I
knew there was something peculiar going on, regarding the Sterlings. Isn’t
that their names? I sensed it back at that restaurant.”
“Elise, you are truly amazing. I won’t even ask how we gave it away,”
Miranda whispered.
Slowly, Felicity began explaining to Elise how she came to meet her
husband, Benjamin, after her parents’ tragic deaths. She explained the
arrangements her uncle, Edwin Robbins, had provided for her--to live with
the Reverend Myles and his newly-wed wife, Lavinia.
Confused, Elise asked, “Excuse me, Felicity. Are you saying that when
you first went to England, Benjamin was married to this other woman,
Lavinia?”
“Yes. It’s very confusing, and since we have a long ride ahead of us,
I’ll try to explain everything to you.”
Elise sat silently as Felicity explained the details of her past. From the
look in Felicity’s eyes, it was clear to see this was something that brought
her deep pain.
From her first meeting with Benjamin, when Felicity had mistaken him
as the headmaster of the school she was to teach at, she saw in him a
tenderness she had never seen in any other man. And as good friends as she
and Benjamin had become, the opposite was true of Felicity and Lavinia.
A tender smile crossed Felicity’s lips as she spoke of meeting other
family members; her Aunt Gwen, the sister of Felicity’s late grandfather,
and her cousins Rupert Robbins and Anne Spencer. It was clear that
Felicity genuinely missed them and loved them dearly. As she explained
the rift that had kept the Phelps and the Robbins apart for so many years,
the tone of her voice betrayed great sadness.
“You see, my grandfather and grandmother had such a deep love for
one another that they risked everything to be together, forsaking their past,
their inheritances, and their families, just so they could be together.
Unfortunately, their love caused my dear Aunt Gwen a tremendous amount
of pain.”
Elise and Miranda remained silent allowing Felicity to continue. She
explained her beloved aunt’s pain was precisely why she and Benjamin
were together now. Seeing their look of confusion, Felicity began to
describe the night of the ball, when she was introduced to society.
“That was to be a magical night, bringing two families together.
Instead, it ended up being a night that separated another and nearly
destroyed an innocent man’s reputation--her Benjamin’s. The man with
whom she had fallen hopelessly in love with, despite knowing he was
never to be hers.”
As Felicity relived the Squire’s attack, she nearly faltered, her voice
cracked with pain and humiliation. Yet she continued.
When Felicity revealed it was
York I plan to spend the rest of my life making both Joshua and Michael
proud of me.”
Miranda sheepishly said, “Well, all I can say is, Michael definitely
takes after his father and not his mother.” Shaking her head knowingly at
Felicity, she added, “Now, don’t look at me so disapprovingly, Felicity. You
know what I say is the absolute truth.”
Felicity softly chuckled and whispered, “Shh, Miranda. What if
Michael can hear you?”
Anxious to hear what Michael’s parents were really like, Elise smiled
encouragingly, knowing if she asked point blank that would be wrong, but
if Miranda volunteered the information . . . Well, what could be the harm in
listening?
“Oh Felicity, you know perfectly well Vivian grates on your last nerve,
always comparing you to her precious Lavinia.” Realizing she had said too
much, Miranda quickly added, “I’m so sorry, Felicity. Will you ever
forgive me?”
“No harm done. I’m sure it’s just a matter of time, and Elise will be
told the whole sordid past regarding Lavinia, Benjamin, and me. After
Elise bared her heart to me, it’s only fair that I reciprocate. Besides, I
would rather Elise hear my side first.”
Unable to contain her curiosity any longer, Elise squealed softly, “I
knew there was something peculiar going on, regarding the Sterlings. Isn’t
that their names? I sensed it back at that restaurant.”
“Elise, you are truly amazing. I won’t even ask how we gave it away,”
Miranda whispered.
Slowly, Felicity began explaining to Elise how she came to meet her
husband, Benjamin, after her parents’ tragic deaths. She explained the
arrangements her uncle, Edwin Robbins, had provided for her--to live with
the Reverend Myles and his newly-wed wife, Lavinia.
Confused, Elise asked, “Excuse me, Felicity. Are you saying that when
you first went to England, Benjamin was married to this other woman,
Lavinia?”
“Yes. It’s very confusing, and since we have a long ride ahead of us,
I’ll try to explain everything to you.”
Elise sat silently as Felicity explained the details of her past. From the
look in Felicity’s eyes, it was clear to see this was something that brought
her deep pain.
From her first meeting with Benjamin, when Felicity had mistaken him
as the headmaster of the school she was to teach at, she saw in him a
tenderness she had never seen in any other man. And as good friends as she
and Benjamin had become, the opposite was true of Felicity and Lavinia.
A tender smile crossed Felicity’s lips as she spoke of meeting other
family members; her Aunt Gwen, the sister of Felicity’s late grandfather,
and her cousins Rupert Robbins and Anne Spencer. It was clear that
Felicity genuinely missed them and loved them dearly. As she explained
the rift that had kept the Phelps and the Robbins apart for so many years,
the tone of her voice betrayed great sadness.
“You see, my grandfather and grandmother had such a deep love for
one another that they risked everything to be together, forsaking their past,
their inheritances, and their families, just so they could be together.
Unfortunately, their love caused my dear Aunt Gwen a tremendous amount
of pain.”
Elise and Miranda remained silent allowing Felicity to continue. She
explained her beloved aunt’s pain was precisely why she and Benjamin
were together now. Seeing their look of confusion, Felicity began to
describe the night of the ball, when she was introduced to society.
“That was to be a magical night, bringing two families together.
Instead, it ended up being a night that separated another and nearly
destroyed an innocent man’s reputation--her Benjamin’s. The man with
whom she had fallen hopelessly in love with, despite knowing he was
never to be hers.”
As Felicity relived the Squire’s attack, she nearly faltered, her voice
cracked with pain and humiliation. Yet she continued.
When Felicity revealed it was
Similar Books
