secrets were not so obvious, and cumbersome to rationalize.
“He is amazing, Mama, so orderly and graceful,” said Bridget.
“So I’ve heard. I have also heard from your sister that you spent most of the party talking and dancing with him,” said Mrs. Worthing.
“I don’t know how Emily came upon that knowledge. She herself was nearly wrapped in Mr. Wingrave’s arms. Did you know I had people ask me if they are engaged?” said Bridget. Emily gasped.
“Who asked that?” said Mrs. Worthing.
“Anyone with a daughter in fifty miles,” said Bridget, more smug than accusing.
“What did you tell them?” asked Emily.
“Don’t be upset with your sister, love. Is your behavior not cautious enough?” said Mrs. Worthing.
“I thought, but I didn’t know… We were only talking,” said Emily.
“I told them that you were not, but did my best to hint at a solid friendship,” said Bridget. Emily nodded her thanks, too ashamed of her impetuous fascination overriding her social finesse.
“Anyway, Mr. Annesley seems a good man, if the reports are true. Let your heart judge this one, Bridget, instead of your sharp tongue,” said Mrs. Worthing, “Next week, the doctor wants me removed to the sitting room, to start building my strength. Then I can help you girls, by observation at least.”
“That is great news, Mama!” cried Emily. The following Monday Mrs. Worthing did journey downstairs for the first time in two years. The entire family was overjoyed with having her in a common area where they could visit easily and see their mother normally dressed. That Wednesday, Mr. Annesley called on the Worthings.
“Welcome, sir, welcome!” said Mrs. Worthing, bidding him to sit down.
“I was told you were ill, Mrs. Worthing, but I am very glad to see you in better health,” he said. Emily and Bridget answered the summons, entering the room just as he sat. Mr. Annesley hopped out of his chair and bowed to the ladies as they took their places.
“How nice to see you again, Mr. Annesley,” said Bridget.
“And you, Miss Bridget. I am going to Tripton and hoped to be favored with your company,” said Mr. Annesley.
“To Tripton? Aren’t you staying at the inn?” asked Bridget.
“Ah, no. I have been staying at Reddester Hall since Saturday,” he replied. Emily blinked at the new information. After Mr. Wingrave greeted him in that fashion, how did Mr. Annesley gain admittance to Reddester?
“I would be delighted,” said Bridget.
“And you, Miss Worthing?” he asked.
“If the invitation is open, I will go as well. Mama, may I fetch Genevieve? Her lessons should be nearly over for the day,” said Emily.
“That would grand, Emily. Do have fun!” said Mrs. Worthing.
“If you wait for me, in the front hall, I will find Genevieve,” said Emily. Her youngest sister had finished her lesson and was more than grateful to go out of doors.
“I get to meet Mr. Annesley? The one Bridget had talked of?” said Genevieve.
“Yes, my dear, but don’t tell him that,” laughed Emily. They met the others in the front hall, Genevieve quite surprising Mr. Annesley by hiding behind her sister.
“Do I look frightening?” he asked, peeking around Emily.
“No,” said Genevieve.
“I shouldn’t. I am skin and bones, human through and through, not a bogeyman. See? My hair is even the same shade as yours,” he persuaded her. Blushing, she came out and curtsied.
“Pleased to meet you,” she said.
“Just as beautiful as your sisters,” said Mr. Annesley. Genevieve’s blush deepened.
“Thank you,” she mumbled as Emily and Bridget giggled.
“Tell Mr. Annesley what you’ve been doing today,” he said, giving Genevieve his arm. The four of them walked on, though at some point when Genevieve had exhausted her conversation, Bridget took her place.
Tripton itself was in high spirits that fair weather day, and
“He is amazing, Mama, so orderly and graceful,” said Bridget.
“So I’ve heard. I have also heard from your sister that you spent most of the party talking and dancing with him,” said Mrs. Worthing.
“I don’t know how Emily came upon that knowledge. She herself was nearly wrapped in Mr. Wingrave’s arms. Did you know I had people ask me if they are engaged?” said Bridget. Emily gasped.
“Who asked that?” said Mrs. Worthing.
“Anyone with a daughter in fifty miles,” said Bridget, more smug than accusing.
“What did you tell them?” asked Emily.
“Don’t be upset with your sister, love. Is your behavior not cautious enough?” said Mrs. Worthing.
“I thought, but I didn’t know… We were only talking,” said Emily.
“I told them that you were not, but did my best to hint at a solid friendship,” said Bridget. Emily nodded her thanks, too ashamed of her impetuous fascination overriding her social finesse.
“Anyway, Mr. Annesley seems a good man, if the reports are true. Let your heart judge this one, Bridget, instead of your sharp tongue,” said Mrs. Worthing, “Next week, the doctor wants me removed to the sitting room, to start building my strength. Then I can help you girls, by observation at least.”
“That is great news, Mama!” cried Emily. The following Monday Mrs. Worthing did journey downstairs for the first time in two years. The entire family was overjoyed with having her in a common area where they could visit easily and see their mother normally dressed. That Wednesday, Mr. Annesley called on the Worthings.
“Welcome, sir, welcome!” said Mrs. Worthing, bidding him to sit down.
“I was told you were ill, Mrs. Worthing, but I am very glad to see you in better health,” he said. Emily and Bridget answered the summons, entering the room just as he sat. Mr. Annesley hopped out of his chair and bowed to the ladies as they took their places.
“How nice to see you again, Mr. Annesley,” said Bridget.
“And you, Miss Bridget. I am going to Tripton and hoped to be favored with your company,” said Mr. Annesley.
“To Tripton? Aren’t you staying at the inn?” asked Bridget.
“Ah, no. I have been staying at Reddester Hall since Saturday,” he replied. Emily blinked at the new information. After Mr. Wingrave greeted him in that fashion, how did Mr. Annesley gain admittance to Reddester?
“I would be delighted,” said Bridget.
“And you, Miss Worthing?” he asked.
“If the invitation is open, I will go as well. Mama, may I fetch Genevieve? Her lessons should be nearly over for the day,” said Emily.
“That would grand, Emily. Do have fun!” said Mrs. Worthing.
“If you wait for me, in the front hall, I will find Genevieve,” said Emily. Her youngest sister had finished her lesson and was more than grateful to go out of doors.
“I get to meet Mr. Annesley? The one Bridget had talked of?” said Genevieve.
“Yes, my dear, but don’t tell him that,” laughed Emily. They met the others in the front hall, Genevieve quite surprising Mr. Annesley by hiding behind her sister.
“Do I look frightening?” he asked, peeking around Emily.
“No,” said Genevieve.
“I shouldn’t. I am skin and bones, human through and through, not a bogeyman. See? My hair is even the same shade as yours,” he persuaded her. Blushing, she came out and curtsied.
“Pleased to meet you,” she said.
“Just as beautiful as your sisters,” said Mr. Annesley. Genevieve’s blush deepened.
“Thank you,” she mumbled as Emily and Bridget giggled.
“Tell Mr. Annesley what you’ve been doing today,” he said, giving Genevieve his arm. The four of them walked on, though at some point when Genevieve had exhausted her conversation, Bridget took her place.
Tripton itself was in high spirits that fair weather day, and
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