Chapter 9
NINE
Ravenglass, Cumbria
“Where have you been?” Honor demanded as soon as Geneva walked into the drawing room.
Honor looked very put out indeed, her cheeks pink with indignation. At seventeen, she was on the cusp of womanhood, but, with her long hair tied back with a velvet ribbon and the powder blue woolen dress with its pleated skirt and Peter Pan collar, she still resembled a child.
“You said we could drive into the village. I was looking forward to it. And I thought we might go for tea,” she whined.
“We can still go. I only went for a walk,” Geneva said apologetically as she pulled her cardigan closer about her in a defensive gesture. She hated when her sister was in one of her moods.
“You went for a walk with him, didn’t you?” Honor demanded. “Rory Sullivan.”
She said the name as if it were tainted, which made Geneva want to deny the accusation, but she hated to lie to her sister.
They had always been truthful with each other, and she did need someone to confide in.
But the fact that Rory was the estate manager and worked for the family made her feel as though she had to justify her decision.
“I did,” she admitted. “I like him, and he likes me.”
“And what do you expect will come out of all this liking?” Honor asked, one brow lifting quizzically.
“I don’t know. I haven’t thought that far.”
“Well, maybe you should.” Honor sighed and shook her head, clearly baffled by her sister’s shortsightedness. “Genny, Father will never allow it. You’re setting yourself up for heartbreak, and leading the poor man on. He probably thinks you have a future together.”
“I know Father can be inflexible, but times are changing,” Geneva argued. She had told herself that same lie so often, she almost believed it.
“Are they?”
“Ireland is now a free state.”
“That’s in the midst of a civil war. Genny, Rory Sullivan might not be political, but he is still Irish, and he’s Catholic. And Father will never accept him as anything other than hired help.”
“Then don’t tell him,” Geneva implored. “Rory and I are just friends.”
“What sort of fool do you take me for? You light up like a Christmas candle the moment Rory walks into a room. Not that I blame you. He is gorgeous, but do you think Father is blind? If you keep this up, he’ll sack the man and send him packing, which would probably be the best thing that could happen, at least to you. ”
“Don’t say that,” Geneva cried.
“I think there are going to be some changes around here,” Honor said as she threw herself into a wingchair.
“What do you mean? What changes?” Geneva sat across from her and studied her sister.
Honor knew something, but she would dole out the information bit by bit to make it last longer.
She thrived on intrigue and was always keeping secrets.
Perhaps it gave her a sense of control and made her feel important in a household where she had no say in anything.
“Mr. Lefferts was here earlier. He and Father were closeted together for quite a long while, and Mr. Lefferts looked rather grim when he left.”
“It’s probably just estate business. Father said he was going to organize a pension for Mrs. Lowry.”
“He could have asked Mr. Lefferts to do that over the telephone.”
“Yes, he could have, but perhaps there were papers he needed to sign. Anyway, if you don’t want to go into the village, I’m going to ring for tea. I’m parched.”
“You missed lunch,” Honor said accusingly. “I had to eat by myself.”
Geneva hadn’t missed lunch, but she wasn’t about to admit that she’d eaten with Rory.
“I’m sorry, but I wasn’t very hungry.”
Honor made a huffing sound to indicate what she thought of that excuse.
“Where was Father? Did he not join you for luncheon?”
“He asked for a tray in his room.”
That wasn’t unusual. Their father had been unwell the past few weeks and had needed to rest more. Geneva thought he might have needed some peace and quiet after his meeting with the lawyer, since Honor had a way of dominating the conversation and at times became bullish and argumentative.
Geneva walked over to the bellpull to summon the maid. “Perhaps we can go into the village tomorrow,” she offered.
“Why, does Rory Sullivan have lunch plans?”
“Honor, please, don’t be cross,” Geneva pleaded. “I’m sorry I forgot. I’ll make it up to you. I promise.”
“You didn’t forget,” Honor snapped. “You chose to spend time with someone else instead.”
“And what will happen when I get married?” Geneva teased.
“I will get married too, and we will have babies at the same time, and rear them together. It will be perfect.”
“You mean we’ll all live together in this house and play happy families?”
“Why not? There is such a thing as a happy family, you know. It’s not just a myth.”
“No,” Geneva agreed, but she didn’t think there were too many happy families left, not anymore.
The war had robbed nearly every family of its husbands and sons, and those who had come back were never quite the same: their experiences at the front had left them forever altered.
Geneva’s family had suffered its share of losses, having seen their number reduced by half over the past decade.
How could one have a happy family when so much of that family was gone?
Their mother and older brother had passed since the start of the war, as well as several footmen, grooms, the former estate manager, and tenants, who’d gone off to fight.
The house that had been full of life and light was filled with the ghosts of those lost, their spirits lingering in the silent rooms and wandering the paths of the withered garden.
“What did you want to shop for?” Geneva asked once Sally had brought the tea and a plate of leftover marble cake. She didn’t want to talk about Rory anymore.
“Christmas presents,” Honor replied.
“Christmas is weeks away.”
“I know, but choosing the right gift makes me happy. And we have two more to shop for. Father said he will invite Aunt Clarissa and Rose. This will be their first Christmas without Uncle Gerald,” Honor said.
“They’re still in mourning.”
“It’ll be nearly a year by then, and there’s nothing wrong with spending the day with family. It’s too sad to be all alone at Christmas.”
“Yes, it is sad,” Geneva agreed, recalling the Christmas of 1917, when it had been just her and Honor, and what was left of the staff. The following Christmas hadn’t been much better, although their father had come back from the front by then, so it had been the three of them.
Geneva had just poured out the tea when their elderly butler stepped into the room. “Forgive the intrusion,” Peters said. “But his lordship has asked to see you, my lady. I think it’s quite urgent,” he added when Geneva didn’t immediately get up.
“I’ll save you a slice of cake,” Honor promised.
“Make sure that you do. Last time you ate every last piece.”
Honor grinned and reached for a slice of cake. “I was hungry.”