larger community.”
Jacob’s brows rose and he offered a smile. “That is quite a vote of confidence. This could mean great things for your career.”
“Yes,” Mr. Pomeroy acknowledged with a grimace. “It is unfortunate that it may be at the expense of another, but that cannot be helped. I have asked Mr. Dodsworth to take over the services until I return.”
Mr. Dodsworth? The ancient curate? Sara hoped dismay didn’t show on her face. The old man rambled and stared at the young ladies’ bosoms during his sermons. Her appetite was quickly disappearing.
“Well, I am sure he can manage in your absence,” Louisa joined in the conversation.
“Yes,” Mr. Pomeroy replied with slight hesitation. “But I do have my concerns. He is quite elderly.”
“If we can assist in any way, we will,” Claire assured him.
“I have no doubt.” Mr. Pomeroy’s gaze shifted back to Sara. “And that is why I am here. Miss Collins, I was hoping you would continue to do the flower arrangements.”
She offered a weak smile, hoping it hid her disappointment at his news. “Of course.”
“And if you don’t mind, could you continue making the parish visits?”
Louisa inhaled sharply through her nose and spoke again. “That is asking a bit much, don’t you think?” Her brow lowered and looked at him with what could only be interpreted as a glare.
Sara inwardly sighed. She did not understand why Louisa was so belligerent in regard to the vicar. Why was she so insistent in providing her unsolicited protection from the man? Sara loved Louisa dearly, but her stubbornness could be wearying.
Mr. Pomeroy blinked. “I do realize that I am placing a burden on Miss Collins. However, she has been accompanying me since my arrival some months ago and is familiar with the needs of the different families. In addition, Mr. Dodsworth is too advanced in his age to be expected to fulfill such a duty.”
“Would that not be an indication that the man should retire from the position?” Louisa argued. “Or at the very least have a young apprentice who can?”
“Louisa,” Jacob interrupted, “I do not believe Mr. Pomeroy came here to discuss Mr. Dodsworth’s suitability.”
“I don’t think Mr. Pomeroy understands what he is asking of Sara,” Louisa replied.
“I am happy to do it,” Sara said, but her soft voice was lost among the louder ones.
Louisa continued. “He is asking her to enter the homes of sick and desperate people, unescorted. That is not safe, nor is it appropriate for him to expect such a thing from her.”
“I did not expect her to do so unescorted,” Mr. Pomeroy protested, although it was a weak one. Sara blinked at him, surprised. Had it truly not crossed his mind?
He continued to speak. “I am certain Mr. Dodsworth would—”
Mr. Dodsworth! There was no opportunity for Sara to protest as Louisa jumped in with the same sentiment.
“I will escort her,” Jacob said firmly, halting any disparaging comment Louisa might have offered. Claire looked at him surprised. “I can spare one afternoon a week to take Sara on the visits. Besides, this can help in improving the reputation of the school.”
Claire smiled and looked at the others. “This is all well and good, but hasn’t anyone noticed that Sara has yet to consent?”
All eyes turned to her and Sara felt her face warm. “Of course I am happy to do it,” she said, repeating the words that everyone had overlooked earlier.
“Then it’s all arranged,” Jacob declared, meeting Louisa’s glare with a displeased one of his own. “Is there anything else we can do, Mr. Pomeroy?”
“Ah, no, I believe that is all,” the young man said, his certainty clearly shaken. He rose and his eyes lingered on Sara for a moment longer than necessary. “If you will excuse me, I do still have preparations to make before leaving in the morning.”
All rose and Jacob gestured to the door. “I will walk you out.” The men left the room.
Sara lowered herself
Jacob’s brows rose and he offered a smile. “That is quite a vote of confidence. This could mean great things for your career.”
“Yes,” Mr. Pomeroy acknowledged with a grimace. “It is unfortunate that it may be at the expense of another, but that cannot be helped. I have asked Mr. Dodsworth to take over the services until I return.”
Mr. Dodsworth? The ancient curate? Sara hoped dismay didn’t show on her face. The old man rambled and stared at the young ladies’ bosoms during his sermons. Her appetite was quickly disappearing.
“Well, I am sure he can manage in your absence,” Louisa joined in the conversation.
“Yes,” Mr. Pomeroy replied with slight hesitation. “But I do have my concerns. He is quite elderly.”
“If we can assist in any way, we will,” Claire assured him.
“I have no doubt.” Mr. Pomeroy’s gaze shifted back to Sara. “And that is why I am here. Miss Collins, I was hoping you would continue to do the flower arrangements.”
She offered a weak smile, hoping it hid her disappointment at his news. “Of course.”
“And if you don’t mind, could you continue making the parish visits?”
Louisa inhaled sharply through her nose and spoke again. “That is asking a bit much, don’t you think?” Her brow lowered and looked at him with what could only be interpreted as a glare.
Sara inwardly sighed. She did not understand why Louisa was so belligerent in regard to the vicar. Why was she so insistent in providing her unsolicited protection from the man? Sara loved Louisa dearly, but her stubbornness could be wearying.
Mr. Pomeroy blinked. “I do realize that I am placing a burden on Miss Collins. However, she has been accompanying me since my arrival some months ago and is familiar with the needs of the different families. In addition, Mr. Dodsworth is too advanced in his age to be expected to fulfill such a duty.”
“Would that not be an indication that the man should retire from the position?” Louisa argued. “Or at the very least have a young apprentice who can?”
“Louisa,” Jacob interrupted, “I do not believe Mr. Pomeroy came here to discuss Mr. Dodsworth’s suitability.”
“I don’t think Mr. Pomeroy understands what he is asking of Sara,” Louisa replied.
“I am happy to do it,” Sara said, but her soft voice was lost among the louder ones.
Louisa continued. “He is asking her to enter the homes of sick and desperate people, unescorted. That is not safe, nor is it appropriate for him to expect such a thing from her.”
“I did not expect her to do so unescorted,” Mr. Pomeroy protested, although it was a weak one. Sara blinked at him, surprised. Had it truly not crossed his mind?
He continued to speak. “I am certain Mr. Dodsworth would—”
Mr. Dodsworth! There was no opportunity for Sara to protest as Louisa jumped in with the same sentiment.
“I will escort her,” Jacob said firmly, halting any disparaging comment Louisa might have offered. Claire looked at him surprised. “I can spare one afternoon a week to take Sara on the visits. Besides, this can help in improving the reputation of the school.”
Claire smiled and looked at the others. “This is all well and good, but hasn’t anyone noticed that Sara has yet to consent?”
All eyes turned to her and Sara felt her face warm. “Of course I am happy to do it,” she said, repeating the words that everyone had overlooked earlier.
“Then it’s all arranged,” Jacob declared, meeting Louisa’s glare with a displeased one of his own. “Is there anything else we can do, Mr. Pomeroy?”
“Ah, no, I believe that is all,” the young man said, his certainty clearly shaken. He rose and his eyes lingered on Sara for a moment longer than necessary. “If you will excuse me, I do still have preparations to make before leaving in the morning.”
All rose and Jacob gestured to the door. “I will walk you out.” The men left the room.
Sara lowered herself
Similar Books
